Your US beauty brand belongs in Europe.
We make it happen.
KAIMA helps US beauty, personal care, and FMCG brands enter European markets — from regulatory clearance to retail placement. 20+ years of operator experience. No slide decks. Execution.
Why European expansion stalls
Most US beauty brands underestimate what it takes to enter Europe. The EU requires regulatory infrastructure that does not exist in the US. Retail ecosystems operate on different rules. Consumer preferences vary market by market. And the cost of getting it wrong is 12–18 months of wasted budget.
KAIMA exists because we have seen this pattern repeatedly — from inside. 20+ years of operating experience at L’Oréal, Johnson & Johnson, and COOLA taught us exactly where US brands break when they hit the European market. We built KAIMA to fix that.
What we do
Market Entry Strategy
Which European markets to enter first, in what sequence, and why. We size markets, assess competitive landscapes, and build a go/no-go framework specific to your brand and category.
Regulatory & Compliance
EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009), Responsible Person appointment, Product Information Files, CPNP notification, UK compliance (post-Brexit), and labelling requirements. We guide you through the regulatory landscape and connect you with vetted specialist partners to ensure your products can legally be sold in Europe.
Distribution & Retail Placement
We source, vet, and negotiate with distributors who have existing retail relationships in your target markets. From first introduction to first order.
Brand Localisation
Adapting your brand positioning, packaging, claims, and pricing for European consumers — not just translating, but genuinely localising for each market.
Interim Leadership
VP-level operator embedded in your business for 3–12+ months. Building teams, managing distribution partners, executing the plan hands-on.
Track Record
20+ years at L’Oréal, Johnson & Johnson, and COOLA (SC Johnson)
Doubled COOLA’s international revenue in 12 months
Led a $5B global beauty business transformation at J&J
Turned Piz Buin from divestment risk to EMEA’s fastest-growing sun care brand
100+ SKUs launched across US and European markets
Built go-to-market strategies spanning DACH, France, Nordics, UK, and Southern Europe
About Christian Köppl
I have spent 20 years inside the beauty industry — at L’Oréal, Johnson & Johnson, and COOLA. Not as an advisor. As an operator. Running P&Ls, launching products, managing retail relationships, and building European go-to-market strategies from scratch.
At J&J, I led a $5B beauty business transformation and turned PIZ BUIN from a brand on the divestment list to EMEA’s top-growing sun care brand. At COOLA, I ran the entire international business, doubling revenue in my first year.
I started KAIMA because I kept seeing the same pattern: US beauty brands with incredible products failing in Europe — not because of their products, but because of everything around them. Regulatory infrastructure. Distribution dynamics. Retail expectations. The things you can only learn by operating inside these markets for years.
KAIMA is based in Switzerland. I work with US beauty, personal care, and FMCG brands that are serious about European expansion and want an operator, not an advisor, on their side.
From the field: Building a strategic international engine from an opportunistic one
When I joined a leading US sun care brand, the international business existed but lacked strategic direction — markets were managed opportunistically, without a cohesive plan or investment thesis. I developed a comprehensive go-to-market strategy: five-year plan, full P&L by market, growth trajectories simulated across each territory, and a clear sequencing of where to invest first and why. Then I executed it — building distributor relationships, aligning retail strategies market by market, and doubling international revenue within 12 months. The business went from afterthought to strategic growth pillar.
If your US beauty or FMCG brand is exploring European expansion, I offer a free 20-minute discovery call. No pitch. Just an honest assessment of where you are and what the path looks like.