
Gibbs is owned by Evyap, a privately held Turkish personal care company founded in 1927 by Mehmet Rifat Evyap and headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. Evyap introduced the Gibbs brand in 1985 as a men's grooming and personal care line. Gibbs products are manufactured at Evyap facilities in Turkey, Egypt, and Malaysia and sold in over 100 countries. Evyap is privately held by the Evyap family and is not listed on any stock exchange. The company is one of the world's largest soap manufacturers with a portfolio of seven brands including Duru, Arko, and Gibbs.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Gibbs | Evyap | Wholly owned |
Evyap introduced the Gibbs brand in 1985 to expand beyond its traditional soap categories into men's grooming and personal care. The brand was developed to leverage Evyap's manufacturing expertise in personal care products while targeting a specific consumer segment: men seeking affordable grooming products.
Through the late 1980s and 1990s, Gibbs expanded across Turkey and neighboring countries. The brand established itself in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, regions where Evyap had strong distribution networks. Gibbs focused on product innovation, quality ingredients, and targeted marketing to specific consumer segments.
By the 2000s, Gibbs had achieved market presence in numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The brand expanded its product line to include shaving foams, deodorants, aftershaves, and other grooming products. Gibbs benefited from Evyap's investment in research and development and its manufacturing scale, which allowed competitive pricing in mass-market segments.
Gibbs represents Evyap's strategy of operating multiple brands targeting different market segments. While Duru focuses on beauty soaps, Arko on men's shaving, and Activex on antibacterial products, Gibbs targets the broader men's personal care segment with a range of grooming products.
What does Evyap own?
Evyap owns and operates 15 personal care brands including Duru, Arko, Activex, Evy Baby, Gibbs, Fax, and Sanino. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and also operates Evyapport, Turkey's fourth largest private port. Evyap Life Chemistry, the oleochemical division, serves more than 600 customers across 55 countries. Evyap provides contracted manufacturing services for leading international brands.
Is Evyap publicly traded?
No, Evyap is a privately held company owned and controlled by the Evyap family. The company does not have publicly traded shares and is not listed on any stock exchange, allowing it to maintain long-term strategic focus without public market pressures.
Who founded Evyap?
Evyap was founded in 1927 by Mehmet Rıfat Evyap in Erzurum, Turkey. The company started as a small soap atelier and has grown into one of the world's leading personal care manufacturers under nearly a century of family leadership.
Where is Evyap headquartered?
Evyap is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, where the company maintains its corporate offices, research and development center, and primary strategic operations. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
How many brands does Evyap own?
Evyap owns 15 brands across personal care categories, including Duru, Arko, Activex, Evy Baby, Gibbs, Fax, and Sanino. Together, these brands offer more than 500 products serving consumers in over 100 countries worldwide.
Who owns Evyap?
Evyap is owned by the Evyap family, descendants of founder Mehmet Rıfat Evyap. The company has remained under family ownership and control since its founding in 1927, with no external shareholders or public trading.
What is Evyap's market position?
Evyap ranks among the top 100 industrial companies in Turkey and holds dominant positions in soap markets across Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The company ranks among the top two soap brands in countries including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, Poland, and Azerbaijan. Activex is the clear leader in Turkey's liquid soap category.
Is Evyap sustainable?
Evyap maintains comprehensive sustainability practices with ISO 9001 quality management certification, GMP certification for cosmetics manufacturing, ISO 27001 information security certification, and RSPO certification for sustainable palm oil sourcing (Evyap Malaysia). The company focuses on environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, and regulatory compliance across its operations.
What is the new Evyap Indonesia plant?
In February 2026, Evyap opened a $130 million manufacturing facility in Indonesia's Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone, North Sumatra. Operated by PT Evyap Sabun Indonesia, the plant produces palm oil-derived products including fatty acids, glycerin, soap noodles, and finished soap products. It has three production lines with a combined annual capacity of 650,000 tonnes and benefits from tax exemptions of up to 20 years.
Gibbs's sustainability practices fall under Evyap's corporate sustainability framework. Evyap does not publish brand-level sustainability data for Gibbs.
Evyap does not publish a standalone sustainability report. The company's private ownership means it is not subject to public market ESG reporting requirements.
Gibbs has not received specific formal industry awards. The brand's recognition comes from its sustained market presence in the regions where it operates.
Gibbs has maintained a clean product safety record with no major recalls or significant controversies reported.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever | United Kingdom | 1983 | Mid market | Global | Mens | |
| Procter Gamble | USA | 1901 | Market leader-declining-share | Global | Mens | |
| Edgewell Personal Care | USA | 1926 | Number two | Global | Male | |
| Edgewell Personal Care | United States | 1772 | Mass market | Europe | All Genders | |
| Evyap | Turkey | 1995 | Mass market | Eastern europe | Unisex | |
| Procter Gamble | USA | 2001 | Market leader | Global | Female |
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Market Positioning: Gibbs competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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