Dr. Scholl's - Present Day

Present Day

William M. Scholl died in 1968 at the age of 86, with over 1000 patented footcare products to his name.

He left shares to all of his family, leaving the principal shareholdings and operations of the company to his nephews, William H. Scholl (1920–2002; who became President and took over European and non-North American operations), and Jack E. Scholl (1926–2006; Vice-President, who took over North America). At this point, 45% of Scholl's sales came from its non-U.S. operations, with 1/3 of foreign sales originating from the United Kingdom. Sales of $60 million in 1966, reached over $150 million by 1974, from over 500 product lines.

To simplify the complicated share holdings, the family agreed to float the company via an initial public offering in 1971. After entering the Fortune 500, in 1979 it was acquired for $130M by Schering-Plough. In 1987, Schering-Plough sold the European, Latin American, and Asian overseas operations, and the Dr. Scholl brand to household electrical appliance manufacturer European Home Products of Basingstoke, England, for $160 million. Following completion of the merger, EHP listed on the London Stock Market as Scholl plc. In the late 1990s in response to the increasing incidence of travel related Deep Vein Thrombosis, the company launched a range of clinical compression socks. It also incorporated gel inserts into its iconic Scholl sandals.

In 1998, Scholl plc and Seton Heathcare plc merged to form Seton-Scholl plc, which merged with London International Group in 1999, the makers of Durex-brand condoms, to form SSL International. Reckitt Benckiser bought SSL in 2010. The North American sub-brand is now under the control of Merck & Co..