Who Owns Tom's of Maine?
Tom's of Maine is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, which acquired the brand in 2006 for approximately $100 million. The brand was founded in 1970 in Kennebunk, Maine by Tom and Kate Chappell and pioneered natural toothpaste and deodorant in the US market. The brand maintains its natural ingredient commitments under Colgate-Palmolive ownership.
Parent Company
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Acquired
2006
Status
Private
Headquarters
Kennebunk, Maine, USA
Who Owns Tom's of Maine?
- Parent Company: Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2006
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: CL
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tom's of Maine | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Wholly owned |
History of Tom's of Maine
- Founded: 1970
- Founders: Tom Chappell, Kate Chappell
- Acquired by Colgate-Palmolive Company: 2006
Tom's of Maine was founded in 1970 by Tom and Kate Chappell, who were motivated by a desire to create personal care products free from artificial preservatives, sweeteners, and colours. The brand pioneered natural toothpaste in the United States, developing fluoride and fluoride-free formulas using natural flavouring from peppermint and spearmint.
The company is credited with establishing the practice of disclosing all ingredients on product labels before ingredient disclosure became common in the industry. From its earliest years, Tom's of Maine committed 10% of pretax profits to charitable causes and gave employees paid time to volunteer.
Tom and Kate Chappell sold a majority stake to Colgate-Palmolive in 2006 for approximately $100 million. Tom Chappell remained involved with the brand for several years post-acquisition before transitioning to other ventures.
About Colgate-Palmolive Company
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). 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.
What is Colgate-Palmolive's annual revenue?
In FY2024, Colgate-Palmolive reported net sales of approximately $20.1 billion, a 3.3% increase from $19.46 billion in FY2023. Hill's Pet Nutrition contributed approximately $4.48 billion, representing approximately 22% of total revenue.
Who is Colgate-Palmolive's CEO?
Noel Wallace has served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Colgate-Palmolive since 2019 (CEO) and 2020 (Chairman). He joined the company in 1987 and progressed through senior management roles across multiple geographies before becoming CEO.
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 generated approximately $4.48 billion in net sales in FY2024, making it one of the most valuable assets in the Colgate-Palmolive portfolio.
- Founded: 1806
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: CL
- Revenue: approximately $20.1 billion (FY2024)
- Employees: Approximately 35,000
Where Is Tom's of Maine Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Kennebunk, Maine, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Brands Owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Ajax - American household cleaning brand launched in 1947 by Colgate-Palmolive, known f...
- Colgate - American oral care brand known for its toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwash p...
- Crest - American oral care brand owned by Procter & Gamble, known for introducing the fi...
- Palmolive - Household cleaning and personal care brand founded in 1898, best known for its d...
Frequently Asked Questions About Tom's of Maine
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Tom's of Maine on AmazonCompetitors to Tom's of Maine
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Tom's of Maineoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Colgate-Palmolive Company Stock Information
Jobs at Colgate-Palmolive Company
Latest News About Tom's of Maine
Related Articles About Tom's of Maine
View more articles
Who Owns the Toothpaste Market
Colgate, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and GSK (now Haleon) together control the global toothpaste market. Here is a full breakdown of which companies own which toothpaste brands, and how this market became one of the most concentrated in consumer goods.
Why 'Natural' and 'Artisan' Brands Often Have Corporate Parents
Stonyfield, Kashi, and Honest Tea all built their identities on independence and values. All three are now owned by large multinationals. Here is why this pattern repeats across categories.
What Ethical Consumers Should Know About Brand Ownership
Your values-driven purchase may be funding a company whose practices conflict with those values. Here is what ethical consumers need to know about who really owns the brands they buy.
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Beauty & Personal Care category and related searches from other users.
Acqua di Parma
Italian luxury fragrance and grooming brand founded in Parma in 1916, owned by LVMH since 2001. Known for its signature Colonia fragrance and a full range of home and lifestyle products made in Italy.
Activex
Turkish antibacterial soap and personal hygiene brand owned by Evyap, one of Turkey's largest consumer goods manufacturers. Activex uses silver ion technology and is sold primarily in Turkey and Middle Eastern markets.
Always
Procter & Gamble's feminine hygiene brand launched in 1983, holding approximately 27% global market share in menstrual pads and sold in more than 100 countries.