Colgate-Palmolive

Company
 “For more than 200 years,
colgate people and the colgate
values have been at the heart of success. We
are proud of the powerful strategies and the
powerful focus which drive our success today.
Thanks to all the colgate people, our
consumers and business partners for their
contribution in helping us to become the
strong, focused and truly global company we
are today.”
Ian Cook, Chairmen, President, CEO
Fact Sheet…
• Started in 1806 by William Colgate as a
starch, soap and candle business.
• In 1820 Colgate establishes a starch
factory in Jersey City, New Jersey.
• In 1857 Upon the death of founder
William Colgate, the company is
reorganized as Colgate & Company under
the management of Samuel Colgate, his
son.
• In 1866 Colgate introduced
perfumed soap and perfumes/essences.
• 1873 Colgate introduces toothpaste in jars.
• 1896 Colgate introduces toothpaste in a
collapsible tube.
• In 1900 Colgate wins top honors for its fine
soaps and perfumes at the World’s Fair in
Paris.
• 1906 Colgate & Company celebrates its 100th
anniversary. Product line includes over 800
different products.
• 1908 Colgate is incorporated by the
five sons of Samuel Colgate.
Ribbon opening added to Colgate tube: “We couldn't
improve the product so we improved the tube.”
• 1914 Colgate establishes its first international
subsidiary in Canada.
• 1920s Colgate begins establishing operations in
Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.
• 1928 Colgate merges with Palmolive-Peet to become
Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company.
• 1930 On March 13, Colgate is first listed on the New
York Stock Exchange.
• 1953 Colgate-Palmolive Company
becomes company's official name.
• 1956 Colgate opens corporate headquarters at 300
Park Avenue in New York City.
• 1962 Colgate opens research center in Piscataway, NJ.
Fabric conditioner is launched in France as Soupline.
Today, fabric conditioners are sold in over 54
countries around the world.
• 1966 Palmolive dishwashing liquid is introduced and
today it is sold in over 35 countries.
• 1972 Colgate acquires Hoyt Laboratories, which later
becomes Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals.
• 1976 Colgate-Palmolive acquires
Hill's Pet Nutrition. Today Hill's is the global leader in
pet nutrition and veterinary recommendations.
• 1983 Colgate Plus toothbrush is introduced. Today
over 1.6 billion Colgate toothbrushes are sold annually
worldwide. If you lined them up end to end, they
would circle the globe 16 times.
• 1985 Colgate-Palmolive enters into a joint venture
with Hong Kong-based Hawley & Hazel, a leading
oral care company, which adds strength in key Asian
markets.
• 1989 Annual Company sales surpass the $5 billion
mark.
• 1991 Colgate acquires Murphy Oil
Soap, the leading wood cleaner in the U.S. Today, its
product portfolio has expanded to include all-purpose
cleaners, sprays and wipes.
• 1992 Colgate acquires the Mennen Company. Today,
Mennen products are sold in over 52 countries.
Colgate Total toothpaste introduced.
• 1995 Colgate enters Central Europe and Russia,
expanding into fast-growing markets.
Colgate acquires Kolynos Oral Care business in Latin
America and launches market-leading Sorriso
toothpaste.
• 1997 Colgate Total toothpaste is introduced in the
U.S. and quickly becomes the market leader. Only
Colgate Total, with its 12-hour protection, fights a
complete range of oral health problems.
• 2004 Colgate acquires the GABA oral care business
in Europe, with its strength in the important
European pharmacy channel and its ties with the
dental community.
• Today …
Today, with sales surpassing $15 billion, Colgate
focuses on four core businesses: Oral Care, Personal
Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate now
sells its products in over 200 countries and territories
worldwide.
Products