Kenvue – South African trademarks

Updated 8 November 2026

Kenvue is a consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023. Its brands include Band-Aid, Listerine, Neutrogena, Johnson's and Panado.

How Kenvue has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.

Download report (PDF)
#296largest trademark owner in South Africa (of 121,626)
199trademarks filed
5different logos published since 2020
18of 45 classes used
1917first trademark filed
55filed in the last 10 years

Kenvue trademarks in 45 seconds

Kenvue trademarks in 45 seconds

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/kenvue-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html

A portfolio built over time

Kenvue filed its first South African trademark in 1917 and has filed 199 since; its busiest year was 1994, with 18 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.

Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.

The names behind the portfolio

Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.

NameMarksFiling years
Kenvue4751917–2025

Where Kenvue expanded its business

Trademark classes show what a business sells. Kenvue's portfolio is concentrated in pharmaceuticals (class 5), cosmetics & cleaning (class 3), kitchenware (class 21). Its most recent moves were into advertising & retail (2020), electronics & software (2017), medical & beauty care (1994).

Kenvue trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Kenvue trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/kenvue-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html

Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.

ClassMarksShareSince
5 Pharmaceuticals9145.7%1917
3 Cosmetics & cleaning6432.2%1917
21 Kitchenware63.0%1932
41 Education & entertainment52.5%1977
44 Medical & beauty care52.5%1994
10 Medical devices42.0%1956
16 Paper & print42.0%1977
35 Advertising & retail42.0%2020

The brands Kenvue protects most

The word marks and logo names Kenvue has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.

#BrandTrademarksClassesFiled
1BAND-AID13111956–1977
2KENVUE992022–2022
3NEUTROGENA851974–2017
4REALISE THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF EVERYDAY CARE772022–2022
5LISTERINE631917–1932
6CLEAN & CLEAR531994–2024
7CLINICALLY MILDNESS PROVEN441994–1994
8FOR PEOPLE WITH SKIN442020–2020
9NEUTROGENA SKIN FORWARD442020–2020
10NO MORE TEARS421971–1995
11TEK331959–1959
12SAVLON321955–1979
13BODY CLEAR221999–1999
14CETOSHAMPOO221995–1995
15COOL MINT LISTERINE221991–1991

Logos filed most often (since 2020)

Kenvue trademark logo
3 filings · 3 classes
Kenvue trademark logo
3 filings · 3 classes
Kenvue trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Kenvue trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class
Kenvue trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class

Kenvue's logos

The 5 different logos Kenvue has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.

How quickly its trademarks are registered

Over the last five years, Kenvue's marks took a median of 4.1 years from filing to registration, slower than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 3.3 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance. In 2026 the median jumped to 4.1 years: older applications – many filed years earlier – were finally accepted and registered, as the registry worked through its examination backlog.

Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.

Who files the most in Kenvue's classes

Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Kenvue's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Kenvue's market position, not who is most like it.

In the last five years, Kenvue was #170 of 2,050 filers in class 5 (pharmaceuticals), with 6 of 6,111 trademarks; #29 of 1,836 filers in class 3 (cosmetics & cleaning), with 12 of 3,958 trademarks; #676 of 817 filers in class 21 (kitchenware), with 1 of 1,364 trademarks.

Kenvue's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.

Top trademark filers in class 5 (pharmaceuticals), South Africa 1975–2024: Kenvue

Top trademark filers in class 5 (pharmaceuticals), South Africa 1975–2024: Kenvue

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/kenvue-south-african-trademarks/class-5-race-video.html

Main competitors – the companies most like Kenvue

Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Kenvue's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.

Kenvue's closest competitors in South Africa are Unilever, Amka, Beiersdorf and L'Oreal.

Kenvue trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Kenvue trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/kenvue-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html

Trademark filings per year: Kenvue (orange) and its five closest competitors.

#CompanyRelationshipSimilarity
1UnileverDirect competitor76%
2AmkaDirect competitor75%
3BeiersdorfDirect competitor75%
4L'OrealDirect competitor75%
5Procter & GambleDirect competitor73%
6ReckittDirect competitor72%
7Clinique LaboratoriesDirect competitor71%
8Botle Buhle BrandsDirect competitor70%
9Johnson & JohnsonRelated field74%
10SC JohnsonRelated field73%

Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.

