Tom's of Maine

which is sourced from bees. [ [http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/ifs/propolis.asp Tom's of Maine - About Our Products ] ]

History

Tom's of Maine was founded by Tom and Kate Chappell in 1970 with just US $5000. The company is based in Kennebunk, Maine, in the United States. The company now has approximately 150 employees and 90 oral and body care products sold at more than 40,000 retail outlets worldwide. They sell soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, mouthwash, and similar products. Their fluoride toothpastes are the only natural alternatives to earn the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance.

As of 2005, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has been added to some of the products including toothpaste.

Acquisition

In 2006, a controlling 84% stake in Tom's of Maine was purchased by Colgate-Palmolive for US $100M. The Chappells kept a 16% share in the company. The terms of the purchase stipulate that Tom's of Maine's policies will be retained.

In Critical Psychology

Tom's of Maine has developed a certain notoriety within this academic discipline following an article written by prominent psychologist Ian Parker, an influential individual within the Discourse Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University. The paper has the primary purpose of being an introduction to Foucauldian Discourse Analysis, and does this by examining the discourse used on the packaging of the 'Silly Strawberry' children's toothpaste produced by Tom's of Maine. Parker concludes that the packaging 'buttresses' the institutions of the nuclear family and the the self. In a perhaps more sinister finding, the use of a therapeutic discourse is found - a discourse to which certain academics (e.g. Frank Furedi) are extremely wary. (Huh?)

References

Parker, I. (1999). Tracing therapeutic discourse in material culture. "British Journal of Medical Psychology", 72, 577-587.

External links

* [http://www.tomsofmaine.com/ Tom's of Maine Official website]
* [http://www.tomsofmaine.com/about/bio_tom.asp Tom Chappell Biography] on the official website
* [http://www.tomsofmaine.com/about/bio_kate.asp Kate Chappell Biography] on the official website
* [http://www.colgate.com/ Colgate-Palmolive Official website]