BARWA Cooperative was set up in Cracow. The seat was located at Rynek Główny 33. On the 15th of April 1949 the entity was registered under name of: Wytwórnia Artykułów Chemiczno-Gospodarczych Spółdzielnia Pracy BARWA. From the very start it entered the market as soap manufacturer. The first product was common soap.

In 1950 the first logo was introduced. From the very start up until now Barwa is represented by a parrot.

The Cooperative started to broaden its product range by Christmas decorations. Barwa’s products started to be exported to USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany and France.

In the 60′s the Company broadened its product range by a. o. shoe polish and floor paste. In total the production took place in six manufacturing departments located across the city of Cracow.

As late as the end of the 60′s Barwa launched production of hair dyes, tailors’ chalk, office mucilage, animal marking ink, Sanit powder and Pucyk cleaning paste, which was the prototype for Oli paste, which has been included in the Company’s product range until today

In 1974 the Company celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The Company’s name was officially changed to Przemysłowe Zakłady Chemii Gospodarczej Barwa – Spółdzielnia Pracy.

In 1977 the product range was broadened by specialised soaps in bars. Barwa manufactured many kinds of soaps dedicated for wide circle of clients. In total the range featured 11 sorts of this product, including sulphur, undecylenic (manufactured until present), salicylic, ichthammol, calamus and hop as well as tar soaps.

In 1978 production of Jagna washing up liquid was launched.

In 1979 automatic soap production line was purchased. The Mazzoni line was among the most modern in Poland.

The 80′s In the 80′s the Company’s logo was changed for the first time.

Barwa entered the market of body care cosmetics. The product range included among others : hair shampoos, intimate care liquids and liquid soaps. The MISS brand was also registered, then becoming one of the key brands in the Company’s portfolio.

The logotype gets simpler and more understandable. Red parrot over the Company’s name in black appears on the products until 2007. The logo itself is still in force up until now, and varies in colour version only.

The Company’s new headquarters was moved from Rynek Główny to its new address at ul. Lea 210a in Cracow.

The line included soap shavings, toilet soap and hair shampoo. In the following years, along with increase in popularity, the line became broadened by bath lotion and washing liquid.

Stanisław Brożyna started working at Barwa in 1989 as Cooperative’s deputy Technical Manager. Since 1992 he served uninterruptedly as the Company’s President up until 2013.

In June 1997 Barwa received a prestigious distinction Silver AS for business solidity and reliability and promoting Polish entrepreneurship.

 In October 2000 change of legal form took place from Work Cooperative to Limited Company.

At present the Company acts in accordance with ISO 9001:2008. The annual audits are conducted pursuant to provisions of quality system by TÜV Rheinland InterCert.

Starting from 2004 all soaps by Barwa are manufactured on basis of natural plant chips derived from palm oil.

In September 2007 construction of the Company’s new headquarters and production plant at ul. Szafrana 11 in Cracow was completed. Therefore Barwa became owner of one of the most advanced cosmetic and household care products factory in Poland.

In January 2008 the Company purchased the top modern soap packaging machine ACMA 7250. At the moment of the purchase it was the only device of such type in Poland.

Barwa joined BUSINESS GAZELLES 2008 and received the title awarded by “Puls Biznesu” journal editorial team for highly dynamic development, enviable reputation, honesty towards business partners, employees and the State Treasury.

In 2010 Barwa purchased automatic line for liquid products packaging.

Antibacterial mattifying cream of Siarkowa Moc line received a prestigious prize called All-Time Cosmetic Product awarded by the most popular cosmetic web portal Wizaż.pl. The prize was awarded for the best and highest notes given by the portal’s consumers and reviewers.

Barwa set priority on development and started its expansion over foreign markets. In the first few months of the Company’s activity on that field could we already boast the presence of our cosmetic products not only on the markets in Europe, but also in the Middle East.