- Brand origin
- United Kingdom
- Main production
- Several countries, incl. United Kingdom
Fairy is a household cleaning brand that originated in the United Kingdom and is best known for washing-up liquid and dishwasher detergent. Fairy is ultimately owned by The Procter & Gamble Company, a publicly listed consumer-goods company headquartered in the United States.
pg.co.ukAbout Fairy
What is Fairy?
Fairy is a household cleaning brand used principally for dishwashing liquid and dishwasher detergent in multiple markets. The brand originated in the United Kingdom and is now owned by The Procter & Gamble Company. Procter & Gamble lists Fairy among its dish-care brands in the United Kingdom. Fairy products are present in parts of Europe, Africa and Australia, as well as the United Kingdom. Fairy is separate from Fairy Tail, the Japanese manga and anime franchise, and from unrelated products using the words fairy, fairy tale or fairy lights.
Who owns Fairy?
Fairy is ultimately owned by The Procter & Gamble Company, according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The Procter & Gamble Company is headquartered in the United States and is publicly listed. Procter & Gamble acquired Thomas Hedley & Sons in 1930, bringing the European Fairy brand into Procter & Gamble’s portfolio. Procter & Gamble’s United Kingdom website currently lists Fairy among its brands and identifies Fairy Liquid and dishwasher products in its consumer-support information. Procter & Gamble’s official United Kingdom site is pg.co.uk.
Where does Fairy come from?
Fairy originated in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1898. The Fairy name first appeared that year on a pale-yellow bar of soap made by Thomas Hedley & Sons. Thomas Hedley & Co. introduced Fairy soap in the United Kingdom after obtaining licence rights to the brand. The original product was therefore a soap bar rather than the liquid dishwashing product most associated with Fairy today. Procter & Gamble acquired Thomas Hedley & Sons in 1930 and thereby acquired the European Fairy brand. Procter & Gamble launched Fairy Liquid in the United Kingdom in 1950. Fairy Liquid was manufactured at Procter & Gamble’s West Thurrock factory in England when it launched. Procter & Gamble launched Fairy Snow, a soap washing powder, in the United Kingdom in 1957. Fairy was introduced in Germany in 1962 as a powdered household cleaner imported and initially distributed by the Rei-Werke of Boppard. Fairy Liquid was sold only in the United Kingdom until the 1980s.
What products does Fairy make?
Fairy makes washing-up liquid, dishwasher detergent and other household cleaning products. Fairy Liquid is the best-known product line in the United Kingdom. Fairy Liquid was launched in 1950 as a dishwashing detergent. Fairy Power Spray is positioned as a soaking product for handwashing and dishwashing. Fairy Active Foam was aimed at consumers who washed dishes under running water. Procter & Gamble also launched Fairy Snow as a soap washing powder in 1957. Fairy Non-Bio is another Fairy product listed by Procter & Gamble in the United Kingdom. Product ranges and names vary between markets.
How did Fairy Liquid develop?
Fairy Liquid was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1950 as a mild and gentle dishwashing detergent designed to last longer than rival products. The original packaging was a white plastic bottle with green graphics and a red top. The product was manufactured at Procter & Gamble’s West Thurrock factory, also known as the London Plant. Fairy Liquid advertising in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s used “Tables” commercials featuring Nanette Newman. The commercials demonstrated how many more plates one bottle could clean than competing products. Procter & Gamble replaced Nanette Newman with advertising based on mother-and-child emotional themes in 1997. Fairy returned to reliability-focused advertising in 2002. Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott endorsed products including Fairy Power Spray and Fairy Active Foam.
Where is Fairy made?
Fairy washing-up liquid is produced at Procter & Gamble’s West Thurrock factory in England. The West Thurrock site is also known as the London Plant. Procter & Gamble identifies London as one of its major United Kingdom manufacturing locations, with Fairy produced there. The factory was already manufacturing Fairy Liquid when the product launched in 1950. Manufacturing locations for other Fairy products and markets can differ.
Where is Fairy sold?
Fairy is sold in the United Kingdom and in parts of Europe, Africa and Australia. Fairy Liquid remained a United Kingdom-only product until the 1980s. Fairy was introduced in Germany in 1962 as a powdered household cleaner. The products associated with the Fairy name differ between countries. In the United Kingdom, Fairy is principally associated with washing-up liquid, dishwasher detergent and laundry products.
How large was Fairy in the United Kingdom?
Fairy sales increased by 5.7 percent in value to £319.3 million in 2016 after a brand refresh. Fairy represented almost 30 percent of the automatic dishwashing market after its 2016 brand restage, according to reporting from 2017. Fairy was ranked Britain’s 12th-biggest brand in 2016, up from 13th the previous year. These figures describe the United Kingdom market and the years in which they were reported.
