Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble, usually called P&G, is an American consumer goods company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. William Procter and James Gamble founded it in 1837 as a maker of candles and soap.

The company sells products for fabric care, home care, baby care, grooming, beauty and health. Brands include Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Oral-B, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Febreze and Always. Each brand is run as its own business inside the group.

P&G sells through supermarkets, mass retailers and online stores in about 180 countries. It also runs a large advertising operation and supports research into consumer behavior. The firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The firm spends heavily on advertising and consumer research. It has sold dozens of smaller brands, such as Duracell and Wella, to focus on its larger ones. Its main rivals include Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark.