Who owns John Frieda?
John Frieda is owned by Kao (Japan, TSE: 4452), which has owned the brand since 1 November 2002.[1] John Frieda was founded in 1988 in London and was independent until 2002.
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Kao Corporation reported
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (1988–2002)
- Owner HQ
- 🇯🇵 Japan, Tokyo
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, London
- Founded
- 1988
- Category
- Personal care & beauty › Hair care › Shampoo & conditioner
- Parent ticker
- TSE: 4452
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About John Frieda
John Frieda was founded by a London hairdresser in 1988 and built on products aimed at specific hair problems, notably Frizz Ease, launched in 1990. Kao acquired the business in 2002 for about $450 million. Frizz Ease was among the first mass products sold for a named hair concern rather than for a hair type.
Ownership timeline of John Frieda
Where John Frieda sits in Kao
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Other brands owned by Kao in personal care & beauty
Latest news about John Frieda
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of John Frieda?
The parent company of John Frieda is Kao, a publicly listed company headquartered in Japan.
Is John Frieda British or Japanese?
John Frieda originated in the United Kingdom in 1988, but it is owned today by Kao, which is headquartered in Japan. So John Frieda is a British-origin brand under Japanese ownership.
Since when has Kao owned John Frieda?
Kao has owned John Frieda since 1 November 2002.
Who owned John Frieda before Kao?
John Frieda was an independent company from its founding in 1988 in London until Kao acquired it in 2002.
Is John Frieda still owned by Kao?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, John Frieda is still owned by Kao. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Kao Corporation Integrated Report 2025 — Kao Corporation, Annual report, published 31 March 2026; retrieved 6 September 2026.
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