Unilever Ltd

Sectors:

  • Chemical production Basic chemicals production
  • Chemical production Candle production
  • Food & tobacco processing Dairy products production
  • Food & tobacco processing Edible oils & fats production inc margarine
  • Food & tobacco processing Frozen food processing
  • Food & tobacco processing Meat processing
  • Chemical production Perfumes, cosmetics & toilet goods production
  • Agriculture & fishing Plantation management, palm oil
  • Chemical production Soap & detergent production
  • Beverage production Tea & coffee processing

Notes:

Traces origins in the UK to 1885 and Lever & Co, wholesale grocers and soap manufacturers. Established by William Lever, later Lord Leverhulme, and his brother James. Developed major soap making plant at Port Sunlight 1888. Incorporated 1890 as Lever Brothers Ltd. Soon diversified into margarine and candle making as well as ice cream. Acquired plantations in Congo and Solomon Islands to secure raw material supplies and in 1920 acquired Niger Co Ltd. Merged this in 1929 with the African & Eastern Trade Corp to form the United Africa Co Ltd. Following William Lever's death in 1925, notably led, 1925-59, by Sir Francis D'Arcy Cooper followed by Sir Geoffrey Heyworth. In 1929 Lever Brothers merged with Margarine Union, a recent amalgamation of Continental Europe margarine producers headquartered at Rotterdam, to form the Anglo Dutch business, Unilever Ltd. Soon diversified into food processing, notably into frozen foods through the acquisition in the early 1940s of Frosted Foods / Bird's Eye and Batchelor Foods Ltd, the latter also being canners. In the post war years grew rapidly internationally and by acquisition and came to refocus significantly on consumer goods - hygiene products, beauty products, cleaning products, ice cream, tea [Brooke Bond], etc. At same time disposed of commodity type products such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc. Continues in 2024. [2024]

Publications:

Groups: