Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) is a multinational corporation in the business of the provision of products such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of veterinary products.

History

In 1806, Henry W. Colgate opened up a starch, soap, and candle factory on Dutch Street in New York City under the name of " William Colgate & Company." In the 1840s the firm began selling individual bars in uniform weights. In 1857, William Colgate dies and the company is reorganized as "Colgate & Company" under the management of Samuel Colgate, his son. In 1872, Colgate introduced Cashmere Bouquet, a perfumed soap. In 1873, the firm introduced its first toothpaste, an aromatic toothpaste sold in jars. In 1908 they initiated selling toothpaste in tubes.

In the Western United States, the B.J. Johnson Company was making a soap entirely of palm and olive oil. The soap was popular enough to rename their company after it - Palmolive.

A Kansas based soap manufacturer known as the Peet Brothers merged with Palmolive to become Palmolive-Peet. In 1928, Palmolive-Peet joined the Colgate Company to create the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company. In 1953 "Peet" was dropped from the title, leaving only "Colgate-Palmolive Company".

In the beginning of television, Colgate-Palmolive wished to compete with Procter & Gamble as a sponsor of soap operas. Although the company sponsored many shows in part, they were most famous for being the full sponsor of the serial The Doctors.

George Henry Lesch was president, CEO, and chairman of the board of Colgate-Palmolive in the 1960s and 1970s.

In 2006, Colgate-Palmolive announced the intended acquisition of Tom's of Maine, a leading maker of natural toothpaste, for US$100M. Tom's of Maine was founded by Tom Chappell in 1970. This announcement has received both praise and criticism, with many questioning why a company with a 'No animal testing' policy would sell themselves to a company that does test on animals when not required to by law. However, since Colgate focuses on research and improvement, testing may be necessary for continued innovative development, as it ensures that developed products are safe for human use.