What HCT Group does

HCT Group, operating as HCT by kdc/one, is a global beauty-industry contract manufacturer and turnkey solutions provider headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1992 and currently functioning as a subsidiary of kdc/one, the company operates eight manufacturing facilities spanning the United States, Italy, China, Korea, and Japan, with R+D and formulation capabilities distributed across Asia, Europe, and North America. HCT serves the full spectrum of beauty brands — from large iconic global brands to mid-market and indie startups — providing end-to-end services including concept development, industrial and graphic design, custom tooling, formulation development, shade matching, manufacturing, fill and assembly, and integrated logistics including US customs and FDA clearance.

The company's core technology portfolio spans cosmetics packaging design and manufacturing, beauty formulations R+D, and brush and accessory creation, anchored by multiple granted patents including the Double Jar, Airless Pen with Zamac Tip, Airless Crayon, Rotating Airtight Compact, and Forward Pump with Cooling Tip Technology. HCT maintains one of the world's largest libraries of stock packaging components, which it actively markets as a platform for sustainable packaging transition, alongside bespoke custom packaging and premium metal packaging solutions. The product surface extends into skincare packaging, haircare, beauty devices, kits, eyelashes, brushes and applicators, beauty tools, and cut-and-sew accessories.

HCT's revenue model is built on three streams: project-based contract manufacturing services (turnkey), sale of stock packaging components from its extensive library, and custom packaging design and manufacturing services. The company sells through direct enterprise sales engagement and an online product catalog, supports clients through industry trade shows such as Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, and prices on a quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed basis. The company has filed additional patent-pending products including the CLT Tube, Pure Mascara, PET Foundation Stick, and PP Dropper, indicating continued investment in proprietary IP expansion.

Name

HCT Group

Legal name

HCT by kdc/one

Website

https://hctgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HCT Group (dba HCT by kdc/one) is a global beauty-industry contract manufacturer and turnkey solutions provider serving both iconic enterprise beauty brands and indie startups with end-to-end packaging design, formulation, manufacturing, fill, assembly, and logistics services across eight facilities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetics Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Beauty & Personal Care DTC (CRAFACAB)

Keywords

• Cosmetics contract manufacturing
• Beauty packaging design
• Cosmetic formulation services
• Stock packaging components
• Beauty brand turnkey solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: HCT by kdc/one provides end-to-end turnkey solutions including packaging design, formulation, manufacturing, fill and assembly, and logistics. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with beauty brands for custom and stock packaging solutions.
2. Stock Packaging Components: Sale of pre-designed stock packaging components from their extensive library of packaging options including bottles, jars, tubes, palettes, and brushes.
3. Custom Packaging Design and Manufacturing: Custom tooling, formulation development, shade matching, decorating and finishing services for brands requiring bespoke packaging solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HCT by kdc/one is a global cosmetics contract manufacturer and turnkey solutions provider serving the beauty industry. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures cosmetic and skincare packaging (both stock and custom), develops beauty formulations through a global R+D network spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, and produces accessories including brushes, applicators, beauty tools, cut-and-sew products, and eyelashes. It operates eight manufacturing facilities worldwide and offers end-to-end services including fill & assembly, logistics, regulatory assistance, and QA/QC for beauty brands of all sizes.

Product overview

HCT by kdc/one is a global contract manufacturer and turnkey solutions provider for the beauty industry, offering end-to-end services from concept to countertop. The company's portfolio consists of stock packaging (one of the world's largest libraries of stock components), custom packaging design, beauty formulations (with R+D collaboration across Asia, Europe, and North America), and accessories (brushes, applicators, beauty tools, cut & sew, and eyelashes). Manufacturing capabilities include eight facilities worldwide with vertically integrated testing and manufacturing, fill & assembly services across multiple countries (US, Italy, China, Korea, Japan), and full-service logistics and operational support including FDA clearance and QA/QC. The company positions itself as a one-stop solution enabling brands to reduce time-to-market through concept development, design, manufacturing, and distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stock Packaging

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Trusted Partner VendorsminorOthersHCT conducts thorough vetting and Social Compliance Auditing of all factories and trusted partner vendors. These partners support HCT's global manufacturing operations and supply chain.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anomatic: US-based manufacturer of metal and plastic packaging specializing in beauty and personal care components and full-package solutions. Directly comparable in metal packaging segment and US production footprint.
• Coverpla: European supplier of standard and bespoke packaging for fragrance and cosmetics, including stock ranges and custom finishing. Comparable in stock-plus-custom beauty packaging model.
• Quadpack Industries: European beauty packaging specialist combining a large stock component catalogue with custom development and manufacturing for prestige and masstige brands. Closely comparable in stock-plus-custom offering and indie-to-iconic customer mix.
• Verescence: French glass packaging manufacturer dedicated to the perfume and cosmetics industry, with global production. Directly comparable in primary beauty packaging manufacturing for prestige brands.
• Albea Group: Global B2B cosmetics packaging contract manufacturer offering packaging, formulation, and full-service solutions to beauty brands across categories. Direct comparable in service model, customer base, and turnkey positioning to HCT.
• APC Packaging: US-headquartered beauty packaging supplier offering stock and custom packaging plus turnkey solutions to indie and enterprise brands. Comparable service mix and target customer profile.
• Cosmogen: French developer and manufacturer of cosmetic applicators, brushes, and packaging components for prestige and indie beauty brands. Comparable in applicator and accessories design/manufacturing focus.
• Texen (PSB Industries): Beauty division of PSB Industries providing packaging, applicators, and full-service solutions for makeup and skincare brands. Comparable in turnkey beauty manufacturing and global production footprint.

Broad incumbents

• kdc/one: Strategic parent company and aggregator of beauty and personal care contract manufacturing brands including HCT. Comparable at the broader portfolio level as a beauty turnkey solutions provider, but operates across multiple brands and categories beyond HCT's scope.
• AptarGroup: Large publicly-traded packaging group with a significant Beauty + Home segment offering pumps, closures, and airless systems to major brands. Comparable in beauty applicator and dispensing technology but operates at a much broader scale and scope including pharma.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hctgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/HCTGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hctgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/hct.group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HCT Group