Unilever

The Unilever logo

Unilever is a British multinational consumer goods company headquartered in London, England. It was founded in 1929 by the merger of the Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie and the British soapmaker Lever Brothers. Unilever is one of the oldest multinational companies and its products are available in around 190 countries.

History

Unilever was formed on 2 September 1929 by the merger of the operations of the Dutch margarine company Margarine Unie and the British soap company Lever Brothers. The initial aim was to leverage the complementary nature of the two companies' products, as both margarine and soap production required large quantities of palm oil.

Unilever House in London

In the 1930s, the business grew and new ventures were launched in Latin America. During the 1940s, Unilever acquired several companies, including the United Africa Company, which expanded its presence in Africa. The company continued to grow through acquisitions and diversification in the following decades.

Operations

Unilever's products include food, beverages, cleaning agents, beauty products, and personal care items. The company is organized into three main divisions: Foods & Refreshment, Home Care, and Beauty & Personal Care.

Lever House in Port Sunlight

Unilever has research and development facilities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, China, India, and the United States. The company is committed to sustainable living and has set ambitious targets to reduce its environmental impact and increase its positive social impact.

Brands

Unilever owns over 400 brands, with 13 of them generating sales of over �1 billion annually. Some of its most well-known brands include Dove, Knorr, Lipton, Hellmann's, Magnum, and Rexona.

Dove products

Corporate Structure

Unilever is a dual-listed company consisting of Unilever N.V., based in Rotterdam, and Unilever PLC, based in London. The two companies operate as a single business, with a common board of directors and a unified management structure.

Unilever's head office in Rotterdam

Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Unilever has been recognized for its efforts in sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The company launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan in 2010, which aims to decouple its growth from its environmental footprint while increasing its positive social impact.

Related pages

• List of Unilever brands
• Lever Brothers
• Margarine Unie

References

• "Unilever." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last visited October 2023.
• "Unilever Annual Report 2022." Unilever, 2022.
• "Unilever Sustainable Living Plan." Unilever, accessed October 2023.