Simon van den Bergh

Simon van den Bergh (1819–1907) was a prominent Dutch businessman and the founder of Margarine Unie, which later became part of Unilever, a British-Dutch multinational company. Born in Oss, a town in the southern part of the Netherlands, van den Bergh was instrumental in the development of the margarine industry in Europe.

Early Life

Simon van den Bergh was born into a family involved in the butter trade. Recognizing the potential for a butter substitute, van den Bergh was among the first to industrialize the production of margarine, which was initially developed in France by Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès in 1869. Van den Bergh's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a factory in Oss in 1871, focusing on the production of margarine, which he marketed as a cheaper alternative to butter.

Career

Under Simon van den Bergh's leadership, the company expanded rapidly. He was innovative in marketing and production, which helped his business to grow beyond the Dutch borders. In 1888, he moved part of his operations to Kleve, Germany, to take advantage of the larger market. His business acumen was evident in his strategic decisions, such as product diversification and international expansion.

In 1927, several years after van den Bergh's death, his company merged with another margarine producer, Jurgens, also based in Oss. This merger was a significant step towards the formation of Margarine Unie. Later, in 1930, Margarine Unie merged with the British soap maker Lever Brothers to form Unilever, which would grow into one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world.

Legacy

Simon van den Bergh's legacy is not only in the foundation of what would become Unilever but also in his contributions to the industrialization of food production. His work laid the groundwork for modern food manufacturing and marketing strategies. The town of Oss, where his journey began, benefited significantly from his investments and business activities, leading to economic growth and development in the region.

Van den Bergh's contributions to the margarine industry and his role in the early days of Unilever are remembered as pivotal in the history of global consumer goods industries.

See Also

• Unilever
• Margarine
• Industrial Revolution
• Food industry