Japan
www.menard.co.jp
Sales: $700 million
Key Personnel:
Daisuke Nonogawa, chairman; Junichi Nonogawa, president.
Major Products:
Skin care—Authent, Embellir, Saranari, Tsukika, Colax, Fairlucent, Beauness and men’s care; Makeup—Jupier, Embellir; Fragrance—Kasaneka, Ryokuei, L’Eau de Taoyaka.
New Products:
Fairlucent (line expansion), Authent day cream.
Comments:
Since its establishment in November 1959, Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co., Ltd., has involved itself in the concept of beauty, based on its corporate philosophy of “Seeking True Beauty.” The name Menard comes from the captivating goddess Maenad, who served the Greek god Dionysus (Bacchus in Latin), famous as the god of procreation and production, as well as the god of wine. Founder and current chairman Daisuke Nonogawa named the company himself.
In 1986, Menard launched its first whitening cosmetics with APM (a stable vitamin C derivative) and has been known as one of the pioneers of the whitening category. The company’s mainmotto is “With Love, Appreciation and Pride.”