Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Company History
Church & Dwight History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1846 in Ewing, New Jersey
When was Church & Dwight founded?
Church & Dwight was founded in 1846 in Ewing, New Jersey by Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight, making it 180 years old.
- Founded
- 1846
- Founding place
- Ewing, New Jersey
- Founders
- Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight
- Headquarters today
- Ewing, New Jersey
- Milestones documented
- 19 (1846–2026)
- Current CEO
- Rick Dierker
- Acquisitions
- 8
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1846 | Founding of the Baking Soda Business |
| 1847 | John Dwight and Company Established |
| 1867 | ARM & HAMMER Trademark Introduced |
| 1896 | Merger Creates Church & Dwight Co., Inc. |
| 1925 | Corporate Incorporation |
| 1968 | Green River Facility Completed |
| 1970 | First Phosphate-Free Laundry Detergent |
| 1972 | Refrigerator Deodorizer Campaign |
| 2001 | Carter-Wallace Acquisition |
| 2003 | Unilever Oral Care Acquisition |
| 2006 | OxiClean Acquisition |
| 2008 | Orajel Acquisition |
| 2017 | Waterpik Acquisition |
| 2019 | Flawless Acquisition |
| 2021 | TheraBreath Acquisition |
| 2022 | Hero Cosmetics Acquisition |
| 2024 | VMS Impairment and CEO Transition |
| 2025 | Touchland Acquisition and Portfolio Reset |
| 2026 | MISS MOUTH'S MESSY EATER Acquisition and Raised Outlook |
- Where was Church & Dwight founded?
- Church & Dwight was founded in Ewing, New Jersey in 1846.
- Who founded Church & Dwight?
- Church & Dwight was founded by Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight.
- When did Church & Dwight start?
- Church & Dwight was founded in 1846.
- How old is Church & Dwight?
- Church & Dwight is 180 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
In 1846 Dr. Austin Church and his brother-in-law John Dwight began packaging bicarbonate of soda by hand in Dwight's New York kitchen, selling it as a more reliable leavening agent for home baking. Dwight's business adopted the Cow Brand, while Church's sons launched the ARM & HAMMER mark in 1867. The two family firms merged in 1896, and later generations promoted the same powder for cleaning, deodorizing and personal care.
Founders
Dr. Austin Church
The founding of Church & Dwight is a historic story of an effective, simple chemical innovation that altered the American household. The company was founded in 1846 by two brothers-in-law from Massachusetts: Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight. Dr. Austin Church was a physician who became fascinated by chemistry, specifically the properties of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Prior to 1846, baking bread or cakes was a laborious process relying on unpredictable yeast or pearl ash (derived from wood ashes), which often resulted in dense, sour-tasting baked goods. Dr. Church discovered a reliable method for refining sodium bicarbonate on a commercial scale. He recognized that when combined with an acidic ingredient (like sour milk), it produced carbon dioxide gas, leavening dough. He partnered with John Dwight, a pragmatic farmer and businessman, to commercialize the invention. They set up their first factory in the kitchen of Dwight's home, packaging the baking soda in small paper bags and selling it to grocers. It was a sensation, democratizing baking for millions of American housewives. In 1867, Austin Church's son, James, brought a crucial visual element to the company: he designed the well-known 'Arm & Hammer' logo, inspired by Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking. While the founders initially viewed their product purely as a baking ingredient, later generations discovered its incredible versatility as a cleaner and deodorizer, transforming a simple kitchen staple into the foundational bedrock of a multi-billion dollar modern CPG empire. Dr. Austin Church was born in 1799.
John Dwight
John Dwight (1814-1903) was an American businessman who co-founded Church & Dwight Co., Inc. in 1846 with his brother-in-law Dr. Austin Church. Dwight provided the operational infrastructure for the fledgling business, packaging baking soda by hand in his kitchen and establishing distribution relationships with local retailers. In 1847, he formally incorporated John Dwight and Company, which dominated the baking soda market for two decades before facing competition from Church's sons. The rivalry between Dwight's Cow Brand and Church's ARM & HAMMER brand ended in 1896 when the two companies merged, with Dwight serving as the first president of the combined entity. Under his leadership, the company maintained its commitment to product purity while expanding into new markets. Dwight's conservative management style and emphasis on financial stability established a corporate culture that persisted for decades, with the company earning more from its investment portfolio than operations in some years. He died in 1903 at the age of 89, having lived to see the company he founded become a national brand. John Dwight was born in 1819.
