All is not well with Kansai Plascon, the producers of Plascon paint after AkzoNobel, the original makers of Sadolin paint under Sadolin Uganda Limited, said recently that they would soon re-start producing their flagship paint brand and other products for the Ugandan market.
In a release AkzoNobel accuses Kansai Plascon of violating a legal arrangement agreed upon and instead turning around to claim that Sadolin paint had been replaced by Plascon paint on the market.
“Recent media reports by Kansai Plascon Uganda refer to the migration of brands from Sadolin to Plascon. However, this is not the case as the Sadolin brand is owned by AkzoNobel and is still available to the market,” says Johann Smidt, Director for AkzoNobel Decorative Paints in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We remove all doubt in the minds of our partners and all the consumers that love Sadolin paint. I can assure you that Sadolin paint is still available to the market and we are committed to continue supplying this household brand to the East African region,” Smidt added.
According to Smidt, AkzoNobel is in the final stages of signing sales, manufacturing and distribution agreement with a local partner to ensure supply to the market once the current licensee agreement has ended.
“With this agreement, we hope to invest in manufacturing plants which will result in jobs created and will in turn stimulate the economy in East Africa,” Smidt said, adding: “I would like to further emphasize that Sadolin will stay in the East African region and will continue to serve the market that has been so loyal to the brand for over 50 years. I would also like to thank our partners and customers for their continued support in growing the brand,” says Smidt.
By press time efforts to get Kansai Plascon managers give their side of the story were futile as their known telephone lines were unavailable.
