{{Short description|American consumer goods company}} {{Infobox company | name = Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | logo = Church & Dwight logo.svg | logo_size = 149px | type = Public | traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|CHD}}|S&P 500 component}} | founders = Austin Church <br/> John Dwight | key_people = Richard Dierker (CEO) | industry = {{ubl|Dental|Medical}} | genre = | products = {{ubl|Laundry detergent|Baking soda|Depilatories|Pregnancy tests}} | revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|6.11 billion|link=yes}} (2024) | operating_income = {{decrease}} US$807 million (2024) | net_income = {{decrease}} US$585 million (2024) | assets = {{increase}} US$8.88 billion (2024) | equity = {{increase}} US$4.36 billion (2024) | num_employees = 5,750 | num_employees_year = 2024 | divisions = {{ubl|Arm & Hammer|Nair|First Response|OxiClean|Toppik|Water Pik|Pepsodent}} | founded = {{ubl|1847: as John Dwight and Company|1896: as Church & Dwight, Co.}} | hq_location_city = Ewing, New Jersey | hq_location_country = U.S. | website = {{URL|churchdwight.com}} | footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/313927/000095017025019801/chd-20241231.htm |title=2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date=2025-04-13 |access-date=2025-02-14 }}</ref> }}
'''Church & Dwight Co., Inc.''', is an American consumer goods company focusing on personal care, household products, and specialty products. The company was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey. It is the parent company of well-known brands such as Arm & Hammer, Trojan, OxiClean, and First Response. In 2022, Church & Dwight reported annual revenue of $5.4 billion. The company's products and services include a wide range of consumer goods, including laundry detergent, air fresheners, baking soda, condoms, pregnancy tests, and oral hygiene products.
== History ==
The company was founded in 1847 to unify two companies created by John Dwight of Massachusetts and his brother-in-law, Austin Church of Connecticut. Their partnership had begun in 1846 with the two founders selling sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda) that they refined in Dwight's kitchen.<ref name= history />
The Arm & Hammer name and logo, which dates back to the 1860s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trivia-library.com/a/history-of-product-names-and-trademarks-arm-and-hammer-baking-soda.htm |title= History of Product Names & Trademarks: Arm & Hammer Baking Soda | website= trivia-library.com| publisher= | date= |access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref> is often incorrectly claimed to have originated with tycoon Armand Hammer. Hammer was so often asked about the Church & Dwight brand that he attempted to buy the company. While this attempt was unsuccessful, Hammer's Occidental Petroleum in 1986 acquired enough stock for him to join the Church & Dwight board of directors until he died in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/182/did-tycoon-armand-hammer-have-anything-to-do-with-arm-hammer-baking-soda| work= The Straight Dope| title= Did tycoon Armand Hammer have anything to do with Arm & Hammer baking soda?| date= May 21, 1982| first= Cecil |last= Adams| author-link= Cecil Adams |access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref>
In 1970, the Arm & Hammer brand introduced the market's first nationally distributed, phosphate-free detergent: Arm & Hammer Powder Laundry Detergent.<ref name= history>{{cite web| url= https://churchdwight.com/company/history.aspx| title= History| website= churchdwight.com| publisher= Church & Dwight| access-date= }}</ref>
===2000s=== In 2001, Church & Dwight acquired the consumer product line of Carter-Wallace, and MedPointe bought the diagnostics and drug businesses.<ref name=sold>{{cite news |title=Carter-Wallace's brands will be sold to 2 different companies for a total of $1.12 billion |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/72690604.html?dids=72690604:72690604&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+09%2C+2001&author=CATHERINE+DODGE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Markets+%2F+Your+Money%3B+Consumer+Products+Company+to+Be+Split%3B+Deals%3A+Carter-Wallace%27s+brands+will+be+sold+to+2+different+companies+for+a+total+of+%241.12+billion.&pqatl=google |quote=Carter-Wallace, ending a yearlong process to find buyers for its many brands, will split its consumer brands—including Trojan condoms and Arrid deodorant—from its health business, after failing to attract a better offer for the entire company. For Church & Dwight, which owns the Arm & Hammer baking soda product line, the purchase of Carter-Wallace's deodorant and pet-care lines will help the firm expand internationally, it said. A 50–50 venture Church has formed with Kelso and will take the other consumer lines. MedPointe will get Carter-Wallace's diagnostics and drug businesses, which make the allergy medicine Astelin, the muscle relaxant Soma, and Rynatan/Tussi cough and cold products. ...|newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=May 9, 2001 |access-date=2011-09-26 }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The same year, Church & Dwight expanded its business into laundry detergent products by acquiring small detergent company USA Detergents, the original owner of Xtra detergent.<ref name="Caplan" />
