New York, NY
www.colgate.com
Sales: $13.1 billion
$13.1 billion for oral, personal and home care products. Corporate sales: $15.7 billion

Key personnel: Noel Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer; Jennifer M. Daniels, chief legal officer and secretary; Henning Jakobsen, chief financial officer; Prabha Parameswaran, group president, global innovation group and Africa-Eurasia; Panagiotis Tsourapas, group president, Latin America & Asia Pacific

Major products: Oral Care: Colgate Baking Soda and Peroxide Whitening, Plus, Total, Optic White, Enamel Health, 360°, Kids, Sensitive, MaxFresh, 2in1, Sparkling White, Tartar Protection with Whitening, Triple Action, Ultrabrite, Wave, Wisp, Mouth Sore Rinse; Peroxyl Mouth Sore Rinse, Elmex, Meridol and Sorriso oral care products, Gel-Kam Preventative Treatment Gel, Tom’s of Maine; Hello. Personal care: 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. Dishwashing: Palmolive Ultra Strength, Antibacterial, Oxy Pure Degreaser, Pure & Clear, Fusion Clean, Soft Touch, Lavender and Lime, Eco and Ajax. Hard surface: Axion, Fabuloso, Murphy Original Formula, Orange Oil Spray, Soft Wipes, Squirt & Mop, Pinho Sol. Laundry: Bonus, Brite, Express Power, Fleecy detergents, Fluffy, Cuddly, Soupline and Sta-soft fabric conditioner

New products: Oral Care: Optic White Renewal toothpaste. Acquisition: Hello oral care

Comments: Sales of oral, personal and home care products were flat year. By region, sales in North America increased 2.0% to $3.4 billion, as volume growth (2.0%) and net selling price (0.5%) were partially offset by negative foreign exchange of 0.5%. Organic sales in North America increased 2.5% in 2019. The increase in North America organic sales was due to increases in oral care, personal care and home care organic sales. Oral care increased due to organic sales growth in the toothpaste category, partially offset by declines in organic sales in the manual toothbrush and mouthwash categories.

Personal care rose due to organic sales growth in the skin health, body wash and bar soap categories, partially offset by a decline in organic sales in the liquid hand soap category. Home care gains were attributed to organic sales growth in the liquid cleaner and fabric softener categories, partially offset by a decline in organic sales in the hand dish category.

Latin American sales were flat at $3.6 billion, as volume growth (3%) and net selling price increases (4%), were offset by negative foreign exchange (-7.0%). Volume gains were led by Mexico, Brazil and Central America. Organic sales in Latin America increased 7.0% in 2019 due to increases in oral care, personal care and home care organic sales. Oral care gains came in the toothpaste and manual toothbrush categories. The increase in personal care was primarily due to growth in the bar soap and shampoo categories. Home care growth was due to growth in the liquid cleaner, fabric softener and hand dish categories.

Sales in Europe fell 2.0% to $2.4 billion, as volume growth (4.0%) was more than offset by net selling price decreases of 0.5% and negative foreign exchange of 5.5%. Volume gains were led by France, Spain and the United Kingdom. The Filorga acquisition, which closed on September 19, 2019, contributed 3.0% to volume in Europe. Organic sales in Europe increased 0.5% in 2019. The increase in organic sales primarily due to an increase in oral care, partially offset by a decline in personal care. Oral care was driven by organic sales growth in the toothpaste category, partially offset by a decline in organic sales in the battery-powered toothbrush category. The personal care decline was primarily due to lower organic sales in the liquid hand soap and shampoo categories.

Asia-Pacific sales fell 1.0% to $2.7 billion, as volume growth of 0.5% and net selling price increases of 1.0% were more than offset by negative foreign exchange of 2.5%. Volume gains were led by the Philippines, Australia and Thailand. Organic sales in Asia-Pacific increased 1.5%, helped by gains in oral care.

Sales in Africa/Eurasia increased 1.5% to $981 million, as volume growth of 3.5% and net selling price increases of 4.0% were partially offset by negative foreign exchange of 6.0%. Volume gains were led by Russia, Kenya and the Gulf States. The company’s acquisition of a 51% controlling interest in Colgate Toloram Pte. Ltd., a joint venture which owns the Nigeria-based Hypo Homecare Products Limited, contributed 0.5% to volume in Africa/Eurasia. Organic sales in Africa/Eurasia increased 7.0%, which the company attributed to an increase in toothpaste and manual toothbrush sales.

In new product news, Colgate called its Optic White Renewal toothpaste with 3% hydrogen peroxide its best whitening toothpaste.

In January, Colgate acquired Hello oral care from Tenth Avenue Holdings. A purchase price was not disclosed. Hello, which bills itself as “natural-friendly,” includes adult and kids’ toothpaste, mouthrinse, toothbrushes and dental floss. Company founder Craig Dubitsky will remain with the company.