Key Milestones
Founding of the Baking Soda Business
Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight begin preparing bicarbonate of soda for commercial distribution, packaging it by hand into paper bags in Dwight's kitchen in New York City. This marks the beginning of what would become the world's largest sodium bicarbonate producer.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJohn Dwight and Company Established
John Dwight formally establishes John Dwight and Company, adopting the Cow Brand trademark with Lady Maud, a prize-winning Jersey cow, as the brand icon. The company becomes the dominant baking soda producer in the United States.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgARM & HAMMER Trademark Introduced
Dr. Church's sons form Church & Company to compete with John Dwight, introducing the ARM & HAMMER trademark derived from James Church's Vulcan Spice Mills. The arm-and-hammer logo, symbolizing Vulcan striking his anvil, becomes one of the most recognized brand marks in American history.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMerger Creates Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
John Dwight & Company and Church & Company merge to form Church & Dwight Co., Inc., with John Dwight serving as the first president. The merged company continues to market both Cow Brand and ARM & HAMMER baking soda.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCorporate Incorporation
The firm is formally incorporated as Church & Dwight Co., marking the transition from a family partnership to a structured corporation with modern governance.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGreen River Facility Completed
Church & Dwight completes construction of the world's largest sodium bicarbonate production facility in Green River, Wyoming, after outside suppliers proved insufficient. This facility becomes the cornerstone of the Specialty Products Division.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Phosphate-Free Laundry Detergent
The company launches the first nationally distributed, phosphate-free laundry detergent under the ARM & HAMMER brand, capitalizing on emerging environmental consciousness and expanding the brand beyond baking soda.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRefrigerator Deodorizer Campaign
Church & Dwight launches its well-known campaign promoting ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda as a refrigerator deodorizer, creating a recurring consumption pattern that expands household penetration and establishes a new use case for the 126-year-old product.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCarter-Wallace Acquisition
Church & Dwight acquires Carter-Wallace's consumer products business, bringing the Trojan condom brand and Nair depilatory brand into the portfolio for approximately $739 million. This acquisition transforms the company from a single-product baking soda company into a diversified consumer packaged goods enterprise and establishes the acquisition-driven growth model.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgUnilever Oral Care Acquisition
The company acquires the U.S. and Canadian rights to Unilever's oral care business, including Pepsodent and Mentadent brands, for approximately $100 million, establishing a foothold in the oral care category.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOxiClean Acquisition
Church & Dwight acquires Orange Glo International, maker of OxiClean stain fighters, for approximately $325 million. The brand, popularized by infomercials, becomes a core component of the household products portfolio.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOrajel Acquisition
The company acquires the Orajel oral analgesics business from Del Pharmaceuticals (a Coty subsidiary) for $383.4 million in cash, strengthening the oral care portfolio with the #1 oral pain relief brand.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgWaterpik Acquisition
Church & Dwight acquires Water Pik, Inc., maker of Waterpik water flossers and showerheads, for about $1 billion in cash, its largest deal at the time. The deal added about $265 million in trailing sales.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFlawless Acquisition
The company acquires the Flawless and Finishing Touch hair removal brands from Ideavillage Products Corporation for $475 million in cash plus an earn-out of up to $425 million. The brand generates $180 million in trailing sales with $55 million in EBITDA (30% margin).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTheraBreath Acquisition
Church & Dwight acquires TheraBreath, the #2 alcohol-free mouthwash brand in the U.S., for $580 million in cash.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHero Cosmetics Acquisition
The company acquires Hero Cosmetics, maker of Mighty Patch acne patches, for $630 million in cash plus a potential earn-out. The brand had about $115 million in trailing sales and became the #1 U.S. pimple patch brand in the portfolio.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgVMS Impairment and CEO Transition
The company records a $357.1 million non-cash impairment on its VITAFUSION and L'IL CRITTERS vitamin brands due to private-label competition. In 2024 the board also named CFO Rick Dierker to succeed Matthew Farrell as CEO effective March 31, 2025.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTouchland Acquisition and Portfolio Reset
Church & Dwight agreed in May 2025 to buy Touchland, the #2 U.S. hand sanitizer brand, for $700 million plus an earn-out of up to $180 million, and closed the deal in 2025. It also exited the Flawless, Spinbrush and Waterpik showerhead businesses and agreed in December 2025 to sell its VitaFusion and L'il Critters vitamin brands to Piping Rock Health Products.
