Culligan
A global water-treatment brand offering filtration, softening, purification, and water-delivery solutions through direct operations and a dealer network.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Culligan is a United States-based water-treatment company and consumer brand founded by Emmett Culligan in 1936. Its business developed from an early water-softening discovery into a broad portfolio of residential, commercial, and service-based water solutions. The company’s products and services include water softeners, drinking-water filtration, reverse-osmosis systems, bottled and delivered water, bottleless dispensers, and related treatment equipment. Culligan reaches customers through a combination of company operations, franchisees, dealers, and business offices. The company originated in Northbrook, Illinois, where Emmett Culligan experimented with a simple filter made from a perforated coffee can and greensand. The device unexpectedly demonstrated water-softening properties, providing the basis for the Culligan Zeolite Company. Early financial support came from members of the Culligan family, and the initial operation was established in a blacksmith’s shop. The first franchised dealership opened in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1938, followed by a second dealership in Hagerstown, Maryland. This dealership model became a defining feature of Culligan’s expansion and continues to shape its route to market. After a corporate reorganization in the 1940s, Emmett Culligan moved from the presidency to the chairmanship in 1950, while Harold Werhane became president. The company adopted the name Culligan, Incorporated, in 1962. It subsequently passed through several ownership structures, including Beatrice Foods, E-II Holdings, Astrum International, United States Filter, Vivendi, and Veolia Environnement. Culligan was spun off from Astrum in 1995, acquired by United States Filter in 1998, and later sold by Veolia to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2003. Centerbridge Partners acquired the business in 2012, and BDT Capital Partners acquired it in 2021. Culligan’s brand identity has historically been built around convenience, service, and the promise of improving household water quality. Its long-running “Hey, Culligan Man!” advertising platform made the company’s service representative an instantly recognizable figure in American popular culture. The campaign began in radio advertising in 1959 and expanded into television and animated commercials. In 2018, Culligan introduced a North American rebranding under the Culligan Water name and modernized the slogan to “Hey, Culligan!” The company’s current business spans residential drinking water and treatment, commercial water systems, water delivery, and dealer-supported maintenance. Its international network has been described as comprising more than 1,000 dealers and business offices across more than 90 countries, with more than 600 dealers in North America and over 14,000 employees. Culligan remains a private company headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, and positions itself across mid-range and premium water-treatment applications rather than as a single-product manufacturer. The company’s current operations span residential drinking-water and treatment, commercial water systems, water delivery, and dealer-supported maintenance. Its international network is described as more than 1,000 dealers and business offices in over 90 countries, including more than 600 dealers in North America, with a workforce exceeding 14,000 employees. Culligan remains a privately held company headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, positioned as a service-led provider for mid-range to premium water-treatment applications rather than a single-product manufacturer.
History
Culligan began in 1936 when Emmett Culligan established the Culligan Zeolite Company with financial and operational support from members of his family. The first workshop operated in Jack McLaughlin’s blacksmith shop in Northbrook, Illinois. Culligan’s early product concept came from an improvised experiment: Emmett perforated the bottom of a coffee can, filled it with greensand, and passed water through the container. The resulting treatment effect revealed that the device could soften water, forming the technical and commercial foundation of the business. The company expanded through franchising. Its first franchised dealership opened in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1938, and a second opened in Hagerstown, Maryland. In 1945, Emmett dissolved the original partnership with his brothers and incorporated a new company. He served as president until 1950, when he became chairman and Harold Werhane assumed the presidency. The corporate name was changed to Culligan, Incorporated, in 1962. Over time, the company developed a network-based operating model in which local dealers installed, serviced, and sold water-treatment equipment while the central brand supported technology, marketing, and product development. Culligan later became part of Beatrice Foods. The company was subsequently involved in the complex restructuring and ownership changes surrounding E-II Holdings, American Brands, Astrum International, and Samsonite. Culligan was spun off from Astrum in 1995. United States Filter acquired the company in 1998, and United States Filter was acquired by Vivendi in 1999. Vivendi separated its water activities in 2000 into the business that became Veolia Environnement. Veolia sold Culligan to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2003. During the 2000s, Culligan continued to expand its dealer and international operations. Entrepreneur magazine recognized it in 2004 as the leading franchise in its industry. In 2007, the headquarters moved from Northbrook to Rosemont, Illinois. The Rosemont site included an analytical laboratory described as certified by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for compliance with National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference standards. Centerbridge Partners acquired Culligan in 2012. Culligan’s advertising history is an important part of its brand development. Its earliest known advertisement appeared in Life magazine in 1947. The “Hey, Culligan Man!” platform was created for radio in 1959 by Dallas Williams Productions. The advertisements used a domestic scenario in which a woman called out to the Culligan service representative, turning the service model into a memorable brand character. Variations of the concept continued across radio and television for decades, including animated work directed by Dan Bessie. In 2018, the company launched a North American rebranding effort using the Culligan Water name. The campaign retained the recognition value of the established slogan while shortening it to “Hey, Culligan!”. In 2021, BDT Capital Partners acquired Culligan. The same year, the company became part of public controversy surrounding Clayton, Dubilier & Rice’s acquisition bid for Morrisons. Critics alleged that the private-equity owner had extracted value from Culligan and left it carrying substantial debt; the firm rejected those claims. Culligan now operates as a private, internationally active water-treatment business. Reference material describes a network of more than 1,000 dealers and business offices in over 90 countries, including more than 600 dealers in North America, and a workforce exceeding 14,000 employees. Its activities cover residential water treatment, commercial systems, water delivery, filtration, softening, purification, equipment service, and recurring maintenance.
