Colgate Palmolive History USA

The company began in 1806, when William Colgate, an English immigrant, set up a starch, soap and candle business on Dutch Street in New York City, USA.

It wasn’t until 1873 – almost seventy years after the company’s founding – that Colgate & Company produced its first toothpaste, an aromatic dental cream sold in jars.

By its 100th anniversary, Colgate & Company was manufacturing dental care products, laundry soaps, 160 different kinds of toilet soap and 625 varieties of perfume.

William Colgate

One of the first true multi-nationals, Colgate & Company began its overseas expansion with the formation of the French Company in 1920. During the 1920’s the company opened operations in Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and Mexico. The late twenties saw the creation of subsidiaries in the Philippines, Brazil & Argentina. By the end of the decade Colgate had entered Africa and in 1937 the company opened its doors in India and in the next decade in South America.

By 1939 the Colgate Company had a turnover of $100 million – an incredible amount for the time.

Colgate Palmolive is now a $9 billion dollar global consumer products company, tightly focussed on dental care, personal care, fabric care, household care and Pet nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries around the world.

Colgate Palmolive History Great Britain

On the 7th January 1922, the Palmolive Company (of England) Ltd was incorporated with the US Colgate & Company and a UK office was established. However it wasn’t until 1953 that the name changed to Colgate-Palmolive Limited.

It was in 1965 that one of the most memorable TV advertising campaigns began for Colgate’s “Ring of Confidence. Even today many remember the sound of the effective “ping”.

Colgate was still Britain’s top selling toothpaste and throughout the eighties the company continued to develop its products, first with improved MFP fluoride, and then the introduction of Blue Minty Gel – the first toothpaste specifically created for 9 -14 year olds.

Innovation and focus describe the company’s activities in the nineties. Perhaps the most innovative development came in 1993 with the launch of Colgate Total toothpaste – the most effective toothpaste available. This was just the start of new toothpaste introductions – Colgate Total Fresh Stripe (1995) and Triple Cool Stripe (1996) and Colgate Sensation Deep Clean (1997). 1999 saw the launch of Colgate Whitening and Colgate Superstar. Colgate Fresh Confidence was launched in 2000, and in 2001 Colgate Herbal and Colgate Total Plus Whitening. 2002 saw the arrival of Colgate 2 in 1 followed by Colgate Sensitive in 2003 and this years arrival of Colgate Total Advance Fresh.

Approaching their impressive 200-year anniversary, Colgate Palmolive have always been innovative in their development of oral hygiene products, particularly over the last 20-30 years.
By continuing to launch new and improved dental products, we are sure that Colgate Palmolive will be here for another 200 years – unlike the rest of us!