Colgate Palmolive, the maker of toothpaste, soap and cleaning products, said yesterday that record spending on worldwide advertising had supported a 12 per cent increase in sales to $3.2bn in its first quarter and an 8 per cent rise in unit volume.

Reuben Mark, who is stepping down as CEO on July 1 after 20 years, said a 20 per cent increase in overall advertising had been equally spread between different regions.