by Erin Feith, Research Assistant
October 1, 2024
In 1878, a household name was born when German pharmacist, Gerhard Heinrich Mennen, opened the G. Mennen Apothecary in Newark. Quickly gaining a reputation for superior and innovative products, the business expanded under the guidance of generations of his family and eventually relocated to Morris Township. Throughout its history, the Mennen Company adapted to changing times while prioritizing a commitment to quality and community.
Soon after opening his apothecary store, Gerhard Mennen created the Mennen Borated Talcum Infant Powder, using sourced Italian talc, antiseptic, and oil of roses. He turned to mass advertising to market the powder and employed pamphlets and bookmarks, emblazoned with his image next to a promise of the finest ingredients. Following his death in 1902, his wife, Elma Korb Mennen, took up the company’s helm and solidified its widespread advertising, pledging FDA standards and a “box that lox” to ensure no substitutes could be sold in their containers. Their son, William Mennen Sr. and grandson, William Mennen Jr. continued in this tradition into the mid-20th century, while also meeting modern needs, inventing such products as instant shaving foam and the Speed-Stick deodorant.
Aided by their long-standing reputation and the post-WWII economy, the Mennen Company expanded and relocated their headquarters to a 100-acre tract in Morris Township in 1953. They constructed a state-of-the-art campus that featured the latest technologies and encouraged existing employees to transfer to the site by offering bonuses and moving allowances. Further forging connections with their new locale, the Mennen Company also pledged to hire community members to fill its ranks. Indeed, within several decades, nearly half of their employees were residents of Morris Township.
Outside of the workplace, the Mennen Company also contributed to the Morris County area through their philanthropic endeavors, providing disaster relief, financial aid to hospitals, and scholarships to local students. Additionally, the Mennens donated a 36-acre tract to the Morris County Parks Commission and, by 1975, erected the William G. Mennen Sports Arena. In 1992, Colgate-Palmolive purchased Mennen, continuing to operate its Morris Township location until 2016 when it closed with plans to develop the site for townhomes. While physically gone from the landscape, the company’s innovation and reputation continues to be recognized worldwide, proving that there is no saying good-“by(e) Mennen” forever.
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