Unilever: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:09, 31 March 2025

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[edit]

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.

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[edit]

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.

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[edit]

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.

Corporate Structure[edit]

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.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

"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.

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-Unilever is a multinational consumer goods company that produces a wide range of products, such as food, beverages, cleaning agents, and personal care products. The company was founded in 1929 as a merger between two Dutch margarine companies and has since grown into one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world.
+[[File:Unilever.svg|thumb|right|The Unilever logo]]
-=== History ===
-* Unilever was formed in 1929 as a merger between the Dutch margarine company, Margarine Unie, and the British soap company, Lever Brothers. The company grew rapidly, acquiring a number of other consumer goods companies over the years, such as Ben & Jerry's, Lipton, and Hellmann's.
+'''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.
-* Today, Unilever is one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world, with operations in over 190 countries. The company employs over 155,000 people and has a diverse portfolio of brands, such as Dove, Knorr, and Axe.
-=== Products ===
+==History==
-* Unilever produces a wide range of products, such as food, beverages, cleaning agents, and personal care products. The company's food and beverage brands include Lipton, Hellmann's, Knorr, and Ben & Jerry's, while its personal care brands include Dove, Axe, and Sunsilk.
+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 is also committed to sustainability and has set ambitious targets to reduce its environmental footprint. The company has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2039, to reduce its use of plastics, and to promote sustainable agriculture.
-=== Criticisms ===
+[[File:Unilever House Mars 2014 01.jpg|thumb|left|Unilever House in London]]
-* Unilever has faced criticism for a number of issues over the years, such as its environmental impact, its labor practices, and its marketing strategies. The company has been accused of contributing to deforestation through its use of palm oil, and has faced allegations of human rights abuses in its supply chain.
-* Unilever has also been criticized for its marketing of products that are high in salt, sugar, and fat, and has faced backlash over its use of racially insensitive imagery in its advertising.
+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.
-== See also ==
-*[[Consumer goods]]
+==Operations==
-*[[Corporate social responsibility]]
+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.
-*[[Sustainable development]]
-*[[Brand management]]
+[[File:Outside Lever House, Port Sunlight (2).jpg|thumb|right|Lever House in Port Sunlight]]
-[[Category:Multinational companies]] [[Category:Consumer goods]]
+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 (toiletries)|Dove]], [[Knorr]], [[Lipton]], [[Hellmann's]], [[Magnum (ice cream)|Magnum]], and [[Rexona]].
+[[File:Dove Shampoo and Acondicionador.jpg|thumb|right|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.
+[[File:Unilever Head Office Building Rotterdam.jpg|thumb|right|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.
+[[Category:Unilever| ]]
+[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Companies established in 1929]]