Is Camay a subsidiary of Unilever?

No. Camay is not a separate subsidiary. It is a product line within Unilever's Beauty & Personal Care division. Unilever acquired Camay from Procter & Gamble in 2015 as part of P&G's portfolio restructuring. Camay does not operate as an independent legal entity and all decisions are made by Unilever's corporate leadership. The brand is managed alongside other Unilever beauty brands including Dove, Lux, and Pond's.

Is Camay publicly traded?

No. Camay itself is not publicly traded. Its parent company, Unilever, is publicly traded on both the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ULVR and the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol UL. Unilever reported approximately EUR 50.5 billion in turnover for full-year 2025. Investors seeking exposure to Camay must invest in Unilever stock, which includes the company's entire portfolio of brands.

Who owned Camay before Unilever?

Procter & Gamble owned Camay from 1957 to 2015. P&G acquired the J.B. Williams Company, Camay's original creator, in 1957. P&G owned Camay for 58 years and expanded the brand internationally. In December 2014, P&G announced the sale of Camay to Unilever as part of P&G's strategy to shed up to 100 brands and focus on 70 to 80 core brands. The deal closed in 2015 and included a manufacturing facility in Mexico.

Is Camay the same as Dove?

No. Camay and Dove are separate brands, though both are owned by Unilever. Dove was introduced by Unilever in 1957 and is positioned as a premium moisturizing brand with a broad product line including body washes, deodorants, and hair care. Camay is positioned as a budget beauty soap with a narrower product line focused on bar soap. The two brands compete in different market segments within Unilever's portfolio.

Where are Camay products made?

Camay products are manufactured at Unilever facilities in the United States, Mexico, China, and India. The 2015 acquisition from P&G included a manufacturing facility in Mexico that transferred to Unilever with approximately 170 employees. Unilever operates a global manufacturing network and may shift production between facilities based on demand. Camay products are distributed primarily in developing markets where bar soap remains the dominant cleansing format.

Beauty & Personal Care

Who Owns Camay?

Q: When was Camay founded?

Camay was founded in 1926 by the J.B. Williams Company, an American personal care products manufacturer based in Glastonbury, Connecticut. The brand was created as a beauty soap specifically marketed to women, combining gentle cleansing with moisturizing properties and floral fragrances. The J.B. Williams Company was later acquired by Procter & Gamble in 1957, which owned Camay for 58 years before selling it to Unilever in 2015.

Q: Is Camay cruelty-free?

No. Camay is not certified as cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny or other independent certification bodies. Unilever, Camay's parent company, is listed by PETA as "Working for Regulatory Change," meaning the company conducts animal testing only when required by law. Unilever sells products in markets where animal testing is required by local regulation, including mainland China, which prevents the brand from achieving independent cruelty-free certification.

Camay is owned by Unilever (LSE: ULVR, NYSE: UL), a publicly traded British multinational consumer goods company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Unilever acquired Camay from Procter & Gamble in 2015 as part of P&G's brand portfolio restructuring. The brand was originally founded in 1926 by the J.B. Williams Company as a beauty soap for women. Camay operates as a product line within Unilever's Beauty & Personal Care division. Unilever reported approximately EUR 50.5 billion in turnover for full-year 2025.

Parent Company

Unilever plc

Acquired

2015

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Camay Timeline

1926

Camay

Founded by J.B. Williams Company

Founded

2015

Acquired by Unilever plc

Unilever plc acquired Camay

Acquired

budgetmass marketGlobalOfficial Website

Who Owns Camay?

Parent Company: Unilever plc
Ownership Type: Brand division
Acquisition Year: 2015
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: LSE: ULVR

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Camay	Unilever plc	Brand division

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Camay on Amazon

History of Camay

Founded: 1926
Founders: J.B. Williams Company
Acquired by Unilever plc: 2015

Camay was introduced in 1926 by the J.B. Williams Company, an American personal care products manufacturer based in Glastonbury, Connecticut. The brand was created as a beauty soap specifically marketed to women, combining gentle cleansing with moisturizing properties and floral fragrances. At the time, most soaps were marketed as functional cleansing products. Camay's positioning as a beauty product rather than just a soap was a notable marketing innovation.

The brand's early advertising emphasized its moisturizing properties and delicate floral scents, distinguishing it from harsher, more functional soaps. Camay was marketed with the tagline "The soap that makes your skin beautiful" and featured elegant packaging that reinforced its beauty positioning. The brand quickly gained popularity among American women seeking a gentler alternative to standard household soaps.

In 1957, Procter & Gamble acquired the J.B. Williams Company, bringing Camay into P&G's portfolio. P&G already owned Ivory soap, and Camay was positioned as P&G's beauty soap while Ivory served the gentle cleansing segment. Under P&G ownership, Camay expanded internationally and gained distribution in multiple countries. P&G invested in advertising and product development, expanding the Camay line to include body washes and liquid soaps.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Camay maintained a strong presence in the beauty soap category. The brand faced increasing competition from Dove, which Unilever had introduced in 1957 with a moisturizing lotion formulation. Dove's "one-quarter moisturizing cream" positioning directly challenged Camay's beauty soap positioning. The rivalry between Camay and Dove defined the beauty soap category for decades.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Camay's market share declined as consumers shifted toward body washes and shower gels. The brand also faced competition from specialized skincare brands and premium imported soaps. P&G continued to support Camay in international markets where traditional beauty soaps remained popular, but reduced investment in markets where body washes had gained dominance.