Kenvue – relevant export countries

South Africa exported US$2.7 billion of the goods Kenvue's main classes cover in the last year – pharmaceutical preparations; dietary supplements; nutritional supplements; acne (class 5); cosmetics; skin; body; lotions (class 3); toothbrushes; dental floss; exfoliating pads (class 21); medical apparatus; bandages; diagnostic; examination (class 10); sheets (class 16). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Kenvue's trademarks matter most.

Adjust the weightings

These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.

Worldwide

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1European Union74US$171 m+3%NationalUS$2,388
2United States of America73US$104 m+2%NationalUS$3,425
3United Kingdom65US$56 m-0%NationalUS$1,371
4Japan60US$13 m-3%NationalUS$1,774
5Canada59US$9.0 m+1%NationalUS$2,192
6Australia59US$41 m-2%NationalUS$2,380
7Namibia57US$381 m+8%ARIPOUS$450
8Russian Federation55US$1.4 m-2%NationalUS$1,915
9Hong Kong SAR53US$2.3 m+2%NationalUS$1,715
10United Arab Emirates53US$112 m+4%NationalUS$14,375

Africa

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 5 classes
1Namibia57US$381 m+8%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
2Zimbabwe53US$264 m+6%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
3Botswana53US$336 m-2%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
4Mozambique52US$238 m+4%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
5Nigeria51US$40 m-4%NationalUS$1,015 S&Z
6OAPI (17 states)50US$29 m+5%NationalUS$1,563 S&Z
7Malawi48US$66 m+19%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z
8Lesotho47US$102 m+14%NationalUS$326
9Morocco47US$1.6 m+12%NationalUS$1,408
10Tanzania46US$41 m-8%ARIPOUS$450 S&Z

SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 5 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$301 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.

Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.

Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z

BrandClassesNigeriaOAPI (17 states)
BAND-AID11US$2,233US$2,671
KENVUE9US$1,827US$2,302
NEUTROGENA5US$1,015US$1,563
REALISE THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF EVERYDAY CARE7US$1,421US$1,932
LISTERINE3US$609US$1,194

S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.

TM Country Selection  Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.

Word marks you may have considered opposing

For Kenvue's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Kenvue's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.

Similar to BAND-AID (classes 3, 5, 41; searched 2018-05-30 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to KENVUE (classes 3, 5, 21, 41, 44; searched 2020-02-26 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to NEUTROGENA (classes 3, 5, 9, 10, 21; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to REALISE THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF EVERYDAY CARE (classes 3, 5, 9, 35, 41, 42, 44; searched 2018-02-28 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to LISTERINE (classes 3, 5, 21; searched 2022-07-27 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.

How S&Z can help you

S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.

We manage your trademarks – not just file them

Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:

Renewal managementEvery renewal date in your portfolio tracked and paid online.
Competitor watchGet real-time competitor analysis.
Similar-mark watchNew word marks that come close to yours, found as they are published using SimTM.
Expansion into AfricaLowest-cost trademark expansion into Africa - Nigeria, OAPI.

Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices

S&Z prices – South African trademarks

Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificateUS$240
Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same timeUS$225
Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing)R1,027
≈ US$62.29

Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.

Kenvue's next five years of renewals

94 of Kenvue's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$5,856 over the five years.

