Key Stats
- Market Capitalization: Approximately $157 billion as of October 2025
- Annual Revenue: €65.7 billion reported for 2024, representing 1.92 percent growth from previous year
- Global Presence: Operations in over 190 countries with more than 400 brands in portfolio
- Workforce: Employs approximately 127,000 people worldwide across diverse business segments
- Underlying Sales Growth: 3.9 percent in Q3 2025 with volume growth of 1.5 percent
Unilever NV operates as one of the world’s largest consumer goods manufacturers, headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The company produces and markets fast-moving consumer goods across nutrition, hygiene, and personal care categories through four primary segments.
The Personal Care segment provides skincare, hair care, deodorants, and oral care products under brands including Dove, Lux, Rexona, Sunsilk, and Vaseline. The Foods segment offers soups, sauces, mayonnaise, and spreads. The Refreshment segment sells ice cream and tea-based beverages under brands like Cornetto and Magnum. The Home Care segment markets laundry and cleaning products.
Founded in 1927 through a merger, Unilever competes with global giants like Procter & Gamble in the consumer goods industry. The company maintains a strong commitment to sustainable business practices while serving billions of consumers daily.
Unilever NV History
William Hesketh Lever established Lever Brothers soap factory in Warrington, England, marking the beginning of what would become Unilever. The company introduced Sunlight Soap to popularize cleanliness in Victorian England.
Dutch firms Jurgens and Van den Bergh began commercial margarine production. By 1927, these companies merged to form Margarine Unie, creating a powerful force in the European margarine market.
Lever Brothers and Margarine Unie officially merged on January 1, creating Unilever. The merger united two holding companies, Unilever Limited and Unilever NV, forming one of the world’s first modern multinational corporations.
Unilever navigated the Great Depression and World War II while continuing to expand operations. The company diversified into foods and chemicals, establishing research facilities at Port Sunlight.
Post-war boom enabled rapid expansion. Unilever acquired Birds Eye frozen foods in 1957 and Good Humor ice cream in 1961, significantly expanding its product portfolio across new categories.
Strategic acquisitions continued with Lipton tea in 1971 and Brooke Bond in 1984. These moves strengthened Unilever’s position in the beverages market and expanded its global reach.
Major acquisitions included Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, and SlimFast. The company launched its Path to Growth strategy to focus on high-potential global brands.
Unilever launched its Sustainable Living Plan, committing to sustainable business practices. The company acquired Alberto-Culver for $3.7 billion, adding brands like TRESemmé to its portfolio.
Unilever acquired premium brands including Nutrafol, K18 Hair, Wild, and Dr. Squatch. The company announced plans to separate its ice cream division by Q4 2025, creating The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity.
Unilever NV Co-founders
British entrepreneur who founded Lever Brothers in 1885 and revolutionized the soap industry with Sunlight Soap. His vision extended beyond profit to improving worker conditions and public hygiene.
William’s brother and co-founder of Lever Brothers who partnered in establishing the soap manufacturing business. Together they invested in innovative soap-making processes that transformed the industry.
Dutch butter merchant whose family built a thriving business that transitioned to margarine production. His company became a key component of the Margarine Unie formed in 1927.
Co-founder of the Dutch margarine business that merged with Van den Bergh interests. The Jurgens family obtained early margarine formulas and helped establish the foundation for modern Unilever.
Unilever NV Revenue
Unilever NV reported annual revenue of €65.7 billion for 2024, representing growth of 1.92 percent from the previous year. The company delivered underlying sales growth of 4.2 percent for the full year, led by volume growth of 2.9 percent and price increases of 1.3 percent.
The company achieved four consecutive quarters of underlying volume growth above 2 percent across all business groups. Underlying operating profit reached €11.2 billion, increasing 12.6 percent versus the prior year with operating margin expanding to 18.4 percent.
Unilever NV Marketcap
Unilever NV maintains a market capitalization of approximately $157 billion as of October 2025. The company’s market value positions it as the 132nd most valuable publicly traded company globally, reflecting its strong market presence across consumer goods categories.
The market capitalization increased 4.97 percent from €132.08 billion in 2024 to €138.65 billion in 2025. This valuation reflects investor confidence in Unilever’s transformation strategy and focus on premium, high-growth brands while streamlining its portfolio through strategic divestitures.
Unilever NV Acquisitions
Unilever NV has executed a strategic acquisition strategy focused on premium and sustainable brands that align with evolving consumer preferences. Recent acquisitions demonstrate the company’s commitment to strengthening its position in high-growth categories including beauty, personal care, and wellness products.
In 2025, Unilever acquired Dr. Squatch for $1.5 billion, expanding its men’s personal care portfolio. The American brand’s direct-to-consumer model and subscription-based approach complement Unilever’s existing offerings. Additionally, the company purchased Wild, a UK-based refillable personal care brand, marking a strategic move into sustainable and eco-friendly products.
The acquisition of K18 Hair in February 2025 strengthened Unilever’s premium biotech haircare segment. This purchase aligns with the company’s strategy of targeting high-growth beauty and wellbeing spaces. Similar to competitors like Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever focuses on brands with strong innovation pipelines.
In January 2025, Hindustan Unilever Limited acquired Minimalist, a fast-growing digital-first beauty brand. The actives-led science brand achieved an annual revenue run rate exceeding INR 500 crore within four years of inception. This acquisition represents Unilever’s transformation toward evolving and higher-growth demand spaces in premium beauty.
Previous significant acquisitions include Nutrafol in 2022 for a reported $1.25 billion valuation, later fully acquired in 2025 for a realized valuation of $3.5 billion. The hair wellness products company demonstrated Unilever’s willingness to invest in science-backed premium brands. Paula’s Choice acquisition in 2021 added a pioneer in digital-led skincare with science-backed products.
Liquid I.V., acquired in 2020, brought health-science nutrition and wellness products utilizing Cellular Transport Technology for enhanced hydration. The company also purchased Yasso frozen Greek yogurt brand and Onnit holistic wellness company. Historical major acquisitions include Alberto-Culver for $3.7 billion in 2010, bringing brands like TRESemmé and VO5 into the portfolio.
The company’s largest acquisition remains Best Foods in 2000 for $24.3 billion, which brought Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr soups into the portfolio. Competing with Reckitt Benckiser Group and other consumer goods giants, Unilever continues balancing acquisitions with strategic divestitures. The company sold its Russian business to Arnest Group, The Vegetarian Butcher to Vivera, and is preparing to separate its ice cream division by end of 2025.
Unilever NV Competitors
Unilever NV faces intense competition from multinational consumer goods companies across its diverse product portfolio. The primary competitors operate in overlapping categories including personal care, home care, food, and beverages, creating a highly competitive global marketplace.
Procter & Gamble remains Unilever’s most significant competitor, with similar product portfolios spanning household care, personal care, and beauty products. The two companies have competed for over a century in categories like laundry detergents, shampoos, and skincare products.
| Competitor | Primary Categories | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Procter & Gamble | Personal Care, Home Care, Beauty | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Nestlé | Food, Beverages, Nutrition | Vevey, Switzerland |
| Johnson & Johnson | Personal Care, Healthcare | New Brunswick, New Jersey |
| Colgate-Palmolive | Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care | New York, New York |
| Reckitt Benckiser | Health, Hygiene, Home Products | Slough, United Kingdom |
| L’Oréal | Beauty, Cosmetics, Personal Care | Clichy, France |
| Danone | Dairy, Waters, Nutrition | Paris, France |
| The Estée Lauder Companies | Prestige Beauty, Skincare | New York, New York |
| Kimberly-Clark | Personal Care, Hygiene Products | Irving, Texas |
| Mondelez International | Snacks, Confectionery | Chicago, Illinois |
FAQs
What does Unilever NV produce?
Unilever NV produces fast-moving consumer goods across four segments: Personal Care products like Dove and Vaseline, Foods including Hellmann’s and Knorr, Refreshment items like ice cream and tea, and Home Care products including laundry detergents and cleaning supplies.
When was Unilever founded?
Unilever was officially founded on January 1, 1930, through the merger of British soap maker Lever Brothers and Dutch Margarine Unie. Lever Brothers itself was established in 1885 by William Hesketh Lever in Warrington, England.
Where is Unilever NV headquartered?
Unilever NV is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The company maintains a dual structure with Unilever PLC based in London, United Kingdom, though both entities operate as a single business with unified management.
What is Unilever market capitalization in 2025?
Unilever NV market capitalization stands at approximately $157 billion as of October 2025. This valuation makes it the 132nd most valuable publicly traded company globally, with shares listed on London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam, and New York Stock Exchange.
Who are Unilever biggest competitors?
Unilever’s primary competitors include Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate-Palmolive, Reckitt Benckiser, L’Oréal, Danone, and Kimberly-Clark across various consumer goods categories.