Some facts from their website….
Sustainability at Colgate is:
• Always meeting or exceeding our financial goals
• Developing a talented, diverse workforce
• Optimizing use of natural resources, not polluting, and obtaining our raw materials
responsibly
• Serving the communities where we live
Our long-term sustainability strategy is focused on three areas: People, Performance and
Planet.
Colgate-Palmolive Company's growth from a small candle and soap manufacturer
to one of the most powerful consumer products giants in the world is the result of:
- aggressive acquisition of other companies
- persistent attempts to overtake its major U.S. competition
- an early emphasis on building a global presence overseas where little competition
existed.
Well-known brands:
- Colgate toothpaste
- Irish Spring soap
- Softsoap liquid soap
- Mennen deodorant
- Palmolive and Ajax dishwashing liquid
Ajax cleanser
- Murphy's oil soap
- Fab laundry detergent
- Soupline and Suavitel fabric softeners
- Hill's Science Diet
- Hill's Prescription Diet pet foods
Colgate-Palmolive generates about 70 percent of its revenue outside the United States.
History (from website):
More notable events, in my opinion, have been highlighted.
1806
William Colgate starts a starch, soap and candle business on Dutch Street in
New York City.
1817
First Colgate advertisement appears in a New York newspaper.
1820
Colgate establishes a starch factory in Jersey City, New Jersey.
1857
Upon the death of founder William Colgate, the company is reorganized as
Colgate & Company under the management of Samuel Colgate, his son.
1864
B.J. Johnson opens a soap factory in Milwaukee, WI, which later becomes the
Palmolive Company.
1866
Colgate introduces perfumed soap and perfumes/essences.
1872
Peet Brothers establish soap company in Kansas City, Kansas where they make
Crystal White soap. Cashmere Bouquet, the first milled perfumed toilet soap, is
registered as a Colgate trademark.
1873
Colgate introduces toothpaste in jars.
1879
Gerhard Mennen establishes a pharmacy in Newark, NJ, later becoming the
Mennen Company.
1896
Colgate introduces toothpaste in a collapsible tube.
1898
B.J. Johnson Soap Co. introduces Palmolive Soap.
Today, the Palmolive equity is sold in over 88 countries in 54 variants.
1900
Colgate wins top honors for its fine soaps and perfumes at the World’s Fair in
Paris.
1902
Stylish Palmolive advertising begins, emphasizing ingredient purity and product
benefits.
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.”
1911
Colgate distributes two million tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to schools,
and provides hygienists to demonstrate tooth brushing.
1912
William Mennen introduces the first American shaving cream tube.
1914
Colgate establishes its first international subsidiary in Canada.
1920s
Colgate begins establishing operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America and
Africa.
1926
Soap manufacturers Palmolive and Peet merge to become Palmolive-Peet
Company.
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.
1939
Dr. Mark L. Morris develops a pet food to help save a guide dog named Buddy
from kidney disease. This breakthrough leads to the first Hill's Prescription Diet product.
1947
Ajax cleanser is launched, establishing a powerful now-global brand equity for
cleaning products.
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.
1968
Colgate toothpaste adds MFP Fluoride, clinically proven to reduce cavities.
1970
Irish Spring launches in Germany as Irische Frühling and in Europe as Nordic
Spring. In 1972, Irish Spring is introduced in North America.
1972
Colgate acquires Hoyt Laboratories, which later becomes Colgate Oral
Pharmaceuticals.
1975
Caprice hair care launches in Mexico. Today, hair care products are sold in over
70 countries, with variants to suit every type of hair need.
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
Protex bar soap is introduced, and today offers all-family antibacterial protection
in over 56 countries.
Colgate-Palmolive enters into a joint venture with Hong Kongbased Hawley & Hazel, a leading oral care company, which adds strength in key Asian
markets.
1986
The Chairman's You Can Make A Difference Program is launched, recognizing
innovation and executional excellence by Colgate people.
1987
Colgate acquires Softsoap liquid soap business from the Minnetonka Corporation.
Today, Colgate is the global leader in liquid hand soap.
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.
1996
Bright Smiles, Bright Futures oral health education program expands to 50
countries, and today reaches over 50 million children annually.
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.
2006
Colgate enters the fast-growing Naturals segment by purchasing Tom’s of
Maine, a leader in that market in the United States.
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.
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/ColgatePalmolive-companycompany-History.html
Wikipedia’s summary of history:
-
1806: William Colgate opened starch, soap and candle factory in NYC under the name
"William Colgate & Company"
-
1857: William Colgate died and the company was reorganized as "Colgate &
Company" under the management of Samuel Colgate,
-
1872: Colgate introduced Cashmere Bouquet, a perfumed soap.
