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Procter & Gamble

American multinational consumer goods corporation

Procter & Gamble, founded in 1837, specializes in personal health, care, hygiene products. It has various segments including beauty, grooming, health care, fabric care. In 2014, P&G recorded $83.1 billion in sales. The company streamlined in 2014, focusing on 65 brands. A.G. Lafley, former chairman, aimed for a simpler company. As of 2023, P&G is ranked 55th in the Forbes Global 2000. Jon Moeller is the current president and CEO.

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Timeline

Procter & Gamble Establishment

Procter & Gamble was established in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializing in manufacturing various products.

Procter & Gamble Creation

William Procter, a candlemaker, and James Gamble, a soapmaker, became business partners after being persuaded by their father-in-law, Alexander Norris, and as a result, Procter & Gamble was created.

Founding of Procter & Gamble

In 1840, Procter & Gamble was founded, and it has since become a leading global consumer goods company.

Procter & Gamble expands with rail links

In 1848, Procter & Gamble expanded as Cincinnati was linked to major cities of the East via rail. This expansion contributed to the company's growth.

P&G reaches $1 million in sales

By 1859, Procter & Gamble achieved $1 million in sales, signifying its rapid growth and success in the industry.

Procter & Gamble's expansion during Civil War

In 1860, on the brink of the Civil War, Procter & Gamble expanded its operations by procuring rosin, showcasing its resilience during challenging times.

Transcontinental railroad links benefit P&G

The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 opened new markets for Procter & Gamble, contributing to its continued growth and success.

Launch of Ivory Soap

In 1878, Procter & Gamble introduced Ivory Soap, a significant addition to its product line that contributed to its success.

Ivorydale modern manufacturing facility

After a disastrous fire at the first plant, Ivorydale is purposefully built as a modern manufacturing facility with the latest designs for safety and comfort of employees. This marks the beginning of P&G's expansion of manufacturing principles across the globe.

Education Equality

James N. Gamble helps establish what becomes the Bethune-Cookman University, marking the beginning of the company’s tradition of supporting historically black colleges and universities.

Introduction of Crisco

In 1911, Procter & Gamble introduced Crisco to the public, a product resulting from the hydrogenation process, which became a significant success backed by a strong advertising budget.

International Corporation Status Achieved

By 1921, Procter & Gamble had become a major international corporation with a diversified line of products, reaching an annual advertising budget of $1 million.

Start of Market Research

In 1924, D. Paul 'Doc' Smelser, a Ph.D. economist from Johns Hopkins University, joins the company and initiates deliberate, data-based market research with consumers, leading to improved consumer understanding and product development.

P&G Sponsors Daytime Serials

From 1932 onward, Procter & Gamble was a significant sponsor of daytime serials, commonly known as soap operas.

Introduction of Tide

In 1946, Procter & Gamble introduced Tide, a synthetic detergent that revolutionized the way people washed their clothes, becoming the number one laundry detergent backed by a substantial advertising budget.

Introduction of Joy liquid synthetic detergent

In 1949, Procter & Gamble introduced Joy, the first liquid synthetic detergent, as one of its products.

Introduction of Tide Laundry Detergent

In the 1950s, Procter & Gamble introduced Tide laundry detergent, which became a highly successful product.

Introduction of Crest toothpaste with fluoride

In 1955, Procter & Gamble began selling Crest toothpaste, the first toothpaste to contain fluoride, marking a significant advancement in oral care products.

Test-marketing of Pampers

In 1961, Procter & Gamble test-marketed Pampers, revolutionizing the diaper industry by introducing disposable diapers as a convenient alternative to cloth diapers.

Dawn Wildlife Rescue

International Bird Rescue finds that Dawn dish soap is the most effective product for cleaning oil from feathers without causing harm, leading to P&G donating over 50,000 bottles to help more than 75,000 animals.

Suspension of Rely Tampons

In September 1980, Procter & Gamble suspended further sales of Rely tampons due to a statistical link between the use of Rely and toxic shock syndrome (TSS), resulting in a $75 million write-off on the product.

