Unilever Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Lever & Co
- Lever, William, Lord Leverhulme
- Lever, James
- Lever Brothers Ltd
- Niger Co
- African & Eastern Trade Corp
- United Africa Co Ltd
- Margarine Union
- Brooke Bond Ltd
- Birds Eye Ltd
- Cooper, Sir Francis D'Arcy
- Heyworth, Sir Geoffrey, Lord Heyworth
- Frosted Foods
- Batchelor Foods Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Netherlands
- Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, North West, England
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:
- 100 Victoria Embankment. The redevelopment of Unilever's London headquarters by Unknown
- 100 Years of Innovation. The story of Unilever Research, Port Sunlight by Unknown
- About Unilever by Unknown
- Acquisitions and firm growth. Creating Unilevers' ice cream and tea business by Jones, Geoffrey, & Peter Miskell
- An International Business by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Anatomy of a Business. Unilever management and operation by Unknown
- 'Apotheosis of holding company accounting'. Unilever's financial reporting innovations from the 1920s to the 1940s by Camfferman, Kees, & Stephen A Zeff
- Beyond Racism. The story of Prakash Tandon and Unilever India by Rao, Jaithirth
- Big business and small states. Unilever and Norway in the interwar period by Sandvik, Pal Thonstad, & Espen Storli
- British Whaling Trade by Jackson, Gordon
- Capital Investment by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- 'Centralisation and decentralisation in Unilever' in R S Edwards & H Townsend (eds), Business Enterprise. Its growth and organisation by Bonham-Carter, A D
- 'Change and continuity. A history of Unilever, 1871-1994' in M Davids et al (eds), Proceedings of the Conference on Business History by Barendregt, Jan
- Colworth Chronicles. A golden celebration, 1947-1997 by Hall, Barrie
- Colworth House, Bedfordshire. Unilever Food Research Centre in the United Kingdom by Unknown
- Coming Clean. A postscript after retirement from Unilever by Knox, Andrew M
- Control Centre of an International Business. A study of the factors relevant to the location of its headquarters by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Control, performance and knowledge transfers in large multinationals. Unilever in the United States, 1945-1980 by Jones, Geoffrey
- Corporate venturing. The origins of Unilever's pregnancy test by Jones, Geoffrey, & Alison Kraft
- Discovering the consumer. Market research, product innovation and the creation of brand loyalty in Britain and the United States in the interwar years by Schwarzkopf, Stefan
- Distribution by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- Enterprise in Soap and Chemicals. Joseph Crosfield & Sons Ltd, 1815-1965 by Musson, A E
- Entrepreneurship and Multinationals. Global business and the making of the modern world by Jones, Geoffrey (ed)
- European integration and corporate restructuring. The strategy of Unilever, c1957-c1990 by Jones, Geoffrey, & Peter Miskell
- Fifty Years of Unilever, 1930-1980 by Reader, William J
- Financing British manufacturing multinationals in Latin America, 1930-65 by Miller, Rory M
- Food Combines. A study of the methods employed by the food monopolies in maintaining high prices, the development towards trustification, and the large profits made by such enterprises by Fox, W
- Geoffrey Heyworth, Baron Heyworth of Oxton. A memoir by Wilson, Charles H (ed)
- History of Research and Engineering in Unilever, 1911-1986 by Beck, W J
- History of Unilever. A study in economic growth and social change by Wilson, Charles H
- International Business and War Interests. Unilever between Reich and Empire, 1939-45 by Wubs, Ben
- Large Scale Organisation. A first hand account of the day to day organisation and management of large industrial undertakings and public services by Milward, G E (ed)
- Learning to live with governments. Unilever in India and Turkey, 1950-1980 by Jones, Geoffrey
- Lord Linoleum. Lord Ashton, Lancaster and the rise of the British oilcloth and linoleum industry by Gooderson, Philip J
- Making a Food for the Millions. A souvenir of the margarine works at Bromborough and Purfleet of Van Den Berghs & Jurgens Ltd by Unknown
- 'Management and policy in large scale enterprise. Lever Brothers and Unilever, 1918-1938' in B Supple (ed), Essays in British Business History. The development of the firm by Wilson, Charles H
- Oil Palm. A global history by Robins, Jonathan E
- Organization of Unilever by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Productivity by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Proprietors and managers. Structure and technique in large British enterprises, 1890 to 1939 by Quail, John M
