Vi-Jon Laboratories facts for kids

Vi-Jon Laboratories is an American company that makes health and beauty products. They create items for both their own brands and for other stores to sell under their own names. The company's main office is in Overland, Missouri. They have five factories and distribution centers in Missouri and Tennessee. Vi-Jon products are sold all over the United States. You can find them in stores like Kroger, Target, and Walgreens.

One of their most famous products is Germ-X hand sanitizer. They also make Swan brand isopropyl alcohol. Both of these products became very popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Company History

How Vi-Jon Started

Vi-Jon Laboratories was founded in 1908. It was first called Peroxide Specialty Company. The company's founder was John B. Brunner.

Changes in Ownership

In 2006, an investment company called Berkshire Partners bought Vi-Jon. This meant Berkshire Partners became the new owner of the company.

Later, in August 2014, Berkshire Partners decided to sell Vi-Jon. By September 2020, something special happened. The company became 100% owned by its employees. This means the people who work at Vi-Jon now own the company together.

Product Appearance Agreement

In 2006, another company, Procter & Gamble, had a disagreement with Vi-Jon. Procter & Gamble felt that one of Vi-Jon's products looked too much like their own mouthwash.

The two companies talked and reached an agreement a few months later. Vi-Jon agreed to stop selling that specific product. They also agreed not to use bottle designs that looked too similar to Procter & Gamble's. Vi-Jon also agreed to make sure their product claims were supported by specific tests.

A bottle of Germ-X, a product of Vi-Jon Laboratories

Petroleum jelly by Vi-Jon Laboratories