"Ojon is a terrific strategic fit in our portfolio," William P. Lauder, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies, said. "It's a socially responsible, innovative company with potential for rapid and sustained world-wide growth. We envision Ojon eventually becoming a global brand of wild-crafted, natural products made with ingredients found in indigenous communities around the world."
To source its ingredients, Ojon has partnered with the Mosquitia Pawisa Agency for the Development of the Honduras Mosquitia (MOPAWI Organization), a local non-profit group that works on behalf of indigenous communities in the region. Through its contract with the MOPAWI, Ojon purchases wild-crafted palm nut oil and other ingredients from thousands of Tawira producers, who collect the ingredients in a hand-crafted process consistent with ancestral practices. The ingredients, largely palm oil and cacao, are then sent to Originitalia, a plant in northern Italy, where they are purified and blended into Ojon products.
Ojon has earmarked a portion of profits from the sale of Ojon products to help the Tawira preserve its traditional lifestyle and protect and sustain the rainforest. It has established safety standards, scholarship funds and environmental protection measures.
Founder Denis Simioni will remain as President of Ojon reporting to Philip Shearer. The Estée Lauder Companies will appoint a General Manager to the brand and plans to keep the company's existing management team and headquarters in Canada and continue to operate Ojon as a stand alone business. Additionally, Ojon is expected to maintain its relationship with its current manufacturer, Originitalia.
"I have been in the business 18 years and have always looked at Estée Lauder as the most prestigious cosmetic company," said Denis Simioni. "Ojon is like my child that grew up too fast and now needs a great university to take it to the next stages of its life. We believe that Estée Lauder will do that for Ojon by educating us and giving us what we need to take us to the next level. It doesn't get any better than this!"
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc
marketing@alchempro.com
