Gillette razor and blades

Brand origin and history

Gillette was founded in the United States by King C. Gillette in 1901 with the launch of the safety razor. The brand grew through the 20th century into a global leader in wet-shaving products (disposable razors, cartridge razors, replacement blades) and adjacent grooming categories such as shave gels, foams, and electric grooming accessories.

Manufacturing and product scope

Gillette-branded products encompass razors, multi-blade cartridges, replacement blades, shaving gels and foams, and some electric grooming devices. Manufacturing is global — Gillette products are produced in multiple countries to serve regional markets and logistics needs. Common manufacturing footprints include facilities across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia (for example: United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Brazil, China, South Korea, Japan, Mexico), and specific country-of-manufacture is typically printed on product packaging.

Ownership and corporate structure

The original company behind the brand was The Gillette Company. In 2005 Procter & Gamble (P&G) acquired Gillette and integrated it into P&G’s global Grooming business. As of 2026, the ultimate owner is Procter & Gamble, headquartered in the United States. Gillette is marketed and distributed through P&G’s global and regional subsidiaries and distribution partners, with no separate independent local owner.