GCPL Logo
 
 
 
 

Godrej - over 125 years young.
Our story began as part of
India's Swadeshi movement -
the original 'Make in India'
movement.

 
 

Key to success

Key to success

Ardeshir Godrej, after a few failed ventures, sets up a lock company. For him, the key to success turns out to be locks.

 

World's first
vegetable oil soap

World's first vegetable oil soap

We launch Chavi, the first soap in the world to be made without animal fat. We score for Swadeshi and ahimsa.

 

It's all in a name

It's all in a name

Soon after, we launch another soap, Godrej No.2. Why the name? To borrow Ardeshir Godrej's explanation, "If people find No.2 so good, they'll believe No.1 to be even better!"

 

Supporting India's freedom movement

Supporting India's freedom movement

Ardeshir Godrej, an ardent nationalist, donates 3 lakh rupees to the Tilak Swaraj Fund, the largest single contribution back then.

 

A special letter from Gandhi

A special letter from Gandhi

One of our most treasured moments: Mahatma Gandhi, in a letter to a favour-seeking competitor, says: “I hold my brother Godrej in such high regard that if your enterprise is likely to harm him in any way, I regret very much that I cannot give you my blessings.”

 

Godrej soaps are endorsed by India’s freedom fighters

Godrej No. 1
Godrej No. 1
 

    Godrej No.1 is born into swadeshi fervour and is fondly endorsed by many, including Rabindranath Tagore, Annie Besant and C. Rajagopalachari. Today, it is one of India's biggest soap brands.

     

    Securing futures

    Securing futures

    Public Provident Fund is introduced at Godrej, 14 years before the Government of India mandates it.

     

    Pirojshanagar

    Key to success

    The then Government of Bombay auctions Vikhroli village to Pirojsha Godrej. Over the years, Vikhroli transforms into a green, industrial township that cares for its people and the environment.

     

    Going green

    Going green

    We go green way before it is cool to do so and decide to let mangroves be mangroves. You will find a dense cover of mangroves, nearly 3x the size of New York's Central Park, owned and cared for by us, in the heart of our estate in Mumbai.

     
     

    Safest safes

    Safest safes

    A devastating explosion at the Bombay docks leaves terrible carnage in its wake. Among the few things to survive the blast are Godrej safes.

     

    Ballot boxes for free India's first elections

    Ballot boxes for free India's first elections

    We were thrilled to make 1.7 million ballot boxes for India's first steps as a democracy. K. R. Thanewalla remembers, "I know that our best was around 22,000 ballot boxes per day! We would be at the plant from quarter to seven onwards and rarely left before midnight."

     

    Cinthol

    Cinthol

    Cinthol is launched on India's Independence Day. Together with Godrej No.1, Cinthol makes us the second largest soap player in India.

     
     

    Hair Colour

    Hair Colour

    Our first hair colour product, a liquid hair dye, is a runaway success. We introduce a series of innovative hair care products through the years, becoming a leading player in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

     

    Godrej Trusts

    Godrej Trusts

    The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation is founded. Today, approximately 23 per cent of the promoter holding in the Group is held in trusts that invest in the environment, health and education.

     
     

    Quality matters

    Quality matters

    Total Quality Management is formally introduced at Godrej, grounding our commitment to create amazing quality, world-class products.

     

    Godrej Properties

    Godrej Properties

    Godrej Properties is established, bringing the Group's philosophy of innovation and excellence to the real estate industry in India.

     
     

    Godrej Agrovet

    Agri - business

    Godrej Agrovet is incorporated. A diversified, Research & Development backed agri-business company, it is dedicated to addressing India's key agricultural crises.

     
     

    Mosquitos – the world's deadliest animals

    Mosquitos' the world's deadliest animals

    We acquire Translektra. With leading brands such as Goodknight and HIT, we protect against vector borne diseases and are the number one player in household insecticides in India and Indonesia.

     
     

    Turning 100

    Turning 100

    We celebrate our 100th birthday and remind ourselves that we are only as good as what we do next.

     

    Godrej Consumer Products

    Godrej Consumer Products

    Godrej Soaps is demerged into a Chemicals business, Godrej Chemicals, and a focused FMCG business, Godrej Consumer Products - which is how we are now known.

     
     

    Keyline Brands

    Keyline Brands

    We start our global journey with our first acquisition outside India - Keyline Brands, a personal care player in the UK. In 2018, we divested our stake in the business, sharpening our strategic focus on emerging markets.