- Purposive strategy or serendipity? Development and diversification in three consumer product companies, 1918-1939. J & J Colman, Reckitt & Sons and Lever Brothers/Unilever by Church, Roy, & Christine Clark
- 'R&D in British industry' in M J Lynskey & S Yonekura (eds), Proceedings of the Fuji Conference, 25, 1998. Entrepreneurship and Organization. The role of the entrepreneur in organizational innovation by Horrocks, Sally M
- Renewing Unilever. Transformation and tradition by Jones, Geoffrey
- Research in Unilever by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- 'So Clean'. Lord Leverhulme, soap and civilisation by Lewis, Brian
- Soapmaker of Bristol. The story of Christr Thomas & Bros, 1745-1954 by Somerville, John
- 'Soapy Joe's. The history of Joseph Watson & Sons Ltd, 1893-1993' in J A Chartres & K Honeyman (eds), Leeds City Business, 1893-1993. Essays marking the centenary of incorporation by Honeyman, Katrina
- 'Systematic management and welfare in the chemicals industry' in R Fitzgerald, British Labour Management and Industrial Welfare, 1846-1939 by Fitzgerald, Robert
- The Managers by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- 'The multinational in historical perspective' in K Nakagawa (ed), Proceedings of the Fuji Conference, 1, 1974. Strategy and structure of big business by Wilson, Charles H
- Transport by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- Unilever, 1945-1965. Challenge and response in the post war industrial revolution by Wilson, Charles H
- Unilever. A short history by Reader, William J
- Unilever and World Development ... Study of multinationals and world development by Unknown
- Unilever House by Unknown
- Unilever in a Changing Europe by Cole, George, & F J Tempel
- Unilever Overseas. The anatomy of a multinational, 1895-1965 by Fieldhouse, D K
- Unilever Plantations by Reader, William J
- 'Unilever. The first 21 years' in T A Lee & R H Parker (eds), Evolution of Corporate Financial Reporting by Hodgkins, P
- 'Unilevers' (other) brand wars. Retailers, private labels and struggles within product supply chains' in T da Silva Lopes & P Duguid (eds), Trademarks, Brands and Competitiveness by Miskell, Peter
- Unilevers' Role as a Multinational Business by Woodroofe, E G, & G D A Klijnstra
- Unilevers' World. CIS Anti Report by Unknown
- What is Unilever? by Unknown
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Lever & Co
- Lever, William, Lord Leverhulme
- Lever, James
- Lever Brothers Ltd
- Niger Co
- African & Eastern Trade Corp
- United Africa Co Ltd
- Margarine Union
- Brooke Bond Ltd
- Birds Eye Ltd
- Cooper, Sir Francis D'Arcy
- Heyworth, Sir Geoffrey, Lord Heyworth
- Frosted Foods
- Batchelor Foods Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Netherlands
- Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, North West, England
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:
- 100 Victoria Embankment. The redevelopment of Unilever's London headquarters by Unknown
- 100 Years of Innovation. The story of Unilever Research, Port Sunlight by Unknown
- About Unilever by Unknown
- Acquisitions and firm growth. Creating Unilevers' ice cream and tea business by Jones, Geoffrey, & Peter Miskell
- An International Business by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Anatomy of a Business. Unilever management and operation by Unknown
- 'Apotheosis of holding company accounting'. Unilever's financial reporting innovations from the 1920s to the 1940s by Camfferman, Kees, & Stephen A Zeff
- Beyond Racism. The story of Prakash Tandon and Unilever India by Rao, Jaithirth
- Big business and small states. Unilever and Norway in the interwar period by Sandvik, Pal Thonstad, & Espen Storli
- British Whaling Trade by Jackson, Gordon
- Capital Investment by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- 'Centralisation and decentralisation in Unilever' in R S Edwards & H Townsend (eds), Business Enterprise. Its growth and organisation by Bonham-Carter, A D
- 'Change and continuity. A history of Unilever, 1871-1994' in M Davids et al (eds), Proceedings of the Conference on Business History by Barendregt, Jan
- Colworth Chronicles. A golden celebration, 1947-1997 by Hall, Barrie
- Colworth House, Bedfordshire. Unilever Food Research Centre in the United Kingdom by Unknown
- Coming Clean. A postscript after retirement from Unilever by Knox, Andrew M
- Control Centre of an International Business. A study of the factors relevant to the location of its headquarters by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Control, performance and knowledge transfers in large multinationals. Unilever in the United States, 1945-1980 by Jones, Geoffrey
