Church & Dwight

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Consumer products
Founded	1847 (1847)
Founder	John Dwight, Austin Church
Headquarters	Ewing, New Jersey , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Personal care, household essentials, specialty items (including Arm & Hammer, Trojan, OxiClean, First Response)
Number of employees	5,750 (2024)
Website	www.churchdwight.com

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer of consumer products, focusing on personal care, household essentials, and specialty items. Established in 1847, the company is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey and manages well-known brands such as Arm & Hammer, Trojan, OxiClean, and First Response. In 2024, Church & Dwight reported revenues totaling $6.11 billion and employed approximately 5,750 individuals. Its diverse product range spans laundry detergent, air fresheners, baking soda, condoms, pregnancy tests, and oral hygiene products.

History

The origins of Church & Dwight trace back to the merger of two firms founded by John Dwight and his brother-in-law, Austin Church, who began producing refined sodium bicarbonate in 1846. The Arm & Hammer brand and its emblem, introduced in the 1860s, have become central to the company’s identity and market influence.

Despite common misconceptions, industrialist Armand Hammer did not inspire the Arm & Hammer name; he joined as a board member after Occidental Petroleum, where he held leadership, acquired a substantial stake in 1986.

In 1970, Church & Dwight pioneered the release of the first nationally marketed phosphate-free detergent under the Arm & Hammer label, solidifying its leadership in household cleaning products.

2000s

In 2001, Church & Dwight expanded by acquiring the consumer products division of Carter-Wallace, while its diagnostics and pharmaceutical units were sold to MedPointe. This deal broadened Church & Dwight’s global footprint by incorporating deodorant and pet care brands. That same year, it entered the laundry detergent sector through the purchase of USA Detergents, the original producer of Xtra detergent.

By 2003, Church & Dwight had obtained exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights to several oral care brands from Unilever, including Pepsodent, Mentadent, Close-Up, and Aim, enhancing its North American oral hygiene lineup.

The acquisition of Denver-based Orange Glo International in 2006 brought household staples like OxiClean, Kaboom bathroom cleaners, and Orange Glo products into Church & Dwight’s portfolio, strengthening its position in home cleaning markets.

In 2008, the addition of the Orajel brand from Del Labs expanded Church & Dwight’s oral care offerings with products addressing toothache pain relief, teething discomfort, and non-fluoride toothpaste options.

2010s

Church & Dwight was ranked 723rd on the Fortune 500 list in 2010—the same year it acquired Simply Saline and Feline Pine brands. The company further diversified in 2016 by purchasing Spencer Forrest, Inc., known for Toppik hair care products.

In 2017, Church & Dwight acquired Water Pik from MidOcean Partners for $1 billion. At that time, Water Pik generated $265 million in revenue, with about 70% derived from water flosser devices.

2020s

December 2021 saw Church & Dwight strengthen its oral care segment by acquiring TheraBreath for around $580 million. In September 2022, it continued expanding its personal care offerings with the $630 million acquisition of Hero Cosmetics.

Related Topics

• Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (C)
• List of S&P 500 companies
• Occidental Petroleum

Additional Resources

• Karas, David, "Church & Dwight selects new headquarters in Ewing", New Jersey On-Line, August 23, 2011.
• "Church & Dwight company profile", CNNMoney.com