About Gillette
Gillette stands as the world's leading shaving brand, delivering innovative razor technology and grooming products to nearly 800 million consumers globally. Owned by Procter & Gamble since 2005, Gillette has been revolutionising men's shaving since King C. Gillette invented the safety razor with disposable blades in 1901. The iconic tagline "The Best A Man Can Get" has made Gillette synonymous with quality shaving, and the brand maintains over 45% share of the global grooming market. The Gillette story began in the late 19th century when salesman and inventor King Camp Gillette conceived the idea of a safety razor with disposable blades. Working at the Crown Cork & Seal Company, Gillette was inspired by his mentor William Painter, inventor of the Crown cork bottle cap. Painter advised Gillette to invent something that customers would use once and throw away, creating repeat purchase demand. This insight led Gillette to develop the disposable razor blade. In 1901, King C. Gillette founded the company that would bear his name, initially called the American Safety Razor Company before being renamed the Gillette Safety Razor Company in 1904. The concept was revolutionary: instead of stropping and sharpening traditional straight razors, men could simply replace inexpensive blades when they dulled. This convenience transformed men's grooming habits permanently. International expansion came swiftly. In 1905, Gillette opened a sales office in London and a blade manufacturing plant in Paris. By 1906, the company had established a blade plant in Canada, sales operations in Mexico, and a European distribution network reaching many nations including Russia. This rapid globalisation laid the foundation for Gillette's worldwide dominance. Procter & Gamble acquired Gillette in 2005 in a deal valued at approximately $57 billion - P&G's largest acquisition in its history. The merger brought Gillette's razors alongside Duracell batteries, Braun appliances, and Oral-B dental care into the P&G portfolio. This acquisition created the world's largest consumer goods company, pushing Unilever into second place. Today, Gillette operates within P&G's Grooming segment alongside Venus (women's shaving), Braun, and King C. Gillette (premium beard care). The Gillette product range encompasses multiple razor systems designed for different shaving preferences and budgets. The Fusion system represents Gillette's flagship line, featuring five precision blades with a lubrication strip for smooth, close shaves. Fusion5 delivers the core five-blade experience, while Fusion5 ProGlide adds FlexBall technology that responds to facial contours. Fusion5 ProGlide Power adds micro-pulses that help reduce friction and raise hairs for an even closer shave. The Fusion5 ProShield variant features lubricating strips before and after the blades for enhanced comfort. SkinGuard Sensitive is specifically designed for men with sensitive skin, featuring a unique SkinGuard positioned between the blades to minimise tug and pull. The Mach3 system remains popular as a reliable three-blade option at a more accessible price point than Fusion. Mach3 Turbo and Mach3 Sensitive variants address different skin needs. For those seeking even simpler options, Gillette offers two-blade systems and disposable razors for travel or trial purposes. King C. Gillette represents the brand's premium beard care line, honouring the founder while addressing the growing market for beard grooming products. This range includes beard trimmers, oils, balms, and transparent shave gel designed for styling facial hair with precision. Shaving preparations complement the razor range. Gillette shaving gels, foams, and creams prepare skin and soften hair for a more comfortable shave. Sensitive skin formulations reduce irritation risk. After-shave products soothe and moisturise skin following shaving. The subscription model has become increasingly important, with Gillette offering direct-to-consumer blade delivery services. This approach ensures customers never run out of fresh blades while providing convenience and often better value than retail purchasing. Gillette products are ubiquitously available across UK retailers. Major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, and Waitrose stock comprehensive ranges. Health and beauty retailers like Boots and Superdrug offer extensive selections often with promotional deals. Online retailers provide subscription and bulk purchasing options. The brand's market leadership ensures availability wherever consumers shop. When comparing Gillette to competitors like Wilkinson Sword, Harry's, and Dollar Shave Club, each occupies different market positions. Wilkinson Sword (owned by Edgewell) offers comparable multi-blade technology at similar prices. Harry's and Dollar Shave Club disrupted the market with subscription models and lower price points. Gillette has responded with its own subscription services and value options. For proven technology backed by over a century of innovation, Gillette remains the market leader. The "razor and blades" business model that Gillette pioneered - selling handles cheaply while profiting from ongoing blade purchases - has become a business school case study and influenced countless industries from printers to coffee machines. This innovation in business strategy matched the product innovation that defined the brand. For UK consumers seeking reliable, effective shaving solutions backed by world-leading research and development, Gillette delivers the quality that has made it the dominant force in men's grooming for over 120 years. Whether using flagship Fusion technology or economical disposables, Gillette provides shaving solutions for every need and budget. Using Grocefully to compare Gillette prices across UK retailers ensures you find the best deals on these essential grooming products.