DARMSTADT, Germany and ANTWERP, Belgium—Merck KGaA, a specialty distributor in Scandinavia; and Azelis, an European distributor of specialty chemicals, entered into a distribution agreement for cosmetic raw materials, in which Merek will grant the marketing rights for its cosmetic raw materials in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway to Azelis. Apart from logistics, Azelis will be responsible for local customer support and applications technology. In turn, Merck will support Azelis with research and development, training and in regulatory issues. The cooperation agreement was signed in December 2011 and has already taken effect.
“Consumers of cosmetic products in Nordic countries appreciate locally manufactured products of reliably high efficacy," said Rainer Hoffmann, associate director cosmetics sales EU North, said. "In addition, it is important to them to protect their skin against stress factors such as the cold and weather, and to prevent it from drying out and aging. Here, the answer is high-quality raw materials from Merck, the efficacy of which must be demonstrated and explained to customers. This can only be done by a highly skilled and well-trained team capable of relying on experienced experts in research, development and marketing. That is precisely what the cooperation between Merck and Azelis can ensure."
Merck has been cooperating with Azelis in the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as in Germany for more than 50 years. “We are looking forward to cooperating with Merck," said Patrik Edström, managing director for Azelis Nordic. "Our product range for the cosmetics industry is optimally complemented by the range of products offered by Merck. We can offer our customers individualized support thanks to our own Azelis technical application cosmetic laboratories in Moers, Germany and Hertford, the United Kingdom."
