Colgate-Palmolive Considers Sale of $1 Billion Worth Personal Care Brands
Colgate-Palmolive is exploring the sale of three mass-market personal care brands, Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick, valued at over $1 billion. The move comes as the company faces a weak North American market, where organic sales fell 3% year-over-year in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
CEO Noel Wallace said the company needs a 'long-term transformation' to get the business back on track, citing intensified competition in the region. The divestiture follows a broader trend among consumer goods giants, including Unilever and Procter & Gamble, aimed at optimizing profit structures and focusing on high-growth core categories.
The three brands under consideration for sale are within Colgate-Palmolive's 'Oral, Personal and Home Care' segment. Goldman Sachs has been hired to assist with the process. The company currently plans to divest only select brands within the personal care business, not the entire segment.