- Corporate venturing. The origins of Unilever's pregnancy test by Jones, Geoffrey, & Alison Kraft
- Discovering the consumer. Market research, product innovation and the creation of brand loyalty in Britain and the United States in the interwar years by Schwarzkopf, Stefan
- Distribution by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- Enterprise in Soap and Chemicals. Joseph Crosfield & Sons Ltd, 1815-1965 by Musson, A E
- Entrepreneurship and Multinationals. Global business and the making of the modern world by Jones, Geoffrey (ed)
- European integration and corporate restructuring. The strategy of Unilever, c1957-c1990 by Jones, Geoffrey, & Peter Miskell
- Fifty Years of Unilever, 1930-1980 by Reader, William J
- Financing British manufacturing multinationals in Latin America, 1930-65 by Miller, Rory M
- Food Combines. A study of the methods employed by the food monopolies in maintaining high prices, the development towards trustification, and the large profits made by such enterprises by Fox, W
- Geoffrey Heyworth, Baron Heyworth of Oxton. A memoir by Wilson, Charles H (ed)
- History of Research and Engineering in Unilever, 1911-1986 by Beck, W J
- History of Unilever. A study in economic growth and social change by Wilson, Charles H
- International Business and War Interests. Unilever between Reich and Empire, 1939-45 by Wubs, Ben
- Large Scale Organisation. A first hand account of the day to day organisation and management of large industrial undertakings and public services by Milward, G E (ed)
- Learning to live with governments. Unilever in India and Turkey, 1950-1980 by Jones, Geoffrey
- Lord Linoleum. Lord Ashton, Lancaster and the rise of the British oilcloth and linoleum industry by Gooderson, Philip J
- Making a Food for the Millions. A souvenir of the margarine works at Bromborough and Purfleet of Van Den Berghs & Jurgens Ltd by Unknown
- 'Management and policy in large scale enterprise. Lever Brothers and Unilever, 1918-1938' in B Supple (ed), Essays in British Business History. The development of the firm by Wilson, Charles H
- Oil Palm. A global history by Robins, Jonathan E
- Organization of Unilever by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Productivity by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- Proprietors and managers. Structure and technique in large British enterprises, 1890 to 1939 by Quail, John M
- Purposive strategy or serendipity? Development and diversification in three consumer product companies, 1918-1939. J & J Colman, Reckitt & Sons and Lever Brothers/Unilever by Church, Roy, & Christine Clark
- 'R&D in British industry' in M J Lynskey & S Yonekura (eds), Proceedings of the Fuji Conference, 25, 1998. Entrepreneurship and Organization. The role of the entrepreneur in organizational innovation by Horrocks, Sally M
- Renewing Unilever. Transformation and tradition by Jones, Geoffrey
- Research in Unilever by Heyworth, Geoffrey
- 'So Clean'. Lord Leverhulme, soap and civilisation by Lewis, Brian
- Soapmaker of Bristol. The story of Christr Thomas & Bros, 1745-1954 by Somerville, John
- 'Soapy Joe's. The history of Joseph Watson & Sons Ltd, 1893-1993' in J A Chartres & K Honeyman (eds), Leeds City Business, 1893-1993. Essays marking the centenary of incorporation by Honeyman, Katrina
- 'Systematic management and welfare in the chemicals industry' in R Fitzgerald, British Labour Management and Industrial Welfare, 1846-1939 by Fitzgerald, Robert
- The Managers by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- 'The multinational in historical perspective' in K Nakagawa (ed), Proceedings of the Fuji Conference, 1, 1974. Strategy and structure of big business by Wilson, Charles H
- Transport by Heyworth, Geoffrey, & F J Tempel
- Unilever, 1945-1965. Challenge and response in the post war industrial revolution by Wilson, Charles H
- Unilever. A short history by Reader, William J
- Unilever and World Development ... Study of multinationals and world development by Unknown
- Unilever House by Unknown
- Unilever in a Changing Europe by Cole, George, & F J Tempel
- Unilever Overseas. The anatomy of a multinational, 1895-1965 by Fieldhouse, D K
- Unilever Plantations by Reader, William J
- 'Unilever. The first 21 years' in T A Lee & R H Parker (eds), Evolution of Corporate Financial Reporting by Hodgkins, P
- 'Unilevers' (other) brand wars. Retailers, private labels and struggles within product supply chains' in T da Silva Lopes & P Duguid (eds), Trademarks, Brands and Competitiveness by Miskell, Peter
- Unilevers' Role as a Multinational Business by Woodroofe, E G, & G D A Klijnstra
- Unilevers' World. CIS Anti Report by Unknown
- What is Unilever? by Unknown