Colgate-Palmolive Company operates as a caring, innovative growth company.
The company is developing and selling science-led products globally that make people’s and their pets’ lives healthier and more enjoyable and by embracing its Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy across its organization. The company’s products are marketed in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world.
Segments
The company operates in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition...
Colgate-Palmolive Company operates as a caring, innovative growth company.
The company is developing and selling science-led products globally that make people’s and their pets’ lives healthier and more enjoyable and by embracing its Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy across its organization. The company’s products are marketed in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world.
Segments
The company operates in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.
The Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment is managed geographically in five reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia, all of which sell primarily to a variety of retailers, wholesalers, distributors, dentists and, in some geographies, skin health professionals.
Through Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the company sells products principally through authorized pet supply retailers, veterinarians and eCommerce retailers. The company also sells certain of its products direct-to-consumer. The company engages in manufacturing and sourcing of products and materials on a global scale and has major manufacturing facilities, warehousing facilities and distribution centers in every region around the world.
The company operates in Oral Care with global leadership in the toothpaste and manual toothbrush categories. The company sells its toothpastes under brands, such as Colgate, Darlie, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso and Tom’s of Maine, its toothbrushes under brands, such as Colgate, Darlie, elmex and meridol and its mouthwashes under brands, such as Colgate, elmex and meridol. The company’s Oral Care business also includes pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals.
The company operates in many product categories of the Personal Care market with global leadership in liquid hand soap, according to market share data, which it sells under brands, such as Palmolive, Protex and Softsoap. The company’s Personal Care products also include Irish Spring, Palmolive and Protex bar soaps, Irish Spring, Palmolive, Sanex and Softsoap shower gels, Lady Speed Stick, Sanex, Speed Stick and Tom’s of Maine deodorants and antiperspirants, EltaMD, Filorga and PCA SKIN skin health products and Palmolive shampoos and conditioners.
The company manufactures and markets a wide array of products for the Home Care market, including Ajax, Axion and Palmolive dishwashing liquids, Ajax, Fabuloso and Murphy household cleaners and Suavitel, Soupline, Fluffy and Cuddly fabric conditioners.
Sales of Oral, Personal and Home Care products accounted for 43%, 18% and 17%, respectively, of the company’s total worldwide Net sales in 2024. Geographically, Oral Care is a substantial part of the company’s business in the Asia Pacific.
Through its Hill’s Pet Nutrition segment (Hill’s or Pet Nutrition), the company operates in specialty pet nutrition products for dogs and cats with products marketed in over 80 countries and territories worldwide. Hill’s markets pet foods primarily under two brands. Hill’s Science Diet, which is called Hill’s Science Plan in Europe, is a range of products for everyday nutritional needs. Hill’s Prescription Diet is a range of therapeutic pet foods to help nutritionally support dogs and cats in different stages of health. Sales of Pet Nutrition products accounted for 22% of the company’s total worldwide Net sales in 2024.
Distribution
The company’s Oral, Personal and Home Care products are sold to a variety of retailers, wholesalers and distributors worldwide. Pet Nutrition products are sold by authorized pet supply retailers, veterinarians and eCommerce retailers. Certain of the company’s products are also sold direct-to-consumer. The company’s sales to Walmart, Inc. and its affiliates represented approximately 11% of its Net sales in 2024. No other customer represented more than 10% of the company’s Net sales in 2024. The company supports its products with advertising, promotion and other marketing (with increasing emphasis on digital) to build awareness and trial of its products. The company’s products are marketed by a direct sales force at individual operating subsidiaries or business units and by distributors or brokers.
Trademarks
The company follows a practice of seeking trademark protection in the U.S. and throughout the world where its products are sold. Principal global and regional trademarks include Colgate, Palmolive, Darlie, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, Lady Speed Stick, PCA SKIN, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Murphy, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet.
Government Regulations
Legal and regulatory requirements apply to most aspects of the company’s products, including their development, ingredients, formulation, manufacture, packaging, labeling, storage, transportation, distribution, export, import, advertising, sale and environmental impact. U.S. federal authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, regulate different aspects of the company’s business, along with parallel authorities at the state and local levels and comparable authorities overseas.
The company is subject to anti-corruption laws and regulations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws that generally prohibit the making or offering of improper payments to foreign government officials and political figures for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or to gain an unfair business advantage, and laws that prohibit commercial bribery. In addition, the company’s selling practices are regulated by competition law authorities in the U.S. and abroad.
The company’s collection, storage, transfer and/or processing of customer, consumer, employee, vendor and other stakeholder information and personal data is subject to important data protection laws and regulations in the U.S. and abroad, including the General Data Protection Regulation.
The company is subject to laws and sanctions imposed by the U.S., including those imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) and/or by other jurisdictions.
History
Colgate-Palmolive Company was founded in 1806. The company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware in 1923.