Source: investor.churchdwight.comMISS MOUTH'S MESSY EATER Acquisition and Raised Outlook
In June 2026 Church & Dwight acquired MISS MOUTH'S MESSY EATER, which it describes as the #1 stain remover brand on Amazon. Q2 2026 net sales rose 1.6% to $1,530.0 million with 5.8% organic growth, and the company raised its 2026 outlook.
Source: investor.churchdwight.comMajor Acquisitions
Carter-Wallace Consumer Products (Trojan, Nair, First Response)
2001Transformed Church & Dwight from a single-product baking soda company into a diversified consumer packaged goods enterprise. The acquisition brought Trojan (70% U.S. condom market share), Nair (#1 depilatory), and First Response (#2 pregnancy test) into the portfolio, establishing the acquisition-driven growth model.
Orange Glo International (OxiClean)
2006Added the OxiClean stain fighter brand to the household products portfolio. OxiClean was popularized by infomercials and had strong consumer awareness but limited distribution infrastructure.
Orajel (from Del Pharmaceuticals)
2008Strengthened the oral care portfolio with the #1 oral pain relief brand in the U.S. Orajel complemented the company's existing ARM & HAMMER toothpaste and Spinbrush toothbrush brands.
Waterpik
2017Added the #1 water flosser brand and #1 replacement showerhead brand in the U.S. to the oral care portfolio. The acquisition was the company's largest to date and expanded its presence in the dental professional channel.
Flawless (from Ideavillage Products)
2019Added the Flawless and Finishing Touch hair removal device brands for $475 million in cash plus an earn-out of up to $425 million, betting on the beauty device category.
TheraBreath
2021Added the #2 alcohol-free mouthwash brand in the U.S. to the oral care portfolio. TheraBreath complemented Waterpik, Orajel, and Spinbrush in the company's growing oral care segment.
Hero Cosmetics
2022Added the #1 pimple patch brand and #2 acne brand overall in the U.S. to the personal care portfolio. Hero targeted younger consumers with strong digital-native engagement and represented the company's first major acquisition of a digitally-native brand.
Touchland
2025Added the #2 U.S. hand sanitizer brand, which targets Gen Z consumers with beauty-inspired packaging and scents, in the company's largest deal since Waterpik.
Keep researching Church & Dwight
Church & Dwight Company History FAQ
When was Church & Dwight founded and what was its original product?
Church & Dwight was founded in 1846 in New York by Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight, packaging pure sodium bicarbonate for domestic home baking under the Cow Brand and Arm & Hammer names.
When did the company officially incorporate as Church & Dwight Co., Inc.?
In 1896, the family partnerships consolidated their baking soda businesses, officially incorporating as Church & Dwight Co., Inc. in the State of New Jersey.
How did the company expand into laundry detergent and toothpaste in the 1970s?
In 1970, Church & Dwight introduced phosphate-free Arm & Hammer powder laundry detergent during the first Earth Day, followed in 1975 by Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste, establishing multi-category brand power.
Where is Church & Dwight stock listed?
Church & Dwight shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CHD, and the company is part of the S&P 500.
When did Church & Dwight acquire Trojan, First Response, and OxiClean?
Church & Dwight acquired Trojan and First Response in 2001 (via the Carter-Wallace acquisition) and acquired OxiClean in 2006 (via Orange Glo International), establishing its modern Power Brands model.
When did Church & Dwight acquire Waterpik, TheraBreath, and Hero Cosmetics?
Between 2017 and 2022, Church & Dwight expanded its personal care footprint by acquiring Waterpik ($1.0B in 2017), Zicam ($530M in 2020), TheraBreath ($580M in 2021), and Hero Cosmetics ($630M in 2022).
When was Matt Farrell appointed CEO and Chairman?
Matt Farrell was appointed CEO in January 2016 and Chairman in May 2019, leading Church & Dwight through record earnings growth, sustainability achievements, and digital e-commerce expansion.
What is Church & Dwight's position in global consumer packaged goods today?
Church & Dwight is an S&P 500 consumer products company with $6.2 billion in 2025 net sales. After a 2025 portfolio reset it focuses on brands such as ARM & HAMMER, OxiClean, Trojan, TheraBreath, Hero, Batiste and Touchland.
When was Church & Dwight founded?
It was founded in 1846 by Austin Church and John Dwight, who originally packaged baking soda in a kitchen before choosing the iconic Arm & Hammer logo to represent Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking.
Related Companies
Compare Church & Dwight Co., Inc. History With Competitors
Related Strategic History
Compare founding milestones and corporate evolution
Explore Church & Dwight
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.