
Hill's Pet Nutrition is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL), which acquired it in 1976. Founded in 1907 in Topeka, Kansas, as a rendering and packing company, Hill's makes Science Diet, Prescription Diet, and other veterinary-backed pet foods sold in more than 80 countries. Pet nutrition contributes roughly a quarter of Colgate-Palmolive's $20.4 billion FY2025 net sales.
Parent Company
Acquired
1976
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hill's Pet Nutrition | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Subsidiary |
Burton Hill founded Hill Rendering Works in Topeka, Kansas, in 1907, later Hill Packing Company, a rendering and canning operation producing pet food by the 1930s.
The defining relationship began in 1939, when veterinarian Dr. Mark Morris Sr. formulated a therapeutic diet — the original k/d — for a seeing-eye dog with kidney failure, and Hill's became its manufacturer. The partnership produced Prescription Diet, launched commercially in 1948, and the Science Diet retail line in 1968.
Riviana Foods acquired Hill Packing in 1968, and Colgate-Palmolive acquired Riviana — including Hill's — in 1976. Under Colgate-Palmolive, Hill's built a dedicated research campus and expanded across veterinary and retail channels worldwide, eventually rebranding as Hill's Pet Nutrition.
Today the company runs a Global Pet Nutrition Center in Topeka and sells in more than 80 countries, with Science Diet as its mainstream premium line and Prescription Diet as the veterinary-channel leader.
What does Colgate-Palmolive own?
Colgate-Palmolive owns a portfolio of consumer brands across four categories: oral care (Colgate, elmex), personal care (Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Speed Stick), home care (Ajax, Fabuloso, Murphy Oil Soap), and pet nutrition (Hill's Science Diet, Hill's Prescription Diet, Prime100). The Colgate brand holds the number one global market share in toothpaste.
Is Colgate-Palmolive publicly traded?
Yes, Colgate-Palmolive Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol CL. The company has no controlling shareholder, with ownership distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group and BlackRock. As of January 31, 2026, there were approximately 801.5 million shares outstanding.
What is Colgate-Palmolive's annual revenue?
For FY2025, Colgate-Palmolive reported net sales of $20,382 million ($20.4 billion), up 1.4% from $20,101 million in FY2024. Organic sales also grew 1.4%. Oral care accounted for 44% of net sales, personal care 17%, home care 16%, and pet nutrition approximately 23%.
Who is Colgate-Palmolive's CEO?
Noel Wallace serves as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. He became CEO in 2019 and Chairman in 2020. He joined the company in 1987 and has led Colgate-Palmolive through a period of pricing-driven growth followed by volume-led growth.
Who founded Colgate-Palmolive?
The Colgate business was founded by William Colgate in 1806 in New York City as a starch, soap, and candle manufacturer. The modern Colgate-Palmolive Company was formed through the 1928 merger of Colgate Company and Palmolive-Peet Company.
What is Hill's Pet Nutrition?
Hill's Pet Nutrition is a Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary that markets premium science-based pet food under the Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet brands. Acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 1976, Hill's pioneered the concept of veterinary-channel pet food and accounts for approximately 23% of total company revenue. In 2025, the company exited the private label pet food business and acquired Prime100 in Australia.
How many people does Colgate-Palmolive employ?
As of December 31, 2025, Colgate-Palmolive employed approximately 33,600 people across over 100 countries. Over 84% of employees are located outside the United States, with approximately 33% in Asia Pacific, 31% in Latin America, 17% in North America, 15% in Europe, and 4% in Africa/Eurasia.
Does Colgate-Palmolive pay dividends?
Yes. Colgate-Palmolive has paid dividends for 131 consecutive years and increased dividends for 63 consecutive years, making it one of the longest-paying dividend growth stocks in the S&P 500. In FY2025, the company returned $2.9 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Hill's reports under Colgate-Palmolive's corporate sustainability program, covering responsible sourcing, animal welfare standards at its research facilities, and packaging programs.
The company runs a pet food donation program through Hill's Food, Shelter and Love, supplying shelters in the US and other markets — a long-running part of the brand's veterinary-community positioning.
2019 recall: Hill's recalled multiple lots of canned dog food in January and March 2019 for potentially elevated vitamin D levels, a major US recall that prompted FDA involvement and extended globally.
Routine pet-food industry scrutiny applies: the brand, like all large manufacturers, faces periodic ingredient-sourcing and labeling debates, including litigation over "prescription" terminology in diet branding that courts ultimately treated as a trademark matter rather than a drug claim.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Mills | USA | 2002 | Premium | United states | All-ages | |
| Colgate Palmolive | USA | 1968 | Premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Mars Inc | USA | 1946 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Walmart | USA | 2012 | Premium mass-market | United states | All Genders | |
| Mars Inc | United States | 1958 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
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Market Positioning: Hill's Pet Nutrition competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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