Evaluation of Entry into Ice cream Business - BRAC University ...

� Unilever’s oral care brands Mentadent, Pepsodent and Signal have teamed up with the world's
largest dental federation, the FDI, representing 750 000 dentists around the world
� First launched in France in 1983,Unilever’s leading male grooming brand, Axe, now gives men
the edge in the mating game in over 60 countries
� Hindustan Lever has launched a Surf Excel Quick Wash, with a low foaming formulation, reducing
the amount of water needed for rinsing by up to two buckets per wash
� Recent breakthroughs at Rexona include Rexona Crystal, a deodorant that eliminates unsightly
white deposits on dark garments.
2.1.2 Foods Division:
� Unilever is the world's leading ice cream producer, with brands such as Algida and Wall's in
Europe, and Ben & Jerry's in the United States.
� Unilever is the largest seller of packet tea in the world through the Lipton brand.
� The acquisition of Bestfoods in 2000 brought Unilever leadership in the culinary category. Knorr is
now their biggest brand, with €2.3 billion sales in over 100 countries and a product range covering
soups, bouillons, sauces, noodles and complete meals.
� Becel/Flora pro.activ products have been recognized as the most significant advancement in the
dietary management of cholesterol in 40 years.
2.2 History of Unilever
2.2.1 Soap and Margarine Origins:
The Anglo-Dutch Group, Unilever, was created in 1930 when the British soap-maker Lever Brothers
merged with the Dutch margarine producer, Margarine Unie. At the time, an international merger was
an unusual move. However, the owners of the two companies could see that bringing together
complementary businesses with strong global networks would create new opportunities. The
companies were competing for the same raw materials, both were involved in large-scale marketing of
household products and both used similar distribution channels.
Lever Brothers was founded in 1885 by William Hesketh Lever with his brother James. The company
produced Sunlight, the world's first packaged, branded laundry soap. Sunlight was a revolutionary
product that helped popularize cleanliness and hygiene in Victorian England. Its purpose was '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.'
In 1930, Lever chose Margarine Unie as a merger partner. Margarine Unie, a Dutch company had
grown through mergers with other margarine companies in the 1920s. The logic for the Anglo-Dutch
merger was clear: animal fats were the raw materials for both margarine and soap.
Evaluation of Entry into Ice cream Business for Bangladesh Limited 6