In 2003, Church & Dwight bought the U.S. and Canadian rights to Unilever's oral health business, which includes Pepsodent, Mentadent, Close-Up, and Aim. Unilever still owns the brands outside of North America.<ref name="Caplan">{{cite news |last=Caplan |first=Harrison |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4118758-keys-to-success-church-and-dwight |title=Keys to Success: Church and Dwight Have Them |work=Seeking Alpha |date=2017-10-31 |access-date=2022-12-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D2BEAAAAYAAJ |title=Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions: 2003 |publisher=The Food Institute |year=2003 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=D2BEAAAAYAAJ&q=Unilever+Church 19] |access-date=2022-12-15 }}</ref>
In 2006, Church & Dwight expanded its household brand portfolio with the acquisition of Denver-based Orange Glo International, which included such brands as OxiClean in the laundry pre-wash additive category, Kaboom bathroom cleaners, and Orange Glo household cleaning products.<ref>{{cite news| first=Paula | last=Moore | title=OxiClean breathes new life into cleaning line | work= Denver Business Journal| publisher= American City Business Journals |date=2004-05-02| url= https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2004/05/03/focus1.html| access-date= 2021-01-06}}</ref>
In 2008, Church & Dwight acquired the Orajel business from Del Labs, including pain relievers for toothache, mouth sore, teething, and non-fluoride toothpaste.<ref name="Caplan" />
===2010s=== Church & Dwight was ranked 723 in the Fortune 500 listing of companies in 2010. The same year, Church & Dwight acquired Simply Saline and Feline Pine.<ref name="rankings" />
In 2016, Church & Dwight acquired Spencer Forrest, Inc., the maker of Toppik hair care products.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wischhover |first=Cheryl |url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/17/18144716/stephen-miller-spray-hair-loss-toppik-glh |title=How spray-on hair does (and doesn't) work |work=Vox |date=2018-12-17 |access-date=2022-12-15 }}</ref>
In 2017, MidOcean Partners agreed to sell Water Pik to Church & Dwight for $1 billion. At the time of the sale announcement, it was reported that Water Pik had "$265 million of revenue in the fiscal year ended June 30, about 70% of which came from its water flosser products".<ref>{{cite news| last= Vasquez| first= Justina| url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/church-dwight-to-buy-water-pik-for-1-billion-1500297236 | title= Church & Dwight to Buy Water Pik for $1 Billion| url-access= subscription| work= Wall Street Journal| date= July 17, 2017| access-date= 17 July 2017}}</ref>
====2020s==== In December 2021, the company acquired TheraBreath for a reported amount of $580 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindner |first=Linda |date=29 November 2021 |title=Church & Dwight acquires TheraBreath brand for $580M |url=https://www.roi-nj.com/2021/11/29/industry/manufacturing/church-dwight-acquires-therabreath-brand-for-580m/ |access-date=1 November 2024 |website=ROI-NJ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="BeautyMatter 2021">{{cite web |title=Church and Dwight to Acquire TheraBreath in $580 Million Deal |website=BeautyMatter |date=3 December 2021 |url=https://beautymatter.com/articles/church-and-dwight-to-acquire-therabreath-in-580-million-deal |access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>
In September 2022, the company acquired Hero Cosmetics for a reported amount of $630 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shacknai |first=Gabby |title=Hero Cosmetics Acquired By Church & Dwight For $630 Million |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabbyshacknai/2022/09/06/hero-cosmetics-acquired-by-church--dwight-for-630-million/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
== Notable brands == {{columns-list| * Aim Toothpaste (acquired in 2003 in the US from Unilever) * Arm & Hammer * Arrid (acquired in 2001 from Carter-Wallace) * Close-Up (licensing rights acquired in 2003 in the US from Unilever) * Mentadent (acquired in 2003 in the US from Unilever) * Nair (acquired in 2001 from Carter-Wallace) * OxiClean (through a merger in 2006 with Orange Glo International) * Pepsodent (acquired in 2003 in the US from Unilever) * RUB A535 * TheraBreath (acquired in 2021) * Trojan (acquired in 2001 from Carter-Wallace) * Water Pik * Zicam (acquired in 2020) }}
== See also == {{Portal|Companies}} * Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (C) * List of S&P 500 companies
== References == <references> <ref name="rankings">{{cite news| url= https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/full_list/701_800.html |title= Fortune 500 listings |publisher=CNNMoney| year= 2010| first= | last= | access-date= }}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> </references>
== Further reading == * Karas, David, [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/08/church_dwight_picks_new_home_i.html "Church & Dwight picks new home in Ewing"], ''New Jersey On-Line'', Tuesday, August 23, 2011. (''The Times'', Trenton) * [https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2009/snapshots/1073.html "Snapshot: Church & Dwight"]{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, CNNMoney.com
== External links == {{Commonscat}} {{Finance links | name = Church & Dwight | symbol = CHD | sec_cik = 313927 | yahoo = CHD | google = CHD:NYSE }}
{{Church & Dwight}} {{S&P 500 companies}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Church And Dwight}} Category:Church & Dwight brands Category:1896 establishments in New Jersey Category:American companies established in 1896 Category:Chemical companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Mercer County, New Jersey Category:Companies in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:Ewing Township, New Jersey Category:Manufacturing companies based in New Jersey Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1896