Is Fairy the same company as Ariel?
Fairy and Ariel are different consumer brands owned by The Procter & Gamble Company. Fairy is principally associated with dishwashing and dishwasher products in multiple markets. Ariel is a separate Procter & Gamble laundry brand. The brands share the same ultimate owner, but they are not the same brand or product line.
Frequently asked questions about Fairy
Who owns Fairy Liquid?
- Fairy Liquid is ultimately owned by The Procter & Gamble Company. Procter & Gamble acquired Thomas Hedley & Sons in 1930, acquiring the European Fairy brand.
Is Fairy a British brand?
- Fairy is a British-origin brand. The Fairy name first appeared in 1898 on soap made by Thomas Hedley & Sons in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Fairy is now owned by the United States headquartered Procter & Gamble.
When was Fairy Liquid first launched?
- Procter & Gamble launched Fairy Liquid in the United Kingdom in 1950. The product was manufactured at Procter & Gamble’s West Thurrock factory in England.
What was the original Fairy product?
- The original Fairy product was a pale-yellow bar of soap. The Fairy name first appeared on that product in 1898, before Fairy Liquid was launched in 1950.
Is Fairy Liquid made in the United Kingdom?
- Fairy washing-up liquid is made at Procter & Gamble’s West Thurrock factory in England, also known as the London Plant. The site manufactured Fairy Liquid when the product launched in 1950.
What is Fairy Power Spray used for?
- Fairy Power Spray is positioned as a soaking product for both handwashing and dishwashing. Fairy advertising also referred to the product as Fairy Skip The Soak.
Is Fairy related to Fairy Tail?
- Fairy is a household cleaning brand owned by The Procter & Gamble Company. Fairy Tail is an unrelated Japanese manga and anime franchise, so the two names do not identify the same company or product.
Does Fairy make laundry products?
- Yes. Fairy has been used for laundry products as well as dishwashing products. Procter & Gamble lists Fairy Non-Bio in its United Kingdom brand portfolio, while Fairy remains principally associated with washing-up liquid and dishwasher detergent.
Sources: pg.co.uk: brands, fr.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, pg.co.uk: unearthing interesting facts of pg 180 year history, pg.co.uk: world red cross day and red crescent day, pg.co.uk: skip the soak, officestationery.co.uk, brandwiki.lazada.com.ph, superbrands.co.il, bmstores.co.uk, brandslex.de, effectivedesign.org.uk, marketingweek.com, supersavvyme.co.uk, packagingnews.co.uk, grocefully.com, ro.wikipedia.org, pt.wikipedia.org, studylib.net, chemeurope.com
Sources: en.wikipedia.org: Fairy (brand), en.wikipedia.org: Procter & Gamble
Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.
Products from Fairy
94- Fairy Max Power washing up liquidCleaning product – dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Max Power Zitrone Dishwashing LiquidCleaning product – Dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Dishwasher LiquidCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Konzentrat dishwashing liquidCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Lemon Washing Up LiquidCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Maxi Poder Lemon Dishwashing LiquidCleaning product – Dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Non Bio podsCleaning product – Laundry capsules
- Fairy Clean & Fresh Pomegranate & Grapefruit washing up liquidCleaning product – dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Dishwashing Liquid (Frische Brise)Cleaning product – Dishwashing detergent
- Fairy LiquidCleaning product – Hand dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Sensitive Dishwashing LiquidCleaning product – Dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Non Bio Platinum Pods Laundry DetergentCleaning product – Laundry detergent pods
- Fairy Platinum dishwasher tabletsCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Platinum washing up liquidCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Platinum All in One Dishwasher CapsulesCleaning product – Dishwasher detergent
- Fairy All in OneCleaning product – Dishwashing
- Fairy Liquid Washing Up LiquidCleaning product – Dishwashing Liquid
- Fairy Poder 3 en 1 dish soapCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Dishwashing Liquid (Aloe Vera and Cucumber)Cleaning product – dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Aloe Vera & Pepino dishwashing liquidCleaning product – dishwashing liquid
- Fairy Platinum Dishwasher CapsulesCleaning product – dishwashing detergent
- Fairy Platinum Plus Breeze Dishwasher TabletsCleaning product – dishwashing detergent
- Fairy Platinum Plus Lemon Dishwashing LiquidCleaning product – dishwashing
- Fairy Fabric Softener Silk Tree Blossom & JasmineCleaning product – Fabric Softener
and 70 more products
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