Kenvue: frequently asked questions

What should Kenvue consider for its trademarks?
  • Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Kenvue – relevant export countries”).
  • Possible gaps: its competitors also protect class 1 (chemicals), class 30 (coffee, flour & sweets) – worth checking against what the business sells or plans to sell.
  • Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.
Which of Kenvue's brands have been protected the longest?
Several of Kenvue's brands have been protected for generations and are still being filed today: NEUTROGENA (first filed 1974, most recently 2017); CLEAN & CLEAR (first filed 1994, most recently 2024); FOR PEOPLE WITH SKIN (first filed 2020, most recently 2020); NEUTROGENA SKIN FORWARD (first filed 2020, most recently 2020); KENVUE (first filed 2022, most recently 2022). Brands that are refiled over decades – in new classes, new logos or updated packaging – keep their protection current as the business changes.
How many new brands does Kenvue launch each year?
Counting only brand names it had never filed before, Kenvue filed about 2.2 new brand names a year over the last five complete years, more than the 2.0 a year in the five years before; its busiest year in the last decade was 2016, with 4. Its closest competitors averaged 12.6 new brand names a year over the same period (Unilever 5.4, Amka 15.4, Beiersdorf 7.8, L'Oreal 26.0, Procter & Gamble 8.2). New brand names are a good indicator of product launches and innovation.
How broadly does Kenvue protect each brand?
Kenvue has filed 98 different brand names. 78% of them are protected in a single class, while 4 cover five classes or more – the widest is BAND-AID, in 11 classes. A brand used beyond its core product (merchandise, services, related goods) needs protection in each of those classes: in South Africa each class is a separate application.
When in the year does Kenvue usually file trademarks?
Over the last ten years, Kenvue filed most often in September (33% of its filings), November (21%) and August (12%); the busiest quarter was Q3 (46%). Filing well before a launch matters: rights in South Africa date from the filing date, and examination can take more than a year.
Which classes do Kenvue's competitors protect that Kenvue does not?
Several of Kenvue's closest competitors have filed since 2015 in classes Kenvue has never used: class 1 (chemicals, 4 of its top five competitors); class 30 (coffee, flour & sweets, 4 of its top five competitors); class 32 (beer & soft drinks, 3 of its top five competitors); class 7 (machines, 2 of its top five competitors). These are not necessarily gaps – they may reflect different products – but they are worth reviewing against the goods and services the business actually offers or plans.
How do retailers' own brands compete with Kenvue in trademarks?
Retailers' house brands are a growing presence in Kenvue's market. In class 5 (pharmaceuticals), Woolworths, Shoprite and Pick n Pay filed 1% of all trademarks in 2020–2024, compared with 0% in 2005–2014. Retailers are often a brand owner's largest customers and, through their own brands, also its competitors.
Why did some of Kenvue's trademarks take more than five years to register?
Of Kenvue's trademarks registered in the last two years, 70% had waited more than four years since filing. Almost all of that time is examination: the South African registry has been working through a backlog, so many applications filed in 2020–2022 are only now being accepted. Once a mark is accepted, it is advertised and normally registered within about six months. Prompt responses to the registry's examination reports (office actions) avoid adding further delay.
How long do Kenvue's South African trademarks last, and when must they be renewed?
A South African trademark registration lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely. Renewal can be paid in the months before the due date, and a six-month grace period applies after it, with a late-payment fee; a mark that is not renewed is removed from the register. A registered mark can also be challenged if it has not been used for five years or more, so use matters as much as renewal.
Do Kenvue's South African trademarks protect its brands elsewhere in Africa?
No – trademarks are territorial, and a South African registration covers South Africa only. South Africa is not a member of the Madrid system, so international registration is not available to South African applicants. Protection elsewhere in Africa comes from national filings (for example Nigeria), a single OAPI registration covering 17 West and Central African states, or a regional ARIPO application designating member states such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. S&Z files in all of these, including Nigeria together with South Africa (SANi).
What can Kenvue do if someone files a mark similar to one of its brands?
When a new application is advertised for opposition, the owner of an earlier, similar mark can oppose it – in South Africa within three months of the advertisement (this period can be extended). After registration, a conflicting mark can still be challenged through rectification of the register, and use of a confusingly similar mark can be stopped through an infringement action. The key is seeing new applications in time, which is what a similar-mark watch does.
What is SimTM?
SimTM is the similar-trademark technology behind GlobalIPCo's South African trademark watching services, which S&Z uses. It identifies newly published trademarks that sound or look similar to a registered mark, at four levels of sensitivity that progressively widen the marks flagged – from the most relevant to marks of more general interest. It is fast enough to check every trademark journal as it is published, so owners can be alerted to similar marks while they can still be opposed within the three-month opposition period. The word marks listed under “Word marks you may have considered opposing” were found with SimTM's two closest levels and then reviewed, so only marks we consider confusingly similar to Kenvue's brands are shown.
How accurate is the information on this page?
The figures, charts and videos on this page are based on trademark and trade data obtained by S&Z, and are only as accurate as that data. Records can be incomplete, delayed or contain errors, and linking marks to Kenvue and its group companies involves judgement. S&Z therefore does not guarantee that all the information is 100% accurate or complete. It is a general overview, not legal advice: please contact S&Z before relying on it for a filing, renewal, opposition or other decision.