COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

Overview

Colgate-Palmolive is a global consumer products company focused on four core categories: Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Its portfolio spans toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash; soaps, body washes, deodorants and skin-health products; household cleaning products; and pet nutrition sold primarily under Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. The company markets products in more than 200 countries and territories, and Hill’s products are sold in more than 80 countries and territories.[1]+2

Colgate-Palmolive describes its purpose as “reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet.” Oral care is its largest business, accounting for 42% of worldwide net sales in 2023, followed by pet nutrition at 22%, personal care at 19% and home care at 17%. In 2024, the company generated $20.1 billion in net sales, with business spread across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia.[4]+3

As of the end of 2023, Colgate-Palmolive had approximately 34,000 employees based in over 100 countries, reflecting its scale as a multinational household, personal care and pet nutrition company.[7] [1]+6

Products & services

Colgate-Palmolive’s product portfolio is centered on consumer oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition. In oral care, it sells toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash under brands including Colgate, Colgate Total, Colgate Optic White, hello and Tom’s of Maine.[8]+7 Specific products highlighted include Colgate Optic White Professional whitening toothpaste and the Colgate Optic White Overnight Whitening Pen, which is described as enamel safe, designed for no tooth sensitivity, and providing 21 nightly treatments with visible whitening in one week.[10][16] [8]+31

Geographic presence

Colgate-Palmolive reports its business geographically across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia, with Hill’s Pet Nutrition disclosed separately in its sales reporting. For 2024, net sales were $4.113 billion in North America, $4.782 billion in Latin America, $2.770 billion in Europe, $2.858 billion in Asia Pacific, $1.095 billion in Africa/Eurasia, and $4.483 billion in Pet Nutrition, for total net sales of $20.101 billion.[40]

In the company’s reported sales mix, North America represented 21% of 2024 net sales, Latin America 24%, Europe 14%, Asia Pacific 14%, Africa/Eurasia 5%, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition 22%. Colgate-Palmolive also states that it sells products in more than 200 countries and territories.[41][1]

The company defines emerging markets as Latin America, Asia excluding Japan, Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe. Its principal executive offices are in New York City at 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022.[42][43] [40]+4

Business segments

Colgate-Palmolive reports two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care, and Pet Nutrition. Oral, Personal and Home Care includes toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners and similar items, while Pet Nutrition consists of Hill’s specialty pet nutrition products for dogs and cats, marketed mainly under Hill’s Science Diet/Science Plan and Hill’s Prescription Diet.[44][5]

Based on 2024 net sales, Oral, Personal and Home Care contributed $15.6 billion, or about 78% of total company sales, and Pet Nutrition contributed $4.5 billion, or about 22%.[6] Within the segment note, Oral, Personal and Home Care is also broken out geographically: Latin America represented about 31% of that segment’s 2024 sales, North America about 26%, Asia Pacific about 18%, Europe about 18%, and Africa/Eurasia about 7%.[6][45] At a more granular product-class level, 2023 worldwide net sales were approximately 42% Oral Care, 19% Personal Care, 17% Home Care and 22% Pet Nutrition.[46][47] [44]+5

Company history

Colgate-Palmolive traces its origins to 1806, when William Colgate started a soap and candle business in New York City. The company later expanded into oral care, introducing its first toothpaste in 1873 and pioneering toothpaste sold in collapsible tubes in 1896, developments that helped establish Colgate as a major name in the category.[48]

A major corporate milestone came in 1928, when Colgate merged with Palmolive-Peet, and in 1953 the business adopted the name Colgate-Palmolive Company.[48] The company broadened beyond its original soap and oral-care base with the acquisition of Hill’s Pet Nutrition in 1976, then expanded its oral and personal care portfolio through acquisitions including GABA in 2004 and Tom’s of Maine in 2006.[48]+3 An important later leadership change came in 2019, when Noel Wallace was elected President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Ian Cook in the top executive role.[52] [48]+4

Sources

• COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO — Press release (2024 Y)
  5 citations

  [1][6][40][42][45]
• COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO — Full financial report (2023 Y)
  6 citations

  [2][3][5][7][44][46]
• COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO — Presentation (2024 Y)
  32 citations

  [4][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]
• www.sec.gov[39]
• investor.colgatepalmolive.com[41]
• investor.colgatepalmolive.com[43]
• investor.colgatepalmolive.com[47]
• www.colgatepalmolive.com[48]
• www.hillspet.com[49]
• investor.colgatepalmolive.com[50]
• investor.colgatepalmolive.com[51]
• investor.colgatepalmolive.com[52]