Unilever Buys Schmidt’s Naturals

Unilever is acquiring Schmidt’s Naturals, a personal care company based in Portland, OR. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2010 by Jaime Schmidt, Schmidt’s Naturals started as a deodorant brand and has extended its offering to bar soap and toothpaste.


“Schmidt’s Naturals is a strong, innovative brand in the fast-growing natural category, and nicely complements our existing portfolio of US deodorants which includes leading brands Degree, Axe and Dove,” said Kees Kruythoff, president, Unilever North America. “The brand’s focus on transparency and mission to make natural products accessible to everyone aligns closely with Unilever values and represents an exciting category expansion for our family of brands.”


Alan Jope, president, Unilever Personal Care, called Schmidt’s Naturals “a great strategic fit for our personal care business, allowing us to reach new consumers who prefer natural options. We look forward to utilizing our personal care leadership to extend Schmidt’s Naturals into new sales channels and geographies.”


Co-founders Schmidt and Cammarata will continue to be involved with the brand, according to Unilever.


“Today is a momentous day in the history of Schmidt’s Naturals as we announce our joining of the Unilever family of brands,” said Schmidt. “Thanks to our community, what started humbly in my kitchen and local farmers’ markets has grown into homes worldwide. I am proud to say that as a result of our partnership with Unilever, we are better positioned than ever in our mission to make natural products accessible to all. Moreover, Unilever’s substantive actions toward creating a more sustainable and equitable future for diverse peoples across the planet further fuels the enthusiasm behind our alliance.”