Cif is a French brand of household cleaning products owned by the Anglo-Dutch company Unilever, known as Jif in Australia, New Zealand, Japan,[1] Middle East and the Nordic countries.[citation needed]Cif was launched in France in 1965 and was marketed in competition against scouring powders (such as Vim scouring powder) as a creamy and hence protective, but powerful household cleaner.Cif is sold under the names Jif, Vim, Viss and Handy Andy, depending on which of the 51 countries it is sold in. [Wikipedia]