A leading global consumer product company, Colgate-Palmolive operates in the areas of oral, personal and home care as well as pet nutrition. Famous brands include Irish Spring, Ajax, Fab and Hill's Science Diet.
Referring to a strong second half of 2004 and first quarter of 2005, Reuben Mark, CEO said, "Our focused category strategy is working well, with our oral-care business up more than 10% in North America and Latin America, with Europe and Asia/Africa close behind, up 9% and 7%, respectively.
"We are also pleased that the gross margin in our top-priority oral-care business worldwide was up more than 100 basis points, while the lower priority detergent businesses were down as a result of much higher levels of petroleum-based ingredients. Continued strong cost control largely offset raw material price increases. We are especially encouraged that the worldwide pricing negative was lower in the current quarter than it has been for five quarters."
IW 50 Best Manufacturing Company
