Our story began in Switzerland with the production of apple vinegar…today we produce and market worldwide household cleaning and hygiene products, professional cleaning products and personal care products.
1858
Adolf Sutter I founds the company Sutter-Krauss to produce apple cider vinegar in Oberhofen/Münchwilen, in the Swiss canton of Thurgau.
1860
Production of SUTTER-KRAUSS shoe polish begins.
1881
A large factory known as the “Polish Cathedral” is built.
1884
Adolf Sutter I dies. His wife, Katharina, and daughter, Anna, run the company.
1894
Arthur Sutter I, son of Adolf Sutter I and Katharina, takes over as head of the company.
1907
RAS, the first water-based turpentine-free shoe polish, comes out.
1909
Opening of the first branch in Konstanz, Germany.
1910
Arthur Sutter I opens the site in Genoa, Italy.
1911
The production of polishes and cleaning products begins with the ROB, OTTOL and CERVINA brands.
1919
Arthur Sutter I has a grave leg injury and entrusts his son Adolf Sutter II with management of the Italian headquarters in Genoa. The MARGA shoe polish is brought out.
1927
In Italy, POM, the cleaning product that “Cleans every metal” is brought out.
1928
Sutter continues to expand and launches the first packages of polish with a “butterfly” opening in the market.
1929-1932
Arthur Sutter I plans generational transition: in 1929 he assigns the Genoa company and the Mediterranean countries area to his eldest son, Adolf Sutter II, while in 1932 he entrusts the Swiss factory and the Northern Europe area, which at the time had 75 employees, to his second son, Alfredo.
1931
In Switzerland, WOLY, the first shoe polish sold only at shoe stores, is brought out.
1932
Employees benefit from a Pension Fund and later from a Sickness Fund: a rare social commitment in those days.

The same year, Arthur Sutter I dies.
1940
Italy joins World War II. Sutter does not close, but chooses to reduce production to maintain high quality, reaching its lowest drop in 1945, equal to 8% of the production of a normal year.
1941
The first wax with the “SKIWA” brand is launched in Switzerland.
1946
At the end of the war, Sutter immediately resumed its business with great success.
1952
EMULSIO the first liquid wax comes out. The name derives from “emulsion”, a chemical process that allows oily substances to be mixed with aqueous substances in a stable manner.
1953
In Switzerland, Alfredo Sutter creates the “B” department, the first one in Europe aimed at large users which, in 1961, became SUTTER TASKI (Thurgauer Adolf Sutter Chemie Industrie.
1954
Arturo Sutter II succeeds his father, Adolfo II, at the helm of the Italian company.
1959
The first Sutter Carosello (TV advertising programme lasting 10/15 minutes) for MARGA shoe polishes, entitled “Oggi è di moda…”, comes on the air.
1960
The EMULSIO wax bottle with a pump handle wins the Packaging Award.

That same year, the first Machining Centre was installed, which in 1967 was replaced by one of the very first "IBM Electronic Computers".
1966
Sutter Italia and Sutter Switzerland introduce professional cleaning products and machines to the Italian market with the SUTTER TASKI brand.

The same year, the “Professional Centre for the maintenance of buildings”, the first vocational training centre in Europe, is opened in Switzerland.
1967
TERGEX MANGIAPOLVERE, the first antistatic dust removal product, comes out.
1969
Construction begins on the Borghetto di Borbera site, which will start production three years later.
1971
The manufacture of TASKI products begins in Genoa.
1973
STIRABENE, the new starch to make ironing quick and easy, is brought out.
1976
Alfredo Sutter, owner of the Swiss company and assets in Northern European countries, dies.

Having no heirs, the following year, his wife decides to sell the company and the TASKI trademark to the Anglo-Dutch multinational Unilever. The Sutter Switzerland company is renamed Lever Sutter.
1980
All production activities, laboratories and offices are permanently moved to Borghetto di Borbera.
1981
Sutter Industriale is founded in Italy.

The same year Sutter Italia ceases production and marketing with the TASKI brand.
1982
6 MESI, the first long-lasting wax, is brought out.
1988
The first ecological line of Sutter Industriale is brought out.
1988
International development begins with the opening of branches in Spain (1988), France (1991), Portugal (1995), Argentina (1997), Chile (2004), Brazil (1988).
1993
Aldo Sutter, son of Arturo II, takes over the company.
1994
Sutter Industriale becomes Sutter Professional.
1995
EMULSIO FACILE, the first self-polishing liquid wax, is brought out.
1998
The company certification process begins:
- ISO 9001: Certification of the Quality Management System
- ISO 14001: Certification of the Environmental Management System (2003)
- OHSAS 18001: Certification of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (2014), then updated with ISO 45001 (2020)
- SA 8000: Certification of the Social Accountability Management System (2021).
2000
Arturo Sutter II opens the Company Museum.
2001
Andrea Sutter, Aldo’s first child, is born. The sixth generation is being prepared.

On the product front, EMULSIO RAVVIVA cleaning product is brought out.
2004
The “right dose” bottle wins the Packaging Award.
2004
The same year, Sutter establishes a partnership agreement with Procter&Gamble for the exclusive distribution of their products in the professional sector in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
2005
EMULSIO PRONTO ALL’USO comes out.
2006
The first products with Ecolabel Certification are out.
2007
Sutter obtains the European certification “Charter for Sustainable Cleaning”, for company activities based on sustainable development of the environment and the health and safety of workers.
2008
Sutter celebrates its 150th anniversary.
2009
EMULSIO SALVAMBIENTE and ECOCAPS, the first concentrated ecological cleaning products in water-soluble film, are brought out.

ECOCAPS is nominated for the 2009 Legambiente Award for “Environmentally Friendly Innovation”.
2010
EMULSIO SALVAMBIENTE wins the Packaging Award in the “Cleaning product” category.

ECOCAPS wins the “Afidamp Clean Green Award” in the Chemical Products category.
2013
EMULSIO SALVAMBIENTE, in water-soluble refills, is elected "Product of the Year".
2016
EMULSIO NATURALE is elected “Product of the Year” and the CATTURAODORI line wins the “Brands Award”.
2017
Sutter wins the “2017 EU Ecolabel National Award” for the ZERO line.
2018
Sutter celebrates another milestone, its 160th anniversary.
2020
Sutter wins the “2020 EU Ecolabel National Award” in the Products category, for the best innovative design for reducing environmental impact.
2021
The "Foresta Sutter" was born, with the aim of contributing to reforestation, offsetting Co2 emissions, protecting biodiversity and supporting communities in Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.
2022
With the acquisition by Henkel of the GENERAL brand a historic range of laundry detergents, Sutter starts making huge investments to upgrade machinery and increase the production capacity of the Borghetto di Borbera factory, creating new job opportunities and employment for those in the surrounding area.