Firm that owns Marissa’s Cocoa Brown tan name posts big prof its
Marissa created the product, but trademark is held by a family f irm that just posted €18m earnings
THE COMPANY behind some of the biggest beauty brands and bloggers is reaping the financial rewards from the demand for cosmetics.
Sundrelle Ltd, a family-run wholesaler and distribution business based in Co. Meath, has just posted accumulated earnings of more than €18m.
Last year alone, Sundrelle made after-tax profits of €1,235,205 for the year. The business now boasts accumulated earning of €18,808,594 as it cleans up on the beauty business.
Sundrelle stocks pharmacies nationwide with everything from tan and make-up to beauty brushes.
The company is the wholesaler and distribution agent for branded beauty products from the likes of Suzanne Jackson of the SoSueMe blog and UK mega-blogger Zoella.
And it appears to be reaping the rewards of the girls’ high profiles. Sundrelle is run by the O’Gorman family and director Fran O’Gorman is listed as co-director with Suzanne Jackson in her company SanFran Cosmetics.
Sundrelle also owns the trademark for the name Cocoa Brown tan, the brand of tan queen Marissa Carter. It registered the name with the patent office in 2012.
Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday this week, a spokesman for Sundrelle said its business was thriving and that there were big bucks to be made in beauty.
‘We came from small beginnings and we have gradually grown and built up the business to what it is today,’ said a spokesman.
He also confirmed that Sundrelle, and not Marissa, owned the trademark for Cocoa Brown, despite it bearing her name.
‘Sundrelle did register the trademark a few years ago. We are the wholesaler and distributor for the brand,’ he said.
He added of Marissa and Suzanne: ‘They are exceptional businesswomen and we are very happy to work with them. They are both at the top of their game at the moment.’
Speaking to the MoS this week, Marissa confirmed that Sundrelle owned the Cocoa Brown name, which she said was for ‘distribution purposes.’
‘Sundrelle is the Cocoa Brown distributor in Ireland and the UK and as such has a licence to use the Cocoa Brown trademark, but just in those countries.’
She was also glowing about Sundrelle and their mutual business relationship.
‘They’ve been a fantastic distributor. I’ve been very fortunate to find exceptional distributors in Ireland, Scandinavia, Australia and the US.’
The beauty industry is hugely competitive and enormously lucrative. It is worth hundreds of millions to the Irish economy.
The splurge in beauty products has been fuelled in part by the bloggers, whose positive reviews of products can generate a surge in sales.
As revealed by the MoS, Revenue is planning to crack down on bloggers and online ‘influencers’.
Revenue told the MoS that products received by bloggers and online influencers for marketing purposes were subject to tax as ‘benefits in kind’.
‘They own the name. They’ve been fantastic’