Operating Responsibly in Emerging Markets
Since 1806, Colgate has been providing valuable, useful products to people of all economic backgrounds, and we have a long history of operating responsibly throughout the world. In 2007, 41 percent of Colgate’s global sales were in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In the Communities section of this report, we discuss our support for community projects around the world. In addition to these community initiatives, Colgate’s business operations in emerging markets creates value for people in communities all over the globe by providing employment and career opportunities and applying our global best practices everywhere we do business.
As a global company, we employ local people in the marketing, sales, manufacture and distribution processes. In the past four years, Colgate has almost doubled the number of retailers selling its products throughout the remote villages of Vietnam. Colgate's global manufacturing operations are located throughout the world, including Mexico, India, China, Guatemala and other emerging markets. Approximately 30,000 of Colgate's 36,000 employees are located outside of the United States. Approximately 75 percent of our General Managers, the Colgate executives who lead our business on the ground, are non-U.S. citizens.
In addition, our presence in developing countries encourages the exchange of technology and know-how with local suppliers. Each Colgate-Palmolive facility operates in a local economy, where local suppliers are trained to meet the quality and business standards required to do business with Colgate.
Colgate also helps make products more affordable in emerging markets with smaller sizes, refill packs and lower-cost formulas. Also key to our strategy in these regions are our educational programs such as Bright Smiles, Bright Futures and the Global Handwashing Campaign.
