Unilever vs P&G: A Century of Competition Between Consumer Goods Giants
Two corporations have dominated household and personal care for over 100 years. Compare their brand portfolios, strategies, and what makes each one different.
The Biggest Rivalry You Never Think About
Procter & Gamble and Unilever are the two largest consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies in the world. Together, they own over 500 brands that touch nearly every aspect of daily life: the soap you shower with, the detergent you wash clothes in, the deodorant you wear, the shampoo in your hair, and the ice cream in your freezer.
Their competition has shaped consumer markets for over a century. Yet most consumers have no idea how deeply these two corporations influence their daily routines. This article compares the two giants, their brand portfolios, strategies, and what makes each one different.
Company Profiles
Procter & Gamble
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1837 (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, Ohio, USA |
| Ticker | NYSE: PG |
| Annual Revenue | ~$84 billion (FY 2025) |
| Employees | ~107,000 |
| Brands | ~65 |
| Geographic Reach | ~180 countries |
P&G was founded in 1837 by William Procter (a candle maker) and James Gamble (a soap maker) in Cincinnati. The company pioneered modern brand management in the 1930s and became the blueprint for consumer goods marketing worldwide.
Unilever
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1929 (merger of Lever Brothers and Margarine Unie) |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Ticker | NYSE: UL / LSE: ULVR |
| Annual Revenue | ~$62 billion (2024) |
| Employees | ~128,000 |
| Brands | ~400 (focused on ~30 "power brands") |
| Geographic Reach | ~190 countries |
Unilever was formed in 1929 from the merger of British soap maker Lever Brothers and Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie. The company has British-Dutch roots but unified its corporate structure under a single London headquarters in 2020.
Head-to-Head: Brand Portfolio Comparison
Personal Care
| Category | P&G Brands | Unilever Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Soap/Body Wash | Olay, Ivory, Old Spice | Dove, Lux, Lifebuoy |
| Shampoo | Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences | TRESemme, Sunsilk, Clear |
| Deodorant | Old Spice, Secret, Native | Rexona/Degree, Dove, AXE |
| Skincare | Olay, SK-II | Dove, Vaseline, Pond's, Simple |
| Razors | Gillette, Venus, Braun | None (exited razors) |
Winner: P&G dominates in razors (no Unilever competitor) and premium skincare (SK-II). Unilever has broader reach in emerging markets with brands like Lux and Lifebuoy.
Home Care
| Category | P&G Brands | Unilever Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry | Tide, Gain, Dreft, Ariel | Persil (in some markets), Omo, Surf |
| Dish Care | Dawn, Cascade | Sunlight, Vim |
| Surface Cleaning | Mr. Clean, Swiffer | Cif, Domestos |
| Air Freshener | Febreze | None |
Winner: P&G dominates home care in the United States. Unilever is stronger in home care in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Food & Beverages
| Category | P&G | Unilever |
|---|---|---|
| Food brands | None (exited food in 2012) | Hellmann's, Knorr, Magnum |
| Revenue from food | $0 | ~$13 billion (2024) |
*Note: Unilever separated its ice cream division (Magnum, Ben & Jerry's) into an independent company in 2025.
Winner: Unilever is the only one of the two still in food, giving it a more diversified portfolio. P&G deliberately exited food (selling Pringles to Kellogg in 2012) to focus on health, beauty, and home care.
Baby & Family Care
| Category | P&G | Unilever |
|---|---|---|
| Diapers | Pampers | None |
| Feminine Care | Always, Tampax | None |
| Paper Products | Bounty, Charmin | None |
Winner: P&G dominates baby and family care categories that Unilever does not compete in at all.
Strategic Differences
Portfolio Philosophy
P&G: Fewer, bigger brands. P&G deliberately reduced its brand count from over 100 to approximately 65, focusing resources on its highest-performing properties. The strategy is to dominate fewer categories rather than spread across many.
Unilever: Broader portfolio. Unilever owns approximately 400 brands but has increasingly focused on ~30 "power brands" that drive the majority of revenue and profit. The company has divested slower-growing brands (tea business to CVC Capital, spreads to KKR) while keeping a wider range than P&G.
Geographic Focus
P&G: Generates approximately 45% of revenue from North America. Strong in developed markets.
Unilever: More balanced globally, with approximately 60% of revenue from emerging markets. Historically stronger in India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Sustainability Approach
P&G: Focuses on "brand as a force for good" through individual brand initiatives (Tide's cold-water washing, Pampers' community programs). Critics argue P&G's approach is more incremental.
Unilever: Pioneered the "Unilever Sustainable Living Plan" under former CEO Paul Polman, making sustainability central to corporate strategy. Under CEO Hein Schuemacher (appointed 2023), Unilever has maintained sustainability commitments while increasing focus on financial performance.
Innovation Model
P&G: Invests heavily in R&D (~$2 billion annually) and operates its "Connect + Develop" open innovation program, seeking external innovations to complement internal research.