1873, the firm introduced its first toothpaste, an aromatic toothpaste sold in jars.
-
1896: Sold first toothpaste in a tube, Colgate Ribbon Dental Cream, in 1896. Hred
Martin Ittner and under his direction founded one of the first applied research labs.
-
By 1908: initiated mass selling of toothpaste in tubes.
-
1928: Palmolive-Peet bought Colgate Company to create the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet
Company.
-
1953 "Peet" was dropped from title, leaving only "Colgate-Palmolive Company"
-
George Henry Lesch was president, CEO, and chairman of the board of ColgatePalmolive in the 1960s and 1970s, during that time transformed it into a modern
company with major restructuring.
-
2005: Sold the under-performing brands Fab, Dynamo, Arctic Power, ABC, Cold
Power and Fresh Start, as well as the license of the Ajax brand for laundry detergents
in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, to Phoenix Brands, LLC as part of their plan to
focus on their higher margin oral, personal, and pet care products.
-
2006: Colgate-Palmolive announced intended acquisition of Tom’s of Maine
Information from
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/companyhistories/ColgatePalmolive-company-companyHistory.html
Specific notes from “Beginnings:”
-
Founded by 23-year-old William Colgate in 1806
In the beginning, concentrated exclusively on selling starch, soap, and candles from its
New York City-based factory and shop
In the 2nd year, partnered with Francis Smith became Smith and Colgate. Colgate
purchased Smith’s share, partnered with brother, Bowles Colgate called William
Colgate and Company
Opened factory in Jersey City in 1820; produced Windsor toilet soaps and Pearl starch,
its two major products
Changed name to Colgate & Company after W. Colgate’s death, run by Samuel
Colgate for 40 years (until his death)
In 1873 Colgate began selling toothpaste in a jar, followed 23 years later by the
introduction of Colgate Ribbon Dental Cream, in the now familiar collapsible tube. By
-
-
1906 the company was also producing several varieties of laundry soap, toilet paper,
and perfumes. Colgate & Company shifted its headquarters to Jersey City in 1910.
Soap factories were opened in 1864 by B.J. Johnson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (under
the name B.J. Johnson Soap Company), and in 1872 by the three Peet brothers in
Kansas City, Kansas.
In 1898 Johnson's company introduced Palmolive soap, which soon became the bestselling soap in the world and led the firm to change its name to the Palmolive
Company in 1916.
Peet Brothers merged with Palmolive in 1926, forming Palmolive-Peet Company. Two
years later that firm joined with Colgate & Company to form Colgate-Palmolive-Peet
Company, with headquarters in Jersey City. Palmolive-Peet's management initially
assumed control of the combined organization.
In 1929, stock market crashed Colgate family regained control of ColgatePalmolive-Peet and installed Bayard Colgate as president in 1933.
Some notable facts on International Expansion
- Created a Canadian subsidiary in 1913
- Created subsidiary in France in 1920
- Expanded into Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico in 1920s
- Created subsidiaries in the Philippines, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa in the
late 1920s.
- Moved into India in 1937
- By end of the 1940s had operations in most of South America
Suppliers
Colgate has business relationships with numerous suppliers and contract manufacturers
around the world. Colgate's aim in conducting procurement operations is to ensure
continuing, reliable sources of supply. Honest dealing with suppliers is essential to sound,
lasting relationships. Thus, we view our suppliers as partners and expect them to make a
reasonable profit. We give all potential suppliers fair and uniform considerations.
Colgate's commitments to suppliers are the following:
• We will proactively facilitate the participation of diverse suppliers in our competitive
bid processes
• We will effectively communicate our needs and expectations to suppliers
• We will provide timely and objective feedback to suppliers on their performance in
bid processes and as ongoing suppliers
Global Indirect Materials
Indirects are non-production materials. This category encompasses a wide range of
products and services. There is significant potential for business for suppliers capable of
delivering savings, efficiency and simplification.
Some examples of indirect materials and services are:
• Temporary services
• MRO
• Office supplies
• PCs
• Relocation
• Travel
• Express mail
• Marketing & Advertising Goods and Services
If you are a marketing & advertising goods or services provider, please click here to
provide further information on your company and services.
Global Packaging Materials
The quality of our packaging materials is key to our finished product on-shelf presence.
• Bottles
• Tubes
• Caps
• Corrugate
• Folding cartons
• Pumps
• Films
• Displays
• Aerosol cans
• Labels
•
Global Raw Materials
We purchase the highest quality raw materials for use in all of our products which
include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Surfactants
Sweeteners
Emulsifiers
Humectants
Abrasives
UV Absorbers
Brighteners
Colorants
Thickeners
• Preservatives
Our Mission
To provide Colgate with a significant competitive advantage by reducing total delivered
cost, extending technology resources and developing excellence in purchasing, logistics
and sourcing processes.