     

    It's time for Africa

    It's time for Africa!

    We make our first African acquisitions – Rapidol and Kinky – opening up the fascinating world of hair extensions and hair care for women of African origin.

     
     

    India's mission to the Moon

    India's mission to the Moon

    India sends Chandrayaan–1, its first unmanned mission to the moon, becoming the fifth nation to do so. We are proud of our engineering expertise that helps build the launch vehicle and lunar orbiter for the mission.

     

    Indonesia

    Indonesia

    We enter the Indonesian market by acquiring P.T. Megasari Makmur, a leading home and personal care player.

     
     

    Argentina

    Keyline Brands

    We enter the Argentinian market by acquiring the leading hair colour players, Issue and Argencos.

     
     

    Good & Green

    Good & Green

    Building on our legacy of sustainability and making a commitment to build a more employable and greener world.

     
     

    Darling

    Darling

    We significantly ramp up our presence in Africa and step into 14 new countries by acquiring the Darling Group, a leader in hair extensions.

     
     

    Godrej India Culture Lab

    Godrej India Culture Lab

    The Godrej India Culture Lab is set up as a fluid, experimental space that cross-pollinates ideas and people to explore what it means to be modern and Indian.

     
     

    Godrej Capability Factors

    Godrej Capability Factors

    We introduce the Godrej Capability Factors of ‘Leading Self’, ‘Leading Others’ and ‘Leading Business’, to define and measure leadership capability at Godrej. All our people processes are based on this.

     
     

    Chile

    Chile

    Our next stop – Chile – where we acquire Cosmetica Nacional, a leading hair colour and colour cosmetics company, to grow our presence in Latin America.

     

    Godrej LOUD

    Godrej LOUD
    Godrej LOUD
    Godrej LOUD
     

      Passionate people make for passionate Godrejites! Godrej LOUD (Live Out Ur Dream), our radically different take on recruitment, launches in India, kickstarting the hunt for people with powerful personal dreams. Now we host it in Africa and Indonesia too.

       
       

      Padma Bhushan

      Padma Bhushan

      Adi Godrej, Chairman of the Godrej Group, is awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, for "distinguished service of a high order".

       

      India's mission to Mars

      India's mission to Mars

      We are proud to partner with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on India's first mission to Mars. Godrej Aerospace engines power the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and our precision components calculate the satellite's trajectory to the millisecond.

       

      Godrej One

      Godrej One

      Godrej Properties and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects create Godrej One, our new global headquarters at Vikhroli in Mumbai.

       
       

      People philosophy

      People philosophy

      Our employee value proposition and efforts to build an inspiring place to work are anchored in the 3 pillars of ‘Your Canvas’, ‘Tough Love’ and ‘Whole Self’.

       
       

      Strength of Nature

      Strength of Nature

      We acquire USA-based Strength of Nature, with a significant presence in Africa and the Caribbean. It catapults us to becoming the largest player globally in hair care for women of African descent.

       
       

      Godrej Investment Advisers Private Limited

      Godrej Investment Advisers Private Limited

      Creating our first investment platform targeting residential real estate by bringing together a group of overseas institutional investors

       

      The Godrej Way

      The Godrej Way

      We introduce The Godrej Way, our refreshed purpose and values. It talks about why we exist and how we add value together; how we bring meaning to what we do, what will guide our decisions.

       
       

      UN Standards of Conduct

      Godrej Professional

      We partner with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and launch an unprecedented set of global corporate standards to support the business community in tackling discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, at our headquarters in Vikhroli, Mumbai

       
       

      Black Box

      World's first powder- to- liquid hand wash

      At the Black Box, our physical digital command centre, we monitor live digital activity across our brands, evaluate brand conversations, respond to issues, and gather consumer insights for new product development.

       
       

      Manifesto for Trans Inclusion

      World's first powder- to- liquid hand wash

      We launch a ‘Manifesto for Trans Inclusion in the Indian Workplace’ to highlight the circumstances of trans people in India, and how corporate India can take action to improve them.

       
       

      Light Box

      Godrej Professional

      The Light Box, an in-house photographic, audio and film production studio, is set up to create quick, high quality content for digital use.

       
       

      Godrej Housing Finance

      Godrej Housing Finance

      Building an ambitious foray into financial services.