Say goodbye to your favourite shoe polish: Australians shocked as iconic Kiwi product is discontinued forever
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Kiwi shoe polish has been a staple in Australian households for generations.
The distinctive little tin with the kiwi bird logo was a common sight in garages, shoe racks, and shoe-cleaning places across the country.
But now, after 117 years, the iconic shoe polish brand has quietly exited the market.
Founded in Australia in 1906 by William Ramsay—whose wife was a New Zealander—Kiwi Shoe Polish was an immediate success and was so popular that both the US and British army soldiers used it during the First World War.
Kiwi shoe polish was bought in around 180 countries, and it became the dominant shoe care brand worldwide.
However, it ceased to be Australian-owned when it was bought by the Sara Lee company in 1984. But it was sold again to SC Johnson in 2011.
After more than a century, Kiwi has now disappeared from supermarket shelves in Australia and New Zealand.
In an email to one disappointed Australian Kiwi user, SC Johnson's marketing team said: 'We are sorry to share that Kiwi has been discontinued and is no longer available in Australia and New Zealand.’
The email sender said in response: ‘It’s a real shame’.
‘A classic Aussie brand that's been around for generations sold off to a foreign company and scrapped,’ the anonymous sender said.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the cut in Australia and New Zealand was inevitable, as Kiwi ceased selling products in the UK market in January.
David James, whose family shoe repair and cleaning firm has been in existence for over 100 years, remarked at the time, 'Kiwi leaving is a sign of the times.'
‘In part, this is because people wear suits and smart shoes much less,’ he added.
‘[COVID-19] accelerated that with more working from home, but a trend was in place before then. Also, trainers are being worn more and more—even to work.’
According to a spokesperson of SC Johnson, the company had seen a drop in people using shoe polish due to the ‘rise in casual shoes that don’t require formal polishing’.
However, it would still sell Kiwi products in countries where formal shoe care ‘remains relevant’.
Zion Market Research’s study showed that the global shoe care market size was worth $10.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to rise to $23.2 billion in 2030.
In a similar story, one famed Aussie jeans brand experienced a financial downfall, with its collapse having a major economic impact. Learn more about the story here.
Members, what do you think about Kiwi shoe polish being discontinued? Have you used Kiwi in any of your shoes? Let us know in the comments below!
The distinctive little tin with the kiwi bird logo was a common sight in garages, shoe racks, and shoe-cleaning places across the country.
But now, after 117 years, the iconic shoe polish brand has quietly exited the market.
Founded in Australia in 1906 by William Ramsay—whose wife was a New Zealander—Kiwi Shoe Polish was an immediate success and was so popular that both the US and British army soldiers used it during the First World War.
Kiwi shoe polish was bought in around 180 countries, and it became the dominant shoe care brand worldwide.
The iconic Kiwi shoe polish is no longer in Australia and New Zealand. Credit: SC Johnson Australia
However, it ceased to be Australian-owned when it was bought by the Sara Lee company in 1984. But it was sold again to SC Johnson in 2011.
After more than a century, Kiwi has now disappeared from supermarket shelves in Australia and New Zealand.
In an email to one disappointed Australian Kiwi user, SC Johnson's marketing team said: 'We are sorry to share that Kiwi has been discontinued and is no longer available in Australia and New Zealand.’
The email sender said in response: ‘It’s a real shame’.
‘A classic Aussie brand that's been around for generations sold off to a foreign company and scrapped,’ the anonymous sender said.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the cut in Australia and New Zealand was inevitable, as Kiwi ceased selling products in the UK market in January.
David James, whose family shoe repair and cleaning firm has been in existence for over 100 years, remarked at the time, 'Kiwi leaving is a sign of the times.'
‘In part, this is because people wear suits and smart shoes much less,’ he added.
‘[COVID-19] accelerated that with more working from home, but a trend was in place before then. Also, trainers are being worn more and more—even to work.’
Email sender was disappointed after receiving this email from SC Johnson. Credit: Daily Mail Australia
According to a spokesperson of SC Johnson, the company had seen a drop in people using shoe polish due to the ‘rise in casual shoes that don’t require formal polishing’.
However, it would still sell Kiwi products in countries where formal shoe care ‘remains relevant’.
Zion Market Research’s study showed that the global shoe care market size was worth $10.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to rise to $23.2 billion in 2030.
In a similar story, one famed Aussie jeans brand experienced a financial downfall, with its collapse having a major economic impact. Learn more about the story here.
Members, what do you think about Kiwi shoe polish being discontinued? Have you used Kiwi in any of your shoes? Let us know in the comments below!
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