A new life for plastics

P&G starts using recycled plastic in packaging and develops sustainable technology to recycle a type of plastic that wasn’t previously recyclable, contributing to waste reduction.

Introduction of Pantene Pro-V

Pantene Pro-V was introduced in 1992 and quickly became the fastest growing shampoo in the world.

FDA Approval of Olestra

In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration approved Olestra, a new product developed by Procter & Gamble. Olestra, also known as 'Olean', is a lower-calorie substitute for fat in cooking potato chips and other snacks.

Acquisition of Tambrands, Inc.

In July 1997, Procter & Gamble spent about $1.84 billion in cash to acquire Tambrands, Inc. and the Tampax line of tampons, solidifying its number one position worldwide in feminine products.

A.G. Lafley becomes President and CEO

In June 2000, A.G. Lafley took over as president and CEO of Procter & Gamble, focusing on shoring up its big core brands and slowing down the rush to get products to market.

Procter & Gamble Acquires Wella AG

In September 2003, Procter & Gamble acquired a controlling interest in Wella AG for $6.27 billion, providing an entry into the salon market and bolstering its dental care line by acquiring the Glide brand of dental floss from W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Merger of P&G and Gillette

The official merger of P&G and Gillette took place on October 1, 2005, solidifying their combined presence in the consumer goods industry.

Tide Dry Cleaners Launch

Tide Dry Cleaners launches in 2008, marking P&G's entry into the service industry. It quickly expands across the country, serving over 500,000 customers, processing over 3.4 million garments, and creating over 150 jobs in the first two years.

Sale of P&G's prescription-drug business to Warner Chilcott

On August 25, 2009, the Ireland-based pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott announced the acquisition of P&G's prescription-drug business for $3.1 billion.

Proud sponsor of mums campaign

In 2010, Procter & Gamble launched the 'Proud sponsor of mums' campaign, supporting global athletes and their mothers.

P&G fined for price-fixing cartel

In April 2011, P&G was fined €211.2 million by the European Commission for establishing a price-fixing cartel for washing powder in Europe.

P&G major sponsor of Summer Olympics

Since 2012, Procter & Gamble has been a major sponsor of the Summer Olympics. It sponsored 150 athletes at the London games that year.

Robert A. McDonald Announces Retirement and A.G. Lafley Becomes Chairman, President, and CEO

In May 2013, Robert A. McDonald announced his retirement, and A.G. Lafley replaced him as chairman, president, and CEO of P&G.

P&G Streamlining and Brand Restructuring

In August 2014, P&G announced a major restructuring by streamlining and dropping 100 brands to focus on 65 that generated over 95% of the company’s profits. They sold off 43 cosmetics brands to Coty, Duracell batteries to Berkshire Hathaway, and VapoSteam products. Additionally, they acquired Merck Group’s consumer health division, renaming it as Procter & Gamble Health Limited, which mainly operates in India.

P&G Recognized as Forbes World's Most Reputable Companies

In 2017, P&G was recognized as one of Forbes World's Most Reputable Companies.

During Earth Week in 2018, Procter & Gamble announced new sustainability goals for 2030, aiming to create a positive impact on the environment while delivering value to consumers.

Gillette's 'The Best Men Can Be' Advertisement

Gillette released a controversial advertisement addressing negative behavior among men, including bullying, sexism, sexual misconduct, and toxic masculinity. The ad received significant backlash and led to calls for boycott of Gillette and Procter & Gamble.

Amy Chang becomes a Director of Procter & Gamble

In 2021, Amy Chang became a Director of Procter & Gamble, serving on the Board of Directors.

Vanguard Group, Inc. becomes the largest institutional shareholder of Procter & Gamble

As of June 30th, 2021, Vanguard Group, Inc. holds the largest number of shares in Procter & Gamble, according to the company's latest proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

P&G Advertising Investment

P&G invests billions of dollars annually in advertising and marketing campaigns to enhance brand recognition and boost sales. The company also partners with influencers and celebrities to extend its product reach to new consumer segments.

End of the Timeline
Procter & Gamble

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