Corporate Facts
Unilever is one of the world’s leading fast-moving consumer goods companies,
with more than 400 brands globally and over 2 billion consumers using one of our
products on any given day. Our portfolio includes some of the world’s best known
brands, 14 of which now generate a turnover of €1 billion or more: Knorr, Persil/
Omo, Dove, Sunsilk, Hellmann’s, Surf, Lipton, Rexona/Sure, Wall’s ice cream,
Lux, Flora/Becel, Rama/Blue Band, Magnum and Axe/Lynx.
Our Mission
We work to create a
better future every day
with brands and services
that help people feel
good, look good and
get more out of life. We
will lead on responsible
growth, inspiring people
to take small everyday
actions that add up to a
big difference. We will
develop new ways of
doing business that
will allow us to double
the size of our company.
IMPROVING
HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING
REDUCING
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
ENHANCING
LIVELIHOODS
Company History
In the 1890s, William Hesketh Lever, founder of
Lever Bros, wrote down his ideas for Sunlight
Soap: “to make cleanliness commonplace; to
lessen work for women; to foster health and
contribute to personal attractiveness, that life may
be more enjoyable and rewarding for the people
who use our products”.
Today, we still believe that success means
acting with “the highest standards of corporate
behaviour towards our employees, consumers
and the societies and world in which we live”.
Over the years we have launched or participated
in an ever-growing range of initiatives to source
sustainable supplies of raw materials, protect
environments, support local communities and
much more.
Read more about Unilever’s history >
Our Structure
Europe, Americas and Asia/Africa/RUB.
174,000 full-time employees. Products in 190+ countries.
14 brands with sales of more than €1 billion a year, making up
more than 54% of our business.
Head offices in London and Rotterdam.
Our turnover was €49.8 billion in 2013.
Emerging markets now account for 57% of our business.
The business is divided into three regions:
Financial Performance
Key financials – full year 2013
Net profit
Turnover
Operating profit
Underlying
sales growth
€49.8 billion
€7.5 billion
4.3%
Unilever Investor
Centre App
€5.3 billion
Net profit
€5.3 billion
R&D Highlights
Around €1 billion
invested annually.
The Unilever Investor Centre App
offers investors access to split-screen
live results videos and
presentations, interactive
share price charts and
a customisable investor
dashboard.
Top UK patent applicant
in 2013 >
A portfolio of more than
20,000 patents and patent
applications.
Click to download >
View our Financial Factsheet >
Download our Introduction to Unilever>
Over 6,000 scientists,
engineers, chefs and
technicians globally.
Our Six Strategic R&D Laboratories
Port Sunlight,
UK
Colworth,
UK
Trumbull,
US
Bangalore,
India
Shanghai,
China
Vlaardingen,
the Netherlands
The Unilever Sustainable
Living Plan
OUR
ATI
ON
ER
PE
OP
OP
E
L
Double
the size of
Unilever while
reducing our
environmental
footprint and
increasing our
positive social
impact.
Our Compass Strategy
S
SUSTAINABLE
LIVING
OU
The diagram opposite represents our virtuous circle
of growth. It summarises, simply, how we derive
profit from the application of our business model.
Read more about the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan >
COST
LEVERAGE +
EFFICIENCY
BRAN DS
OUR
With 7 billion people on our planet, the earth’s
resources are strained. This means sustainable,
equitable growth is the only acceptable model for our
business. We believe growth and sustainability are
not in conflict. In fact, in our experience, sustainability
drives growth.
PROFITABLE
VOLUME
GROWTH
R
INNOVATION +
MARKETING
INVESTMENT
The Unilever
Foundation
The Unilever Foundation is partnering with five leading
global organisations – Oxfam, Population Services
International (PSI), Save the Children, UNICEF and the
World Food Programme. The Foundation’s mission is to
improve quality of life through the provision of hygiene,
sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition
and enhancing self-esteem.
Learn more about the Unilever Foundation >
Our Leadership
Our operating model is designed to deliver
faster decisions. Learn more about
our directors, senior corporate officers
and the Unilever Leadership Executive. View our company structure >
Read about our corporate governance >