- 2021
Acquired by BDT Capital Partners
[1]BDT Capital Partners acquired Culligan from Centerbridge Partners.
- 2018
North American rebrand
[1]Culligan launched a North American rebranding as Culligan Water and shortened its slogan to “Hey, Culligan!”.
- 2012
Acquired by Centerbridge Partners
[1]Centerbridge Partners acquired Culligan.
- 2007
Headquarters moved to Rosemont
[1]Culligan moved its headquarters from Northbrook, Illinois, to Rosemont, Illinois, where it also operated an analytical laboratory.
- 2003
Sold to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
[1]Veolia Environnement sold Culligan to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
- 1998
Acquired by United States Filter
[1]United States Filter acquired Culligan as part of its water-treatment business.
- 1995
Culligan spun off from Astrum International
[1]Culligan became a separate business after being spun off from Astrum International.
- 1962
Name changed to Culligan, Incorporated
[1]The company adopted the Culligan, Incorporated name.
- 1959
“Hey, Culligan Man!” advertising platform begins
[1]Culligan introduced the radio advertising concept that later became its best-known brand slogan.
- 1950
Leadership transition
[1]Emmett Culligan became chairman, while Harold Werhane became president.
Products and positioning
A service-led, mid-range to premium provider of residential and commercial water-treatment, purification, softening, and delivery solutions, combining branded equipment with recurring maintenance and dealer services.
Water softening
Culligan Water Softeners
Residential and commercial systems designed to reduce hardness minerals in water. Water softeners are one of Culligan’s foundational product categories and are commonly provided through a combination of equipment installation, salt or treatment-material replenishment, monitoring, and service.
Water filtration
Culligan Water Filtration
Point-of-use and whole-house filtration solutions intended to improve taste, odor, and selected water-quality characteristics. Offerings are supported by local testing, installation, replacement-filter programs, and dealer service.
Drinking-water purification
Culligan Reverse Osmosis Systems
Reverse-osmosis systems for producing treated drinking water at the point of use. Culligan markets these systems as part of its residential purification portfolio, generally alongside installation, filter replacement, and ongoing maintenance services.
Water delivery
Culligan Water Delivery
Delivered bottled-water and related drinking-water services for homes and workplaces. The offering extends Culligan beyond equipment sales into recurring delivery, dispenser support, and customer-service relationships.
Water dispensing
Culligan Bottleless Water Coolers
Point-of-use dispensers that connect to a building’s water supply and provide treated drinking water without conventional delivery bottles. These systems are used in residential, office, and commercial settings and are typically paired with service plans.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Culligan Water North American rebrand
United States · Canada
Culligan introduced a contemporary North American brand identity under the Culligan Water name. The campaign included a Golden Globes television placement featuring Cary Elwes and updated the slogan to “Hey, Culligan!”.
Outcome. Retained the recognition of the historic slogan while presenting a shorter and more contemporary expression.
- 1959Hey, Culligan Man!
United States
A radio advertising platform introduced a memorable exchange in which a household called for the Culligan service representative. The concept later expanded into television and animated commercials and remained associated with the brand for more than three decades.
Outcome. Became Culligan’s best-known advertising property and a durable piece of its brand identity.
Brand decisions
2021
BDT Capital Partners acquisitionM&ABackground
Culligan had been owned by Centerbridge Partners since 2012 and had previously passed through several corporate and private-equity ownership structures.
Action taken
BDT Capital Partners acquired Culligan from Centerbridge Partners.
Aftermath
Culligan continued as a privately owned international water-treatment company.
2018
Modernize the North American brand identityStrategyBackground
Culligan sought to update a long-established consumer brand while preserving the recognition associated with its historic advertising.
Action taken
The company introduced the Culligan Water identity and shortened “Hey, Culligan Man!” to “Hey, Culligan!”.
Aftermath
The revised identity positioned the company for contemporary marketing across water treatment, delivery, and filtration services.
1959
Build the brand around a service representativeStrategyBackground
Culligan’s dealer-based operating model required a recognizable local service presence, while water softening was not inherently visible to consumers.
Action taken
The company introduced advertising centered on the phrase “Hey, Culligan Man!” and the idea of calling a Culligan representative.
Aftermath
The service character and slogan became central to Culligan’s identity across radio, television, and animated advertising.
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