Red Collar Pet Foods (three plants)
2022
$700M
Why
Added U.S. dry pet food manufacturing capacity for Hill's.
Impact
Helped Hill's meet demand without relying only on new greenfield plants.
Outcome
Plants are integrated into Hill's supply network.
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Consumer Packaged Goods & Household ProductsFounded 1806- HQ today: New York, New York
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026
Acquisitions
Colgate-Palmolive Acquisitions
6
Major Deals Covered
$3.2B
Disclosed Deal Value
What are Colgate-Palmolive's biggest acquisitions?
Colgate-Palmolive's largest disclosed acquisition here is Filorga for $1.7B in 2019. This page covers 6 major deals from 1976 to 2022, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.
- Major deals covered
- 6
- Largest deal
- Filorga ($1.7B)
- First deal
- 1976
- Most recent
- 2022
| Company | Year | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill's Pet Nutrition | 1976 | Undisclosed | Added science-based pet food sold through veterinarians. |
| The Mennen Company | 1992 | $670.0M | Added Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick deodorants. |
| Tom's of Maine | 2006 | $100.0M | Added a natural oral and personal care brand (84% stake). |
| Filorga | 2019 | $1.7B | Entered prestige skincare and travel retail. |
| hello Products | 2020 | Undisclosed | Added a natural, design-led oral care brand aimed at younger consumers. |
| Red Collar Pet Foods (three plants) | 2022 | $700.0M | Added U.S. dry pet food manufacturing capacity for Hill's. |
- What companies has Colgate-Palmolive bought?
- Major acquisitions by Colgate-Palmolive documented here include Filorga (2019), Red Collar Pet Foods (three plants) (2022), The Mennen Company (1992), Tom's of Maine (2006) and hello Products (2020).
- What is Colgate-Palmolive's most recent acquisition?
- The most recent Colgate-Palmolive acquisition documented here is Red Collar Pet Foods (three plants), in 2022, for $700M.
hello Products
2020
Why
Added a natural, design-led oral care brand aimed at younger consumers.
Impact
Broadened Colgate's reach in natural and fluoride-free oral care.
Outcome
hello is sold alongside the Colgate brand in the U.S. and other markets.
Filorga
2019
$1.7B
Why
Entered prestige skincare and travel retail.
Impact
Expanded the skin health portfolio alongside EltaMD and PCA Skin.
Outcome
The skin health business underperformed and drove goodwill and intangible impairment charges in 2025.
Tom's of Maine
2006
$100M
Why
Added a natural oral and personal care brand (84% stake).
Impact
Gave Colgate a credible natural brand without diluting the Colgate name.
Outcome
Tom's of Maine remains in the portfolio.
The Mennen Company
1992
$670M
Why
Added Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick deodorants.
Impact
Strengthened Colgate's personal care position in the Americas.
Outcome
Speed Stick remains part of the Personal Care portfolio.
Hill's Pet Nutrition
1976
Why
Added science-based pet food sold through veterinarians.
Impact
Hill's grew into a separately reported segment and one of Colgate's main growth drivers.
Outcome
Remains a core business, with Science Diet and Prescription Diet sold worldwide.
Colgate-Palmolive Company's Growth & Acquisition Strategy
Colgate-Palmolive's growth plan centers on premium oral care (whitening, sensitivity, gum health and electric brushes), expanding Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet, and selective skin health brands such as EltaMD and PCA Skin. Productivity savings fund higher advertising, and the company has exited low-margin private-label pet food to focus Hill's on its own brands. Acquisitions are mostly bolt-ons, such as the 2022 purchase of three Red Collar Pet Foods plants for $700 million.
How Colgate-Palmolive Company Makes Money
Colgate-Palmolive sells high-frequency, repeat-purchase consumer products. Revenue comes from four categories: Oral Care (Colgate, elmex, meridol, Tom's of Maine, hello), Personal Care (Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Speed Stick, EltaMD, PCA Skin, Filorga), Home Care (Ajax, Fabuloso, Palmolive dish liquid, Suavitel) and Pet Nutrition (Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet). The company reports through five geographic Oral, Personal and Home Care segments plus Hill's. Profit depends on pricing power and premium mix: dentist and veterinarian recommendations let Colgate sell clinical toothpaste and therapeutic pet diets above private-label prices, while a long-running productivity program funds advertising. Around 70% of sales come from outside the United States.
Colgate-Palmolive Acquisitions FAQ
What was the most transformative acquisition in Colgate-Palmolive's modern history?
Colgate-Palmolive's 1976 acquisition of Hill's Pet Nutrition is widely seen as its most transformative deal, turning a specialty veterinary pet food maker into a separately reported global segment.
Why did Colgate acquire the Minnetonka Softsoap business in 1987?
In 1987, Colgate acquired the liquid soap business of Minnetonka Corporation, including the well-known Softsoap brand, for $61 million. This established Colgate as the pioneer and market leader in the rapidly growing liquid hand soap category.
What was the significance of the $670 million acquisition of The Mennen Company in 1992?
In 1992, Colgate acquired The Mennen Company for $670 million, adding Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, and Baby Magic to its portfolio and securing a leading market share in men's and women's deodorants and antiperspirants across the Americas.
How did the acquisition of GABA International in 2004 strengthen European Oral Care?
In 2004, Colgate acquired Swiss oral care leader GABA International for approximately $1.05 billion (€840 million), adding premier European therapeutic oral care brands Elmex, Meridol, and Aronal, and cementing Colgate's ties with European dentists and pharmacies.
Why did Colgate acquire Tom's of Maine in 2006?
In 2006, Colgate acquired an 84% majority stake in Tom's of Maine for $100 million, instantly giving Colgate the leading position in the natural, organic oral care and personal care market in North America.
How did the acquisitions of PCA Skin, EltaMD, and Filorga build Colgate's Skin Health business?
Between 2017 and 2019, Colgate acquired PCA Skin (medical-grade chemical peels and serums), EltaMD (#1 dermatologist-recommended professional sunscreen), and Laboratoires Filorga Cosmétiques (~$1.69 billion (€1.5 billion) prestige anti-aging skincare), creating a high-margin global Skin Health portfolio.
What manufacturing facilities did Hill's acquire from Red Collar Pet Foods in 2022?
In 2022, Hill's Pet Nutrition bought three U.S. dry pet food manufacturing plants from Red Collar Pet Foods for $700 million to expand capacity.
What is Colgate-Palmolive's strategic criteria for future corporate acquisitions?
Colgate pursues disciplined bolt-on acquisitions that offer scientific validation, professional medical or veterinary endorsements, high gross margins, exposure to fast-growing premium categories (oral health, skin health, pet nutrition), and synergy with Colgate's global distribution.
Does Colgate own Tom's of Maine?
Yes, recognizing the massive shift toward natural and organic products, Colgate acquired Tom's of Maine in 2006, and later aggressively acquired other natural oral care brands like Hello Products to defend its market share.
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