In December 2014, P&G announced the sale of Camay to Unilever as part of P&G's broader strategy to shed up to 100 brands and focus on its core portfolio. The deal closed in 2015 and included Camay's global operations and a manufacturing facility in Mexico with approximately 170 employees. The acquisition brought Camay into the same company as its longtime rival Dove, though the two brands serve different market segments.

Under Unilever ownership, Camay has continued to operate in markets where traditional beauty soaps remain popular. The brand has not received significant marketing investment compared to Unilever's flagship brands like Dove and Lux. Camay's current market presence is strongest in developing markets where bar soap remains the dominant cleansing format.

About Unilever plc

What does Unilever own?
As of April 2026, Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing (Dove, Vaseline, TRESemme, Pond's), Personal Care (Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lux, Lifebuoy, Close Up), Home Care (Domestos, Cif, Surf, Omo, Comfort), and Nutrition (Knorr, Hellmann's, pending transfer to McCormick upon deal close). Unilever no longer owns ice cream brands (Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, Breyers) following the 2025 Ice Cream demerger. The March 31, 2026 McCormick combination, expected to close mid-2027, will transfer Hellmann's, Knorr, Frank's RedHot, French's, Cholula, and Maille to the expanded McCormick entity. The company also owns approximately 61% of Hindustan Unilever Limited, a publicly listed subsidiary in India.

Is Unilever publicly traded?
Yes, Unilever plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker ULVR and on Euronext Amsterdam under ticker UNA. American Depositary Receipts are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker UL. The company does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom.

Who founded Unilever?
Unilever was formed in 1929 through the merger of Lever Brothers, a British soap company founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1885, and Margarine Unie, a Dutch margarine producer formed through the merger of the Jurgens and Van den Bergh companies in 1927. The founders of the predecessor companies include William Lever, James Darcy Lever, Antonius Johannes Jurgens, and Samuel van den Bergh.

Where is Unilever headquartered?
Unilever is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company's registered office and principal executive offices are located in London. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom and ending the separate Unilever N.V. Dutch entity. The company's shares continue to trade on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam.

How many brands does Unilever own?
Unilever currently owns over 400 brands across Beauty and Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Nutrition. Following the completion of the McCormick Foods combination (expected mid-2027), Unilever's portfolio will narrow to its HPC brands, with the largest being Dove, Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Vaseline, Domestos, Cif, Surf, and Omo. The company's food brands (Hellmann's, Knorr) are included in the McCormick deal and will transfer upon close.

Who owns Unilever?
Unilever plc is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and index funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in Unilever. Fernando Fernandez serves as CEO, having been appointed in March 2025 following the departure of Hein Schumacher. The company's board includes a majority of independent non-executive directors.

Founded: 1929
Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: LSE: ULVR
Revenue: approximately €59.7 billion (FY2025)
Employees: Approximately 128,000

Visit Unilever plc website

View full company profile for Unilever plc

Where Is Camay Made / Based?

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Mexico, China, India

Camay Categories & Tags

Moisturizing Soap Floral Soap Beauty Soap Bath Soap Gentle Cleansing

Camay Recalls & Controversies

Animal Testing Policy: Unilever is listed by PETA as "Working for Regulatory Change," meaning the company conducts animal testing only when required by law and is working toward replacing animal methods. Camay is not certified as cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny or other independent certification bodies because Unilever sells products in markets where animal testing is required by local regulation, including mainland China. Consumers seeking independently certified cruelty-free products may consider this a concern.

Market Position Challenges: Camay has faced declining market share in developed markets as consumers shift from bar soap to body washes and shower gels. This represents a market trend rather than a controversy, but it has reduced the brand's relevance in North American and European markets. The brand's future growth depends on developing markets where bar soap remains dominant.

No major product safety recalls have been reported for Camay products as of August 2026. The brand benefits from Unilever's quality control and safety testing protocols.

Camay Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Backed by Unilever's global distribution network spanning more than 190 countries
+Benefits from Unilever's research and development capabilities in personal care
+Heritage brand with nearly 100 years of brand recognition in the beauty soap category
+Access to Unilever's manufacturing infrastructure and supply chain
+Strong market position in developing regions where bar soap remains dominant

Considerations

-Not a Unilever "Power Brand" and receives limited marketing investment
-Faces declining demand in developed markets as consumers shift to body washes
-Competes against Dove and Lux within the same corporate portfolio
-Not certified cruelty-free due to Unilever's sales in markets requiring animal testing
-Limited product line compared to competitors with broader personal care ranges

Frequently Asked Questions About Camay

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Camay

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Privately Owned

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Who Owns Camay?

Parent Company

Unilever plc

Acquired

2015

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom