What Calpol does

Calpol is the UK's leading over-the-counter children's medicine brand, operating as a brand within Kenvue UK Limited (registered in Reading, UK), a subsidiary of NYSE-listed Kenvue Inc. which spun off from Johnson & Johnson in November 2023. The portfolio spans age-specific paracetamol suspensions (Infant Suspension for 2 months–6 years; SixPlus Suspension and Fastmelts for 6+ years), an ibuprofen suspension (CALPROFEN, 3 months+), cough syrups (CALCOUGH Infant and Children's, glycerol-based), a teething gel (CALGEL, lidocaine + cetylpyridinium chloride, 5 months+), saline and salt-solution nasal sprays/drops, and a non-medicinal vapour plug device with nightlight. Products are formulated for precise age-banded dosing and include MHRA-compliant dosing syringes, with strawberry, blackcurrant, and apple flavouring to support pediatric administration. Each SKU carries a registered UK/EU trademark (CALPOL, CALPROFEN, CALGEL, CALCOUGH, SIXPLUS).

Calpol distributes through a multi-channel UK retail footprint covering the five largest supermarket chains (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, ASDA), pharmacy retailers (Boots, LloydsPharmacy, Superdrug, Chemist4U, Weldricks, Pharmacy2U), and online marketplaces (Amazon, Ocado). Revenue is generated through one-time unit-based retail sales of branded OTC medicines and adjacent non-medicinal devices, with no subscription component. The primary customer segment is parents and caregivers of children aged 0–12 in the UK, with sub-segments further defined by age (infants, toddlers, young children, older children), each addressed by formulation-specific SKUs. Marketing combines an educational content hub on calpol.co.uk, healthcare professional endorsement (paediatric nurse Dawn Kelly), and a social-purpose partnership with the NSPCC, all reinforcing brand trust rather than driving direct-response conversion. Calpol UK is the #1 selling children's medicine brand in the UK by value and units (NielsenIQ 2025, Total Paediatrics Category), with 9 out of 10 surveyed parents recommending the brand, and the operating geography is explicitly restricted to UK residents.

Name

Calpol

Legal name

Kenvue UK Limited

Website

https://calpol.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Calpol is the UK's #1 selling children's OTC medicine brand (Kenvue UK Limited), selling paracetamol and ibuprofen suspensions, cough syrups, teething gel, nasal sprays, and a vapour plug device to UK parents of children aged 0–12 through supermarkets, pharmacies, and online retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wycombe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. OTC Children's Medicines Retail Sales: Calpol generates revenue through sale of branded OTC medicines and non-medicinal healthcare products for children. Products are distributed through retail channels including supermarkets, pharmacies, and online marketplaces. Revenue is one-time purchase based with no subscription component, though repeat purchases occur during childhood illness episodes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Calpol develops and sells a branded range of over-the-counter medicines and non-medicinal healthcare products for children from birth through 12+ years. The portfolio includes paracetamol suspensions (Infant Suspension 2 months to 6 years and SixPlus 6+ years), ibuprofen suspension (Calprofen), cough syrups (Calcough Infant and Children's), teething gel with anaesthetic (Calgel), saline and salt-solution nasal sprays, and a vapour plug device with nightlight. Products are formulated with age-appropriate dosing and child-friendly flavors and are distributed through UK supermarkets, pharmacies, and online marketplaces.

Product overview

Calpol is a pharmaceutical/OTC medicine brand specializing in children's healthcare products. The portfolio consists of paracetamol-based products (Infant Suspension for 2 months to 6 years, SixPlus Suspension and Fastmelts for 6+ years), ibuprofen-based CALPROFEN, cough syrups (CALCOUGH Infant and Children's), teething gel (CALGEL), nasal sprays (Blocked Nose Spray and Saline Spray/Drops), and the Vapour Plug & Nightlight device. The products target infants and children from birth through 12 years, addressing common childhood ailments including fever, pain, cough, cold, congestion, and teething.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CALPROFEN: Ibuprofen oral suspension for pain and fever relief in infants and children from 3 months
• CALGEL
• CALCOUGH
• SIXPLUS

Products and services

• Calpol Infant Sugar Free Suspension Paracetamol-based oral suspension for babies and children aged 2 months to 6 years, providing relief from pain and fever; formulated to start working on fever in 15 minutes and supplied with a precision dosing syringe.
• Calpol SixPlus Oral Suspension Paracetamol for Children Paracetamol-based oral suspension with over twice the strength of Infant Suspension, formulated for children aged 6 years and over for pain and fever relief.
• Calpol SixPlus Fastmelts Strawberry-flavoured dissolve-in-the-mouth tablets for children 6 years and over, providing on-the-go pain and fever relief without the need for water.
• Calprofen Ibuprofen Oral Suspension Ibuprofen-based strawberry-flavoured oral suspension for infants from 3 months, providing pain and fever relief as an alternative to paracetamol.
• Calcough Infant Syrup Glycerol-based apple-flavoured cough syrup for babies and toddlers aged 3 months to 5 years, soothing and relieving dry, tickly coughs.
• Calcough Children's Syrup Blackcurrant-flavoured cough syrup with glycerol and liquid sugar for children aged 1 year and above, providing relief from dry, tickly coughs and sore throats.
• Calgel Teething Gel for Babies Sugar-free teething gel containing lidocaine hydrochloride (local anaesthetic) and cetylpyridinium chloride (antiseptic) for babies 5 months and over, providing rapid relief from teething pain.
• Calpol Blocked Nose Spray Salt-solution nasal spray for children over 3 years and adults, providing relief from nasal congestion caused by colds, flu, sinusitis, and allergies including hay fever.
• Calpol Saline Nasal Spray & Drops Non-medicated saline nasal spray and drops suitable from birth, designed to wash away built-up mucus and relieve nasal congestion in babies and young children.
• Calpol Vapour Plug & Nightlight with Refill Pads Plug-in vapour device with lavender and chamomile refill pads (5-pack and 10-pack) that release aromatic vapours for up to 8 hours and provide a soft nightlight glow for children from 3 months, supporting comfortable breathing and sleep.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 out of 10 parents recommend Calpol for fast effective pain and fever relief (J&J Survey 2023, n=291/302 parents with children aged 6 months to 12 years)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NSPCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalpol has partnered with the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) to help give children a brighter future. The partnership aims to support the NSPCC's work in protecting children and providing them with safer futures. The Calpol website includes information about the partnership with a call-to-action for consumers to find out more and donate.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Vicks: Procter & Gamble's respiratory care brand including Vicks BabyRub and VapoRub. Overlaps with Calpol's Vapour Plug and cough range for parents seeking non-oral comfort and relief for children during colds.
• Zarbee's Naturals: Haleon's naturals-leaning paediatric cough and immune support brand. Targets the same parents of young children with syrups and gummies, increasingly competing on shelf space and natural-ingredient positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Sudafed: Kenvue / Johnson & Johnson's decongestant brand. A sibling brand within Kenvue's UK portfolio and a partial substitute for Calpol's Blocked Nose Spray and Saline Nasal Spray range in the paediatric congestion segment.
• Haleon: Consumer health major spun off from GSK in 2022, owning Panadol, Piriton, Centrum and Sensodyne. Operates across the same UK retail channels as Calpol and competes via multiple paediatric and adult OTC brands.

Direct peers

• Lemsip: Reckitt Benckiser's UK cold and flu remedy brand. Shares Calpol's supermarket and pharmacy distribution and competes for parents seeking symptomatic relief for children with coughs and congestion.
• Piriton: Haleon's UK children's allergy syrup brand. Competes with Calpol in the paediatric OTC space across UK pharmacies and supermarkets for childhood allergy and symptomatic relief.
• Nurofen for Children: Reckitt Benckiser's paediatric ibuprofen range, directly comparable to Calpol's Calprofen. Competes head-to-head on the same UK supermarket and pharmacy shelves for parents seeking ibuprofen-based fever and pain relief.
• Benadryl Allergy Children's: Johnson & Johnson / Kenvue's paediatric allergy brand, historically sister to Calpol within the same parent group. Targets the same parents for childhood allergy and cold symptoms through overlapping UK retail distribution.
• Tylenol: Johnson & Johnson's flagship paracetamol brand and Calpol's US equivalent in terms of consumer positioning and category leadership. Same active ingredient, same paediatric focus, and historically sister brand within the same J&J consumer health organisation.
• Children's Panadol: Haleon's flagship paediatric paracetamol brand and Calpol's most direct competitor in the UK and global markets. Targets the same parents of infants and young children for fever and pain relief with age-tiered formulations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calpol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Calpol