From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Energizer Holdings Inc.
Type	Public (NYSE: ENR)
Founded	Spun-off from Ralston Purina Company in 2000
Headquarters	Town and Country, Missouri, USA
Key people	Ward M. Klein, CEO Nominee
Industry	Industrial Electrical Equipment
Products	Energizer Batteries Schick Products
Revenue	$2.989 billion USD (2005)
Operating income	$447.800 million USD (2005)
Net income	$287.400 million USD (2005)
Employees	14,848 (2006)
Website	www.energizer.com

Energizer Holdings (NYSE: ENR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri is an American manufacturer of batteries with a market share of approximately 25% [1] with markets in over 165 countries.{2006 Annual Report, pg. 5}

Contents 1 History 2 Holdings 3 Advertising 4 See also 5 External links

In 1896, Joshua Lionel Cowen invented a decorative lighting fixture for potted plants which consisted of a metal tube housing a light bulb and a dry cell battery. It failed commercially, and so Cowen sold his company and patents to Conrad Hubert that same year. Hubert renamed Cowen's company the American Electrical Novelty & Manufacturing Company. In 1906 he changed the name to The American Ever Ready Company, selling flashlights and batteries under the trademark Ever Ready.

In 1914, The American Ever Ready Company became part of National Carbon Company. Hubert stayed as president. The trademark was shortened to Eveready. In 1917 National Carbon Company merged with Union Carbide to form The Union Carbide and Carbon Co.

From 1917 until 1921 Eveready used the trademark "DAYLO" for their flashlights and on their batteries.

Employee Lewis Urry invented the long-lasting alkaline battery in 1959; it now commands 55% of the consumer battery market.^{[citation needed]}

Formerly a division of Ralston Purina (which purchased them from Union Carbide, who also made Ucar batteries, in 1986).

In 1999, Energizer sold its rechargeable battery division, although it still markets them for retail sale.

Energizer currently maintains production facilities in Asheboro NC, Bennington VT, Maryville MO and Singapore. Current technology center is located in Westlake OH.

In 2005 the Columbia dry cell battery developed by National Carbon Company (predecessor of Energizer) was designated an ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark in recognition of its "significant improvement over previous batteries, meeting consumer demand for a maintenance-free, durable, no-spill, inexpensive electrochemical power source."[2]

The company owns the Energizer and Eveready brands, producing alkaline, carbon zinc, lithium, NiMH, and button cell batteries, as well as other specialty batteries. The company also manufactures flashlights.

In 2003, Energizer bought razor manufacturer Schick (including the Wilkinson Sword brand) from Pfizer, as part of Pfizer's absorption of Warner-Lambert. This was done in order to even competition with leading razor maker Gillette (now part of Procter & Gamble), which owns Energizer's historic arch-rival Duracell.

In 2007, Energizer acquired Playtex for $1.85 billion USD

In the late 1980s, Energizer rolled out a lively advertising campaign featuring Mark 'Jacko' Jackson and his pitch line "Energizer! It'll surprise you! Oi!".

Since 1989, the well-known Energizer Bunny has been featured in its television ads. It is pink and constantly pounds a marching band drum, representing the long lasting battery life of Energizer.

Australasia's mascot for Energizer is a muscle-bound anthropomorphic AA battery. Performing his actions with extreme speed, showing that not only Energizer batteries are long lasting, but they also perform at high standards and produce maximum quality for the consumer.

• Eveready East Africa

• Energizer Holdings
• [3]