10.25.21
Update: Colgate Palmolive ranks at #16 on our latest report Top 20 Global Beauty Companies 2022.
Colgate Palmolive is #15 on this year's list of Top Global Beauty Companies.
Below is a look at the company's 2021 highlights, recent acquisitions, best-selling brands, and latest innovations.
Corporate Sales
$16.5 billion
Beauty/Personal Care Sales
$3.5 billion
Key Personnel
Noel Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer; Prabha Parameswaran, group president, global innovation group; Panagiotis Tsourapas, group president, Colgate Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia
Major Products/Brands
Colgate and Tom’s of Maine oral care products, Irish Spring soap, body washes and deodorants, Softsoap soaps and cleansers, Protex soap, Gard anti-dandruff shampoo with conditioner, Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick antiperspirants and deodorants, Tahiti, Tender Care, Afta men’s toiletries
New Products
Colgate Zero, Hum by Colgate toothbrush, CO. by Colgate
Comments
Unlike most companies, Colgate managed to navigate through Covid with a 5% net sales increase in 2020 – the strongest the company has seen in 10 years thanks to increased investments in innovation, digital transformation, and advertising, according to CEO Noel Wallace. In fact, the company managed to post gains across its entire portfolio, in all of its global markets, led by oral care (44% of sales). Premium innovation, such as the expanded Colgate Optic White Overnight Whitening Pen, also proved successful in helping drive growth, especially in the e-commerce sector where Colgate sales grew 46% versus 2019. Palmolive and Protex hand sanitizers and increased demand for antibacterial products.
Regionally, North American sales of oral, personal and home care products climbed 9.5% to more than $3.7 billion last year, buoyed by increased toothpaste sales. Sales in Latin America dropped 5% to $3.4 billion, primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange rates. Organic sales increased 9%, led by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. Organic oral care sales rose on the strength of toothpaste brands while organic personal care sales were up due to greater demand for liquid soap.
European sales grew 12% to more than $2.7 billion thanks to personal and home care sales however the Asia Pacific region saw a minor sales slip of less than 1% to $2.7 billion and a volume dip of 1.5%. Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines led the region’s organic growth despite declines in Thailand and China.
Colgate said increased demand for home and personal care products was partially offset by a decline in oral care sales, due to lower manual toothbrush sales. Sales in Africa/Eurasia were flat at $981 million. While volume rose 5% and net selling price increased 3.5%, they were offset by negative forex of 8.5%. Demand for toothpaste and toothbrushes provided a lift to oral care sales. The increase in personal care sales (21% of total sales) was attributed to gains in the bar soap, body wash and liquid hand soap categories.
Looking Ahead
Colgate-Palmolive continued its strong run into Q2 2021, with the company reporting a 9.5% increase in net sales to $4.2 billion and a 5% increase in organic sales driven by both volume growth and higher pricing. Strong performances were recorded in Africa/Eurasia (15.5%), Europe (+15%), Latin America (+12.5%) and Asia Pacific (+7.5%). North America proved challenging with sales falling 4.5% due to a decline in personal care organic sales in the U.S.
On the packaging front, in July, Colgate-Palmolive launched a new, more ecological iteration of its popular Softsoap liquid hand soap. The new Softsoap comes in tablet form with a refillable, recyclable aluminum bottle. Consumers fill the bottle with water, drop the tablet in and once the tablet is finished fizzing, it’s a usable foam hand soap. The company says the Softsoap Foaming Tablet Starter Kit uses 71% less plastic than the traditional bottle.
Read Next: Chanel is #16.
Colgate Palmolive is #15 on this year's list of Top Global Beauty Companies.
Below is a look at the company's 2021 highlights, recent acquisitions, best-selling brands, and latest innovations.
Corporate Sales
$16.5 billion
Beauty/Personal Care Sales
$3.5 billion
Key Personnel
Noel Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer; Prabha Parameswaran, group president, global innovation group; Panagiotis Tsourapas, group president, Colgate Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia
Major Products/Brands
Colgate and Tom’s of Maine oral care products, Irish Spring soap, body washes and deodorants, Softsoap soaps and cleansers, Protex soap, Gard anti-dandruff shampoo with conditioner, Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick antiperspirants and deodorants, Tahiti, Tender Care, Afta men’s toiletries
New Products
Colgate Zero, Hum by Colgate toothbrush, CO. by Colgate
Comments
Unlike most companies, Colgate managed to navigate through Covid with a 5% net sales increase in 2020 – the strongest the company has seen in 10 years thanks to increased investments in innovation, digital transformation, and advertising, according to CEO Noel Wallace. In fact, the company managed to post gains across its entire portfolio, in all of its global markets, led by oral care (44% of sales). Premium innovation, such as the expanded Colgate Optic White Overnight Whitening Pen, also proved successful in helping drive growth, especially in the e-commerce sector where Colgate sales grew 46% versus 2019. Palmolive and Protex hand sanitizers and increased demand for antibacterial products.
Regionally, North American sales of oral, personal and home care products climbed 9.5% to more than $3.7 billion last year, buoyed by increased toothpaste sales. Sales in Latin America dropped 5% to $3.4 billion, primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange rates. Organic sales increased 9%, led by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. Organic oral care sales rose on the strength of toothpaste brands while organic personal care sales were up due to greater demand for liquid soap.
European sales grew 12% to more than $2.7 billion thanks to personal and home care sales however the Asia Pacific region saw a minor sales slip of less than 1% to $2.7 billion and a volume dip of 1.5%. Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines led the region’s organic growth despite declines in Thailand and China.
Colgate said increased demand for home and personal care products was partially offset by a decline in oral care sales, due to lower manual toothbrush sales. Sales in Africa/Eurasia were flat at $981 million. While volume rose 5% and net selling price increased 3.5%, they were offset by negative forex of 8.5%. Demand for toothpaste and toothbrushes provided a lift to oral care sales. The increase in personal care sales (21% of total sales) was attributed to gains in the bar soap, body wash and liquid hand soap categories.
Looking Ahead
Colgate-Palmolive continued its strong run into Q2 2021, with the company reporting a 9.5% increase in net sales to $4.2 billion and a 5% increase in organic sales driven by both volume growth and higher pricing. Strong performances were recorded in Africa/Eurasia (15.5%), Europe (+15%), Latin America (+12.5%) and Asia Pacific (+7.5%). North America proved challenging with sales falling 4.5% due to a decline in personal care organic sales in the U.S.
On the packaging front, in July, Colgate-Palmolive launched a new, more ecological iteration of its popular Softsoap liquid hand soap. The new Softsoap comes in tablet form with a refillable, recyclable aluminum bottle. Consumers fill the bottle with water, drop the tablet in and once the tablet is finished fizzing, it’s a usable foam hand soap. The company says the Softsoap Foaming Tablet Starter Kit uses 71% less plastic than the traditional bottle.
Read Next: Chanel is #16.
