Our story since 1763

Making cleaning history

Innovative and trend-setting cleaning products with the least possible risk for mankind and earth, that’s our mission. 3 centuries of family-owned business, that’s quite a story to discover.

1763

The history of Pollet began in 1763 when Léonard-Gilles Pollet opened a salt, soap, and oil business in the center of Tournai. Specifically, it is dedicated to supplying the coal mines with oil for the miners’ lamps.

1788

Like his father, Simon-Léonard Pollet, he swore in the Chamber of Commerce of Tournai “to manufacture and distribute goods, wholesale and cash”.

1830

Simon-Léonard Pollet’s son, named Raphaël-Dominique Pollet, took over as manager and decided to develop the oil mill and the soap factory.

1854

Raphaël Pollet, Leonard’s eldest son, an engineer who graduated in Lille, invests in the Pollet company. The first thing he does is install the first telephone in Tournai, become a Pioneer, and buy the first truck for the company.

1895

Pollet is committed to continuous innovation within the company. For this reason, Raphaël creates a hydrolysis system for distilling glycerin, a very successful product.

1912

Raphaël buys a glucose factory in Valenciennes and transforms it into a linseed flour and linseed oil factory.

1920

Creation of the company “Etablissements Raphaël Pollet”.

1930

Pollet founded a second glycerin distillation plant and developed his business in the Belgian Congo.

1940

The bombing affected the factory in Tournai, but Raphaël Pollet decided to restore its operation with a small production of legal soap rationed to meet the population’s needs.

1957

Michel Pollet succeeds his father Raphael in the business. As an emeritus chemist, he develops products and produces the first liquid soap marketed in Belgium, Linpol. This concentrated natural liquid soap can give a shiny, satin finish to all types of floors and is a great success. Every morning, more than 4 million m² of large surfaces are cleaned with Linpol.

1958

Acquisition of the Solarine brand from the Belgian “Engineering Products Company, Frison, Simon, and Co.” based in Péruwelz, formerly called Engineering Laundry. The formula of the Solarine cleaning products is in powder form and can wash and strip all paints and varnishes.

1980

Michel Pollet passes the management of the company to his son-in-law Antoine D’Hondt. Despite the company’s difficult economic situation, developing state-of-the-art products and modern control and international marketing methods produced good revenues.

1991

Pollet is the distributor of Vikan cleaning tools for Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Pollet represents a significant market position, as Vikan is considered the world specialist in hygienic cleaning tools.

1993

Creation of a new company in Tournai; Pollet asserts its pioneering role in biotechnology and the development of environmentally friendly cleaning products.

2006

Thanks to its partnership with Genesan, Pollet’s innovative products became available in the United States. A network of knowledgeable regional distributors is created in the following years, and Pollet solutions are used by big-name customers such as Grand Central Station, Madison Square Garden, or Harvard.

Pollet is the second Belgian company to obtain the European Ecolabel.

2012

Jean-Nicolas D’Hondt, son of Antoine D’Hondt and Francine Pollet, is appointed CEO of Pollet and becomes the eighth generation at the helm of the family company.

2013

Pollet celebrates 250 years on the market! It thus positioned itself as the oldest family-owned company still operating in Belgium.

On its 250th anniversary, Pollet presents a new logo to represent its transition to modernity and evolution visually. However, the logo still reflects the company’s culture and dynamism. The inspiration for the design is a soap bubble with the company’s historical colors, blue and white.

Also in this year, Pollet joins the Henokiens, the worldwide association bringing together family businesses over two hundred years old that aim to promote family businesses in Europe.

2014

Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, accompanied by the Minister-President of the Walloon Region, Rudy Demotte, visit Pollet. They had the opportunity to explore the company’s factory offices and meet with its employees.

2016

The King and Queen of Belgium go to Tournai and visit the company, Pollet. Thereby they meet with the employees and tour the plant and offices.

2017

Pollet now fully offsets its actual CO2 emissions. The company thus becomes one of the first 100% CO²-neutral industrial sites in Belgium.

2019

Probiotic cleaning for the 21st century. Pollet launches its PolVita cleaning products on the market containing billions of beneficial bacteria that act on all corners and edges of a surface to create a natural and protective microflora. In addition, they ensure effective and continuous cleaning, eliminating unpleasant odors.

2020

Pollet opened its first office in the United States.