Dr. Bronner’s Europe Hosts Third Annual International Gathering of Top-Selling Global Soap Brand
International Symposium in Cologne to Bring Dr. Bronner’s Leadership Together with Representatives from Australia, Asia, UK, and Mexico
COLOGNE, GERMANY – Dr. Bronner’s, California based family-owned maker of the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America, will hold its 3rd annual International Symposium in Cologne this year from June 6-9. Hosted by the company’s European operation, Dr. Bronner’s Europe which is based in Dormagen, the event will bring together representatives responsible for sales and distribution of the brand in over 13 markets internationally. Company representatives will hear presentations on sales, marketing, public relations, and Dr. Bronner’s activism on causes including animal welfare, support for a living wage, sustainable agriculture, corporate accountability, and consumers’ right to know. Dr. Bronner’s revenue totaled nearly $100 million in 2015, with 20% accounting for international sales. Markets like Korea and Japan are leaders in sales for the brand outside North America, while sales in Germany, the UK and the rest of Europe continue to grow at an impressive rate.
“Dr. Bronner’s is a unique company with a powerful message. As the CEO of Dr. Bronner’s Europe, I am honored to host this gathering of the brand’s global family,” says Axel Rungweber, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s Europe. “Dr. Bronner’s message and products resonate worldwide, and as a truly global brand we all have a lot to learn from each other. This symposium will give us the opportunity to strategize, network, and learn in detail about the global scope and impact of Dr. Bronner’s on everything from sales, to its fair trade sourcing, charitable giving, and activist campaigns.”
Dr. Bronner’s Third Annual International Symposium speakers include:
David Bronner, Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) and Michael Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s are grandsons of company founder, Emanuel Bronner, and fifth-generation soap makers. Under David and Michael’s leadership, the brand has grown from $4 million in 1998 to just under $100 million in annual revenue in 2015. David and Michael established Dr. Bronner’s as a sustainable leader in the natural products industry by becoming one of the first brands to formulate with hemp seed oil in 2000 and certify its soaps, lotions, balms and other personal care products under the USDA National Organic Program in 2003. Both actions resulted in high-profiled litigation with government agencies, DEA and USDA respectively, that Dr. Bronner’s ultimately won, cementing Dr. Bronner’s issue-oriented activism in the natural products marketplace. Today, Dr. Bronner’s coordinates or partners with certified fair trade projects for all major ingredients, including olive oil from Palestine and Israel, coconut oil from Sri Lanka, peppermint oil from India, and sustainable palm oil from Ghana.
Axel Rungweber, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s Europe manages Dr. Bronner’s markets in continental Europe. Passionate about socially responsible business – Axel and his team have become advocates for fair trade and organic supply chains. Having started distribution of Dr. Bronner’s in 2011 in Germany alone – Dr.Bronner’s is currently distributed in 14 countries throughout Europe. Thanks to a growing awareness of responsible business practices among European consumers, Dr. Bronner’s Europe has seen substantial double-digit growth in sales for the past 5 years.
Alex Cornelissen, CEO of Sea Shepherd Global heads the world’s leading direct action ocean conservation organization. As CEO of the global conservation network and as a crew member he has participated in operations to protect and conserve wildlife across the globe including in Galapagos National Park, Columbia, Brazil, Bermuda, New Zealand, Australia and Antarctica. Dr. Bronner’s is a supporter of Sea Shepherd; their partnership is an example of Dr. Bronner’s support of critical social and environmental action worldwide. For more information, see www.seashepherdglobal.com.
To arrange interviews or attend Dr. Bronner’s International Symposium, please contact Axel Rungweber at: axel@drbronner.de.
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honoring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. The company’s commitment to progressive business practices is part of the company’s mission to put into practice the principles that inform the philosophy printed on the company’s iconic soap labels written by founder Emanuel Bronner. Bronner was a third generation soap maker who spent his life renouncing hate and war on a personal mission to unite mankind. His strong views and lectures landed him in a mental asylum in Chicago, but eight months later in 1948, Bronner escaped and continued with his message in California. During this time, he also began making peppermint liquid soap under the ‘Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps’ brand. He gave the soap away during his talks but soon realized people were taking it without listening to him speak. As a result, he started writing his philosophy on the bottle in tiny script, which is still used on Dr. Bronner’s packaging today. The company is the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America and widely renowned around the world. Based on 2015 sales, a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap was sold, on average, every 3 seconds.
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For further information on Dr. Bronner’s, please visit: https://info.drbronner.com.
For further press information, please contact:
Axel Rungweber or Kathrin Gröber at:
+49 (0) 2133 9789320, Axel@drbronner.de or +49 (0) 2133 9789320,
Kathrin@drbronner.de