Unilever: Also invests significantly in R&D and has been more aggressive in acquiring innovative D2C brands (Dollar Shave Club, Tatcha, Paula's Choice) to bring external innovation into the portfolio.
Financial Comparison
| Metric | P&G | Unilever |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue (2024) | ~$84B | ~$62B |
| Operating Margin | ~24% | ~18% |
| Market Cap (2026) | ~$400B | ~$140B |
| Dividend Yield | ~2.4% | ~3.2% |
| Revenue Growth (5yr avg) | ~4% | ~3% |
| R&D Spending | ~$2B | ~$1B |
P&G is significantly larger and more profitable than Unilever. P&G's focus on fewer, higher-margin categories (beauty, grooming, home care) has produced superior margins. Unilever's broader portfolio, including lower-margin food categories, dilutes its overall profitability.
Key Historical Moments
1930s: P&G pioneers the "brand manager" concept, creating the modern CPG industry. Unilever adopts similar practices.
1950s-1960s: Both companies expand aggressively into television advertising, becoming two of the world's largest advertisers. The term "soap opera" comes from P&G's sponsorship of daytime TV dramas.
1990s-2000s: Both companies acquire aggressively. P&G buys Gillette ($57B, 2005). Unilever acquires Ben & Jerry's, Slim-Fast, and expands its personal care portfolio.
2010s: Both companies face pressure from D2C brands and private equity. P&G divests non-core brands. Unilever fends off a $143 billion takeover bid from Kraft Heinz in 2017.
2020s: P&G focuses and thrives. Unilever restructures, separates its ice cream division, and refocuses on "power brands" under new CEO Hein Schuemacher.
Where They Compete Most Fiercely
The most intense P&G vs Unilever battles occur in categories where both have major brands:
Deodorant: Old Spice and Secret (P&G) vs Rexona/Degree and Dove (Unilever). This is one of the most competitive CPG categories.
Shampoo: Pantene and Head & Shoulders (P&G) vs TRESemme and Dove Hair (Unilever).
Skin Care: Olay (P&G) vs Dove and Vaseline (Unilever).
Soap/Body Wash: Olay and Ivory (P&G) vs Dove and Lux (Unilever).
In each of these categories, P&G and Unilever together typically control 40-60% of the market, with the remaining share split among dozens of smaller competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Procter & Gamble bigger than Unilever?
Yes. P&G generates approximately $84 billion in annual revenue compared to Unilever's ~$62 billion. P&G's market capitalization (~$400 billion) is also roughly 3x Unilever's (~$140 billion). However, Unilever operates in more countries and has more total brands.
Do P&G and Unilever own any of the same brands?
No. P&G and Unilever are competitors and do not share brand ownership. However, they compete directly in many of the same categories with rival brands.
Which company is better for the environment?
Both companies have made sustainability commitments. Unilever has historically been more aggressive with sustainability branding under its Sustainable Living Plan. P&G has focused on brand-level sustainability initiatives. Independent assessments vary, and both companies face ongoing criticism from environmental groups.
Has either company tried to acquire the other?
No. However, Unilever has been the target of a major takeover bid: Kraft Heinz offered $143 billion for Unilever in 2017, which Unilever rejected. Neither P&G nor Unilever has attempted to acquire the other, as such a deal would face insurmountable antitrust obstacles.
The Bottom Line
P&G and Unilever have competed across grocery store aisles for over a century, and that competition has shaped the consumer goods industry as we know it. P&G's focused, higher-margin approach has produced superior financial results. Unilever's broader, more globally diversified portfolio gives it reach in markets where P&G is less established. For consumers, this rivalry has driven innovation, variety, and competitive pricing in categories from soap to shampoo to laundry detergent. Understanding which company owns which brand helps you see these market dynamics more clearly.
Compare brand portfolios on WhoBrands or explore P&G's brands and Unilever's brands.
Explore Related Brands
- Dove - Unilever's personal care mega-brand
- Tide - P&G's flagship laundry brand
- Gillette - P&G's razor empire
- Hellmann's - Unilever's American mayo brand
- Old Spice - P&G men's grooming
- Vaseline - Unilever skincare classic
Sources
1. Procter & Gamble Annual Report 2025. us.pg.com/investors 2. Unilever Annual Report 2024. unilever.com/investors 3. Euromonitor International. "Global CPG Market Share Data." 2025. 4. Financial Times. "Unilever CEO Hein Schuemacher's Strategy." 2024-2025. 5. Harvard Business School. "P&G: The Brand Management System." Case study.
All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com's research methodology. Last updated: February 3, 2026.
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Brands & Companies Mentioned
Dove
Owned by Unilever plc
Personal care brand owned by Unilever, known for beauty bars and skincare products.
Gillette
Owned by Procter & Gamble
American brand of safety razors and personal care products owned by Procter & Gamble.
Unilever plc
British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company and one of the world's largest FMCG companies, owning Dove, Hellmann's, Lipton, Axe, Knorr, Ben & Jerry's, and over 400 brands sold in 190 countries.
38 brands in portfolio
Procter & Gamble
Multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
33 brands in portfolio