| Profile: | Unilever is an international English / Dutch manufacturer of consumer products with more than 230,000 employees in 100 countries. The company produces products including washing powder, shampoo and toothpaste (personal care and household cleaning products.) But also tea, ice cream, oils and fats (food) for customers worldwide. The company owns tea plantations in India, Kenya and Tanzania and palm oil plantations in Congo, Ivory Coast and Ghana. Unilever was founded in 1930, when the Dutch company merged with Lever Brothers, a British manufacturer of soap. Unilever is headed by two holding companies: Unilever NL (The Netherlands) and Unilever Plc (UK). Therefore, it has two headquarters in London and Rotterdam. The two parent companies have the same boards and usually work as independent companies. The products are sold in 150 countries. |
| Description: | The food industry is divided into beverages, food and foodstuffs. The beverages industry includes companies engaged in the production and distribution of beverages. These range from soft drinks and beer to spirits. Especially in the beer industry has been engaged in successful cross-border consolidation in the last few years, allowing the market be dominated by a handful of beer producers. In the food industry, companies which are focussing on the production of foods such as dairy, frozen foods, fast food meals, baby food and confectionery. The non-food industry consists of companies with activities in tobacco, cosmetics, household and personal care products, possibly combined with diet. The main markets for the multinationals in the food are included in North America and Europe. Asia is an emerging market. |
