Unilever

Unilever was formed through the merger of Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie and British soapmaker Lever Brothers in 1929. This merger was a strategic move to benefit from the economies of scale and confront the competition of radio advertising at the time. Unilever diversified its product range and expanded its operations, leading to the multinational corporation we know today.

In 1948, Unilever launched Dove soap in the United States, which was revolutionary for its time. The product was marketed as a new kind of soap, with the ability to not dry the skin. Dove's unique selling proposition was that it contained one-quarter moisturizing cream, making it a hit among consumers and establishing Dove as a leading personal care brand.

Sunsilk was launched by Unilever in 1961. It became one of Unilever's leading hair care brands, available in numerous countries around the world. Sunsilk was known for its innovative formulations and was marketed specifically towards women, contributing significantly to Unilever's presence in the personal care market.

In April 1984, Unilever acquired Brooke Bond, a major British company known for its tea products, including Brooke Bond Red Label and PG Tips. This acquisition significantly expanded Unilever's presence in the tea market, complementing its other beverage brands and enhancing its global footprint in the beverage sector.

Unilever entered into a joint venture with Morrison Milling Company in 1989, as part of its strategy to expand its food brands, particularly in North America. This collaboration aimed to create innovative flour-based products, leveraging Morrison's expertise in milling with Unilever's strong consumer marketing presence.

In May 2000, Unilever acquired Best Foods for $20.3 billion, a deal that was one of the largest in the food industry at the time. Best Foods was known for its brands such as Hellmann's mayonnaise and Knorr soups. This acquisition doubled Unilever’s food business size, making it one of the largest food companies globally.

The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan was launched in 2010 as an ambitious initiative to grow the business while reducing its environmental footprint and increasing its positive social impact. It set out over 50 targets and was led by then CEO Paul Polman. This plan significantly boosted Unilever's reputation for sustainability worldwide.

In July 2016, Unilever announced it was acquiring Dollar Shave Club for $1 billion. This acquisition was part of Unilever's broader strategy to strengthen its position in the male grooming market and innovative direct-to-consumer business. Dollar Shave Club disrupted the market with its subscription-based razor delivery model.

In April 2017, Unilever announced its plans to simplify its dual-headed legal structure and become a single legal entity. Although these plans faced various discussions and some pushback, they were part of an effort to make the company more efficient and improve its governance structures.

On June 15, 2020, Unilever completed its long-discussed plan to unify its dual-headed corporate structure into a single entity incorporated in the United Kingdom. This move was aimed at increasing flexibility to carry out mergers and acquisitions, as well as streamline operational processes, amidst a competitive global market.