Achievements and Past Successes
We strive for continuous improvements with our supplier teams.
• A multidisciplinary team from Colgate and JM Huber, a key oral care raw material
supplier, identified potential savings across the supply chain. This team realized
savings in excess of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This supplier
relationship was featured in a Colgate-Palmolive Company Annual Report and
is one example of the several preferred suppliers teaming with Colgate.
We aim for cost reduction across every category.
• A major contract for preservatives used in personal care and household care products
was awarded to a single supplier, delivering significant savings and leading to a
unique research agreement.
• Three-year globalization contracts with key suppliers enabled reduction of the
supplier base for a critical global surfactant from 11 to 4 suppliers.
• For a key toothpaste ingredient, the supplier base was reduced from 7 to 3, regional
multi-year contracts with on-site manufacturing programs were put in place
and record savings and total cost reductions were achieved over 5 years.
We are on the forefront of innovation.
• In our Global Fragrances category, we had multiple suppliers, high cost structures,
limited innovation, average quality fragrances and long lead times. Focused
partnerships were initiated with two key external suppliers. As a result, new
initiatives were developed including annual “Top to Top Meetings” (CEO/CEO),
project and savings grids, cost improvement teams and detailed supply chain
maps.
• Many “superior” fragrances have since been developed. In the household care category
there were 7 for cleansers and 7 for light duty liquids. In personal care there were
4 for liquids and 5 for bar soaps. In fabric care, there were 7 for softeners and 5
for detergents.
Growth Strategies
Colgate-Palmolive’s strategy is to focus on global new products to drive growth. In the
early 90’s, we were launching an average of 256 new products a year. By the mid 90’s
that number grew to 469 per year. And recently that number has jumped to over 797 per
year.
Manufacturing
Colgate makes very limited use of contract manufacturers. In 2008, more than 90% of
Colgate's products were made in Colgate facilities. The use of contract manufacturers
allows us to optimize our supply chain capabilities, deliver innovative technologies,
provide a strategic alternative to in-house manufacturing, increase speed to market,
reduce capital investment and manufacturing costs as well as increase flexibility in a
rapidly changing marketplace. While contract manufacturers and suppliers are not
Colgate employees, we consider them partners and crucial to our business success. As
such, we expect every organization that we do business with to share our values and
maintain the same high ethical, social and environmental standards as our own
employees. These are defined by our Global Contract Manufacturing Standards, our Code
of Conduct and local regulations.
The Global Contract Manufacturing Standards serve as a basis for developing successful
relationships with contract manufacturers. They include information on our business
practices and how Colgate selects and manages suppliers and contract manufacturers. For
example, in addition to meeting quality and safety requirements, the Standards explain
that Colgate considers human rights and Environmental, Occupational Health and
Safety (EOHS) in the decision-selection process and that the Company expects that
suppliers and contract manufacturers have appropriate programs and policies in place
to meet such requirements.
Colgate gives all potential suppliers fair and consistent consideration. Decisions are based
on objective criteria, such as price and quality as well as reliability and integrity. A
selection process includes use of a multi-functional team, who ensures that all
commercial, financial, technical and supply chain requirements are considered. The final
contenders may be audited, and the selection team reviews all information before making
a single recommendation for management approval.
Before suppliers or contract manufacturers are approved, they are provided a copy of the
Colgate Code of Conduct, which reinforces our corporate culture and addresses issues of
law, ethics and fairness. In addition, the following Code of Conduct clause is included in
supply contracts and purchase orders: "Supplier agrees to comply with Buyer's Code of
Conduct as it may be amended from time to time." If they fail to adhere to the policies,
they risk losing the business.
Managing our supply partners is an ongoing process that includes actions for
establishing expectations, operational management and continuous improvement. This
includes monitoring systems and reporting the results. Colgate reserves the right to
conduct quality audits of suppliers and contract manufacturers' facilities, and does so
as part of our Enhanced Supplier Management program.
Design: Ingredients
http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/Corp/ContactUs/MSDS.vsp
http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/HC/Products.cvsp
Colgate-Palmolive offers a line of cleaning products that have been granted the
EPA ‘Design for the Environment’ (DFE) seal. This seal is given to products that
offer more positive environmental characteristics than conventional cleaning
formulations. Included in this line are floor cleaners, glass cleaner, degreaser
product, dishwashing detergent, wood cleaners and multi-use cleaners.