Colgate Timeline

By sdlindgren

  • Start

    William Colgate starts a starch, soap, and candle business in New York.

  • 2

    First Colgate ad. in the New York papers

  • 3

    Colgate establishes a starch factory in New Jersey

  • 4

    Death of William Colgate and Samuel Colgate Takes over

  • 5

    B.J. Johnson opens a soap factory in Wisconsin

  • 6

    Colgate introduces perfumed soap and perfumes/essences.

  • 7

    Peet brothers establish soap company in Kansas City, where they make crystal white soap cashmere Bouquet, the first milled perfumed toilet soap.

  • 8

    Colgate aromatic toothpaste in jars

  • 9

    Gerhard Mennen establishes a pharmacy in newark, NJ

  • 10

    Colgate introduces toothpaste in a collapsible tube.

  • 11

    Colgate wins top honors for it's fine soaps and perfunes at the world's fair in Paris.

  • 12

    Colgate celebrates it's 100th anniversary. Product line includes over 800 different products.

  • 13

    colgate is incorporated by the five sons of Samuel Colgate.

  • 14

    Colgate distributes 2 million tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to schools.

  • 15

    Colgate establishes it's first international subsidiary in Canada.

  • 16

    Colgate begins establishing operations in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

  • 17

    Colgate is first listed on the New York Stock Exchange

  • 18

    Colgate-Palmolive company becomes company's official name.

  • 19

    Colgate opens corporate headquarters at 300 Park Ave in New York City.

  • 20

    Colgate opens research center in New Jersey

  • 21

    Colgate toothpaste adds MFP fluoride,

  • 22

    Colgate acquires Hoyt Laboratories

  • 23

    Colgate Acquires Hill's pet nutrition

  • 24

    Colgate plus toothbrush is introduced.

  • 25

    Colgate acquires Soft-soap liquid soap business from the Minnetonka Corporation

  • 26

    Colgate acquires Murphy oil Soap

  • 27

    Colgate acquires the Mennen Company

  • 28

    Colgate enters central Europe and Russia, expanding into fast growing markets.

  • 29

    Colgate total toothpaste is introduced in the US and quickly becomes the market leader.

  • 30

    Colgate acquires the GABA oral care business in Europe.

  • 31

    Colgate enters the fast growing Naturals segment by purchasing Tom's of Maine

  • 32

    Colgate acquires the Sanex personal care brand in Europe

  • 33

    Colgate refurbishes the historic Colgate Clock.

  • 34

    today Colgate focuses on four core businesses Oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition.