How Ludwik dish soap was created – a Polish invention from the 1960s.
– At the core of the Ludwik brand is a true Polish invention, developed in a specific place and by specific creators. This is an important chapter in the history of Polish household chemicals – emphasizes Sławomir Józefiak, president of the INCO Group.
The history of the product began in 1964 at the production plant in Góra Kalwaria near Warsaw, where the recipe for the first Polish dishwashing liquid was developed. Its creators were engineers Hanna Majchert and Zbigniew Korda, which is confirmed by patent description No. 50169 published in 1965 by the Patent Office of the Polish People’s Republic. The owner of the patent was the INCO United Economic Teams in Warsaw
The founding of Ludwik coincided with the period of dynamic development of household chemicals in the world. Hand dishwashing liquids began to appear on sale in the United States in the early 1960s, and the Polish recipe was created only a few years later. In the following years, dishwashing liquids became one of the basic products in households.
– From the very beginning, Ludwik was an example of the fact that Polish household chemicals can quickly respond to global trends with their own, original solution. – says Sławomir Józefiak.
Why Ludwik survived the transformation and still dominates the market
Many everyday items present in Polish homes today have a history dating back to the times of the Polish People’s Republic. Some of them disappeared from the market after the economic transformation of the 1990s, but some survived the competition from international producers. One example is Ludwik, which, despite market changes, remains one of the most recognizable brands in its category. According to research by the INCO Group, 88% of people declare that they know it. adult Poles, which is the highest indicator on the market.
– The strength of this brand lies in the fact that it combines reliable origins, trust built over generations and the ability to constantly develop. And Poles appreciate this – says the president of the INCO Group.
From one liquid to a whole range of products
Hand dishwashing products are among the most common household chemicals today. Their popularity grew with lifestyle changes and the increasing availability of this type of products in stores. Over time, new fragrances and formulas of dishwashing liquids began to appear on the market. In Poland, one of the most recognizable variants was the lemon-scented liquid introduced in the mid-1990s, while the original mint version is still associated by many consumers today.
– Ludwik is not a brand locked in the past. Today, it is a wide family of products that develops along with the needs of consumers and includes not only dishwashing liquids, but also tablets, capsules and other dishwasher products, as well as a wide range of other home cleaning products. – says Sławomir Józefiak.
The expansion of the offer is part of a broader trend on the household chemicals market, in which manufacturers are developing entire product lines for various household applications.
The manufacturer of the brand is the INCO Group – a Polish company operating on the market since 1947. The company employs approximately 700 employees and conducts production activities in several plants in Poland – in Góra Kalwaria, Susz, Izabelin, Koniecpol and Borów. In addition to household chemicals, it also produces garden fertilizers, pharmaceutical preparations and plastic packaging. The INCO Group announces further development – last year it increased its investment plan for 2026–2028 to approximately PLN 250 million. It will spend it on the expansion of plants and new production lines. The company’s products are already sold to over 20 foreign markets – 10% is intended for export. group’s production, and 90 percent is sold in Poland.
Source: Newseria
