Update: Colgate Palmolive ranks at #15 on our latest report Top 20 Global Beauty Companies 2021.

Colgate-Palmolive is #4 on this year's list of Top Global Beauty Companies.

Below is a look at the company's 2020 highlights, recent acquisitions, best-selling brands, and latest innovations.

Corporate Sales

$15.7 billion

Personal Care Sales

$13.1 billion

Key Personnel

• Noel Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer
• Prabha Parameswaran, group president, global innovation group and Africa-Eurasia
• Panagiotis Tsourapas, group president, Latin America & Asia Pacific

Major Products/Brands

• Irish Spring deodorants
• Softsoap and Irish Spring body washes
• Protex soap, Sanex cleansers
• Gard anti-dandruff shampoo with conditioner
• Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick antiperspirants and deodorants
• Softsoap hand soap
• Irish Spring and Softsoap bar soaps
• Tahiti
• Tender Care
• Afta men’s toiletries
• Numerous Oral Care brands

New Products

• Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap and Refill
• Irish Spring Bar and Body Wash, Hello Products

Comments

Colgate-Palmolive experienced a 1% increase in its 2019 worldwide net sales compared to 2018. Volume growth and net selling prices also increased 2.5% and 2% respectively but were partially offset by negative foreign exchange of 3.5%. The company attributed a small boost in volume to its acquisition of Filorga, which closed in September.

Combined net sales in Colgate-Palmolive’s oral, personal and home care product segments were a flat $13.1 billion in 2019. A 3.5% increase in organic sales was attributed to toothpaste in the oral care category, as well as sales of skin health, body wash, bar soap, shampoo and underarm protection products in the personal care category (partially offset by a decline in organic sales in liquid hand soap).

The company’s share of the global toothpaste market was 41.1% for full year 2019, a decrease of 0.7 share points from full year 2018. Full year 2019 market shares in toothpaste were flat in Europe and down in all other operating units versus full year 2018. North American net sales increased 2% in 2019 to $3.4 billion, as volume growth of 2% and net selling price increases of 0.5% were partially offset by negative foreign exchange of 0.5%. Organic sales in North America increased 2.5% in 2019.

Approximately 70% of Colgate-Palmolive’s net sales are generated from markets outside the U.S., with approximately 50% of net sales coming from emerging markets (Latin America, Asia [excluding Japan], Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe). In the company’s Europe region, net sales decreased 2% in 2019 to $2.4 billion, but experienced volume growth of 4% led by France, Spain and the UK.

Net sales in Asia Pacific decreased 1% in 2019 to $2.7 billion, and volume growth was 0.5% led by the Philippines, Australia and Thailand. Organic sales in Asia Pacific increased 1.5%.

Oral care represented 46% of Colgate-Palmolive’s net sales. Colgate Optic White Renewal toothpaste was launched in the U.S.

On the packaging front, Colgate-Palmolive premiered a first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube in November and pledged to share the technology with competitors. The package, which is certified by the Association of Plastic Recyclers, is made from the same plastic used to make bottles, so it recycles like a bottle and squeezes comfortably like a tube. The company’s Tom’s of Maine is debuting the first tube recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers.

2020 Highlights

In January, Colgate acquired Hello Products, a premium oral care brand, from Tenth Avenue Holdings for an undisclosed purchase price. Founder Craig Dubitsky and CEO Lauri Kien Kotcher will continue in their roles.

After 44 years of service, Ian Cook retired in April as executive chairman. He also served as president and CEO from 2007 to 2019, and as chairman of the board from 2009 until 2020.

And in May, it was ruled that Colgate-Palmolive must face a class action lawsuit over Tom’s of Maine’s misleading “natural” product claims. 

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