Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is an American consumer goods company focusing on personal care, household products, and specialty products. The company was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey. It is the parent company of well-known brands such as Arm & Hammer, Trojan, OxiClean, and First Response. In 2022, Church & Dwight reported annual revenue of $5.4 billion. The company's products and services include a wide range of consumer goods, including laundry detergent, air fresheners, baking soda, condoms, pregnancy tests, and oral hygiene products.
History
The company was founded in 1847 to unify two companies created by John Dwight of Massachusetts and his brother-in-law, Austin Church of Connecticut. Their partnership had begun in 1846 with the two founders selling sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda) that they refined in Dwight's kitchen.[4]
The Arm & Hammer name and logo, which dates back to the 1860s,[5] is often incorrectly claimed to have originated with tycoon Armand Hammer. Hammer was so often asked about the Church & Dwight brand that he attempted to buy the company. While this attempt was unsuccessful, Hammer's Occidental Petroleum in 1986 acquired enough stock for him to join the Church & Dwight board of directors until he died in 1990.[6]
In 1970, the Arm & Hammer brand introduced the market's first nationally distributed, phosphate-free detergent: Arm & Hammer Powder Laundry Detergent.[4]
2000s
In 2001, Church & Dwight acquired the consumer product line of Carter-Wallace, and MedPointe bought the diagnostics and drug businesses.[7] The same year, Church & Dwight expanded its business into laundry detergent products by acquiring small detergent company USA Detergents, the original owner of Xtra detergent.[8]
In 2003, Church & Dwight bought the U.S. and Canadian rights to Unilever's oral health business, which includes Pepsodent, Mentadent, Close-Up, and Aim. Unilever still owns the brands outside of North America.[8][9]
In 2006, Church & Dwight expanded its household brand portfolio with the acquisition of Denver-based Orange Glo International, which included such brands as OxiClean in the laundry pre-wash additive category, Kaboom bathroom cleaners, and Orange Glo household cleaning products.[10]
In 2008, Church & Dwight acquired the Orajel business from Del Labs, including pain relievers for toothache, mouth sore, teething, and non-fluoride toothpaste.[8]
2010s
Church & Dwight was ranked 723 in the Fortune 500 listing of companies in 2010. The same year, Church & Dwight acquired Simply Saline and Feline Pine.[11]
In 2016, Church & Dwight acquired Spencer Forrest, Inc., the maker of Toppik hair care products.[12]
In 2017, MidOcean Partners agreed to sell Water Pik to Church & Dwight for $1 billion. At the time of the sale announcement, it was reported that Water Pik had "$265 million of revenue in the fiscal year ended June 30, about 70% of which came from its water flosser products".[13]
2020s
In December 2021, the company acquired TheraBreath for a reported amount of $580 million.[14][15]
^"CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC". Church & Dwight Co., Inc. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-12-15. Annual report which provides a comprehensive overview of the company for the past year.
^"Carter-Wallace's brands will be sold to 2 different companies for a total of $1.12 billion". Los Angeles Times. May 9, 2001. Retrieved 2011-09-26. Carter-Wallace, ending a yearlong process to find buyers for its many brands, will split its consumer brands—including Trojan condoms and Arrid deodorant—from its health business, after failing to attract a better offer for the entire company. For Church & Dwight, which owns the Arm & Hammer baking soda product line, the purchase of Carter-Wallace's deodorant and pet-care lines will help the firm expand internationally, it said. A 50–50 venture Church has formed with Kelso and will take the other consumer lines. MedPointe will get Carter-Wallace's diagnostics and drug businesses, which make the allergy medicine Astelin, the muscle relaxant Soma, and Rynatan/Tussi cough and cold products. ...[dead link]
