Culligan is an American water treatment company headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. Culligan specializes in water softeners, water filtration systems and bottled water for residential and office applications.
The company currently has more than 600 dealerships in the United States and Canada and sells its products in more than 90 countries. Its main competitor is the division of Veolia STI: Aquadem, and BWT in Europe.
Video Culligan
Histori
Culligan was founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan. With $ 50.00 in his pocket and with extra money financed by his brother, Dr. John M. Culligan, and his sister Anna V. Culligan, Emmett Culligan founded the Culligan Zeolite Company with his brothers, Drs. John and Leo Culligan, as partners. They started a new business at Jack McLaughlin's Blacksmith Shop in Northbrook, Illinois. Emmett pierces the bottom of a coffee can and uses greensand to make his own water filter. After running water through his device, he discovered that the filter also behaves as a water softener. In 1938, the first Culligan franchise dealer opened in Wheaton, Illinois, followed by another in Hagerstown, Maryland. Over time his business grew. In 1945, Emmett dissolved his partnership with his brothers and a newly established company. Emmett was President until 1950 when he became Chairman of the Board and Harold Werhane was appointed President. In 1962 his name was changed to Culligan, Incorporated. The company now has its International Headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois. There are more than 1000 dealers and business offices in 85 countries. For more information see the Company magazine, "Topics" July, 1970. Then, Beatrice Foods acquired the company.
In 1986, Beatrice Foods, recently acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, brought out special foods and non-food brands as E-II Holdings. E-II attempted to take over the American Brand in 1988, but the American Brand bought E-II. The American brand went on to sell the majority of the E-II brand to Meshulam Riklis. Riklis immediately left the company, and E-II filed for bankruptcy in 1992. After a takeover fight from Carl Icahn, E-II emerged from bankruptcy in 1993 under the name Astrum International. The Culligan spun in 1995, and Astrum was renamed to Samsonite.
Culligan was acquired by the United States Filter in 1998; The US filter was acquired by Vivendi in 1999. Vivendi separated its water business in 2000, and the resulting company, Veolia Environnement, sold the Culligan to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2003. In 2004, Entrepreneur Magazine called Culligan the number-one franchise in its industry. Centerbridge Partners acquires Culligan in 2012.
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Ad slogan
Culligan is famous for television and radio ads featuring a housewife shouting the slogan "Hey, Culligan man!" in a rough tone, in response to the announcer advising him to "Call your Culligan man." The campaign was originally created in 1959 for radio by Dallas Williams Productions of Los Angeles. He plays the straight man in the commercials, and his wife Jean Hughes Williams gives a shouting voice. Filmmaker Dan Bessie directed and animate the award-winning film "Hey Culligan Man!" advertising soft water for 15 years. Variations of "Hey Culligan Man!" ads will continue to run for more than three decades. The latest version of the classic "Hey, Culligan man!" The slogan has a woman speaking with a strong friendly tone.
Currently, Chicago-based model Brian Rody serves as Culligan's marketing face.
References
External links
- Official site
- The Culligan commercial and industrial product website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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