Essays on Unilever

Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in food, beverage, cleaning agents and personal care. It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and Rotterdam, Netherlands. Its products include Axe/Lynx, Dove, Omo, Hellmann's, Lipton, and Knorr. The company has a long history, dating back to the late 19th century. In 1885, the DutchMargarine Unie and the British soapmaker Lever Brothers formed a joint venture, known as Lever Brothers-Margarine Unie. The two companies merged in 1930 to form Unilever. During the Second World War, the company was a major supplier of soap to the British military. It also played a role in the relief effort in war-torn Europe, providing food, clothing and other essential products. In the postwar period, Unilever expanded rapidly, acquiring a number of other companies and brands. It also entered new markets, such as Asia and Africa. Today, it is a global company with operations in over 190 countries. Unilever has a broad portfolio of well-known brands, which are organized into four main divisions: Foods, Refreshment, Home Care and Personal Care. The company's best-known brands include Dove, Lipton, Knorr, Hellmann's, Omo, and Axe/Lynx. Unilever is committed to sustainable living, and its goal is to double the size of its business while reducing its environmental impact. It has a number of initiatives in place to achieve this, such as its Sustainable Living Plan. Unilever has come under fire in recent years for its use of palm oil, which has been linked to deforestation. The company has committed to sourcing 100% sustainable palm oil by 2020.