Industry Chatter: Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever?

Posted: July 17, 2007

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Neither Unilever nor Colgate have commented on the share movements.

The landscape of the personal care industry continues to be reshaped as manufacturers seek either to focus on—or sell off—their personal care divisions or specific brands. In May, L'Oréal acquired Irvine, Calif. USA-based PureOlogy Research LLC, commenting: "PureOlogy will allow our professional products division to strengthen even further its position in the top end hairdressing salons where the brand has a strong potential.”

This month, the finished goods giant also acquired salon distributor Maly's West, complementing its plan to increase its presence in the US salon hair care market. Maly's West will also be integrated into its professional products division. 

Another example of acquisitions and refocusing includes Personal Products Company, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, entering into an agreement to purchase the Rembrandt Brand of oral care products from The Gillette Company;  and prior to that, P&G's acquisition of Gillette—"We are both industry leaders on our own, and we will be even stronger and even better together," commented A.G. Lafley, P&G chairman, president and chief executive, in the press release.

Whether Unilever and Colgate-Palmolive merge or not, it makes good business sense for companies to grow their strengths, and it makes for interesting times in the personal care industry to watch as the playing field shifts.