Our history – a quick look at 160 years
of Kappus soap
| 1848 | Perfumer Johann Martin Kappus founded the M. Kappus Feinseifen- und Parfümeriefabrik in Offenbach/Main |
| 1871 | The first soap brand from the world “Kappus Konkurrenzseife” was released on the market |
| 1890 - 1933 |
The second generation The three Kappus sons, Adolf, Ludwig and Martin Jr., joined the company and successfully managed it throughout the First World War, global economic crises and inflation |
| 1933 - 1975 |
The third generation Ludwig’s oldest son, Alfons, took over the management of the company. Up to 80% of the company was destroyed during World War Two. Alfons rebuilt it after the war, interrupted by a new reparation period in 1947, and overcame the soap crisis which resulted in the shutting down of 90% of his fellow soap manufacturers |
| 1948 | 100 year anniversary on the day of the German currency reform |
| 1960 - today |
The fourth generation Alfons’s son, Wolfgang Kappus, joined the company after completing his business management studies and three years employment at a company in Canada. Exports were expanded to over 80 countries |
| 1965 - 1970 | Alfons Kappus developed a process for the continuous manufacture of clear soaps. M.Kappus became global market leader in this sector |
| 1971 | A department for the development and management of own label brands was affiliated |
| 1986 - today |
The fifth generation Patricia Kappus-Becker, Wolfgang’s oldest daughter, joined the company |
| 1992 | Purchase of the Konsumseifenwerks in Riesa and founding of the Kappus-Seifen GmbH Riesa & Co. KG |
| 1998 | 150 year anniversary in Offenbach/ M. |
| 2000 | German patent issued for floating soap |
| 2004 |
The family business purchases the former Henkel company, Dreiring-Werk GmbH, as its third production facility European patent issued for floating soap |
| 2011 | 100 year anniversary in Riesa |
| 2004 - today | Cooperation and specialization of the three production facilities, Offenbach/ M., Riesa, Krefeld with a total annual capacity of 50,000 tons (500 million pieces) |
