Unilever
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2008-07-16T15:01:51Z
Jauerback
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/98.97.193.198|98.97.193.198]] ([[User talk:98.97.193.198|talk]]) to last version by Chrisjj
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Unilever|
company_logo = [[Image:Unilever.svg|100px]]
|
company_type = [[Public company|Public]]<br>({{Euronext|UNA}})<br>({{lse|ULVR}})<br>({{nyse|UN}})|
company_slogan = |
foundation = Merger of [[Lever Brothers]] and [[Margarine Unie]] in 1930|
location = {{flagicon|UK}} [[London]]<br>{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Rotterdam]]|
area_served = [[Worldwide]]|
key_people = [[Michael Treschow]]<br><small>([[Chair (official)|Chairman]])</small><br>[[Lord Simon of Highbury]]<br><small>([[Chair (official)|Vice Chairman]])</small><br>[[Patrick Cescau]]<br><small>([[CEO]])</small> |
num_employees = 174 000 (''[[2008]]'')|
industry = [[Conglomerate (company)|Conglomerate]]|
market cap = [[Euro|€]] 50.07 Billion (''[[2008]]'')|
products = [[#Brands|See brands listing]]|
revenue = {{profit}} [[Euro|€]] 40.187 Billion (''[[2007]]'')|
operating_income= {{loss}} [[Euro|€]] 5.245 Billion (''[[2007]]'')|
net_income = {{loss}} [[Euro|€]] 4.136 Billion (''[[2007]]'')|
assets = {{increase}} [[Euro|€]] 9.928 Billion (''[[2007]]'')|
equity = {{increase}} [[Euro|€]] 12.819 Billion (''[[2007]]'')|
homepage = [http://www.unilever.com/ Unilever.com]
}}
'''Unilever''' is a [[multi-national corporation]], formed of [[United Kingdom|Anglo]]-[[Netherlands|Dutch]] parentage that owns many of the world's [[consumer product]] [[brand names|brands]] in [[food]]s, [[beverage]]s, [[cleaning agent]]s and [[personal care products]]. Unilever employs nearly 180,000 people<ref>[http://www.unilever.com/ourcompany/aboutunilever/introducingunilever/unileverataglance.asp Unilever at a glance: Key facts] 2007-05-06</ref> and had a worldwide revenue of almost [[Euro|€]]40 billion, or just over [[United States dollar|US$]]62 billion, in 2005.
Unilever is a [[dual-listed company]] consisting of Unilever NV in [[Rotterdam]] and Unilever PLC in [[London]]. This arrangement is similar to that of [[Reed Elsevier]], and that of [[Royal Dutch Shell]] prior to their unified structure. Both Unilever companies have the same directors and effectively operate as a single business. The current non-executive Chairman of Unilever N.V. and PLC is [[Michael Treschow]] while Patrick Cescau is Group Chief Executive. The company is widely listed on the world's stock exchanges<ref>[http://www.euronext.com/quicksearch/resultquicksearch-2986-EN.html?matchpattern=UNA&searchTarget=quote&path=%2Fquicksearch&fromsearchbox=true&productFamily=&submit.x=12&submit.y=11|NYSA Euronext.com]</ref> <ref>[http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/prices/Trigger/genericsearch.htm?bsg=true&ns=ULVR%7cLSA londonstockexchange.com]</ref>.
Unilever's major competitors include [[Procter & Gamble]], [[Nestlé]], [[Kraft Foods]], [[Mars Incorporated]], [[Reckitt Benckiser]] and [[Henkel]].
==History==
Unilever was created in 1930 by the merger of British [[soap]]maker ''[[Lever Brothers]]'' and Dutch [[margarine]] producer ''[[Margarine Unie]]'', a logical merger as [[palm oil]] was a major raw material for both margarines and soaps and could be imported more efficiently in larger quantities.
In the 1930s the business of Unilever grew and new ventures were launched in [[Latin America]]. In 1972, Unilever purchased [[A&W (Canada)|A&W Restaurants']] Canadian division but sold its shares through a management buyout to former A&W Food Services of Canada CEO Jeffrey Mooney in July 1995 [http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/awhistca/]. By 1980 soap and edible fats contributed just 40% of profits, compared with an original 90%. In 1984 the company bought the brand [[Brooke Bond]] (maker of [[PG Tips]] tea). ,
In 1987 Unilever strengthened its position in the world skin care market by acquiring Chesebrough-Ponds, the maker of [[Ragú]], [[Pond's Creams|Pond's]], Aqua-Net, Cutex Nail Polish, [[Pepsodent]] toothpaste, and [[Vaseline]]. In 1989 Unilever bought Calvin Klein Cosmetics, [[Fabergé (cosmetics)|Fabergé]], and [[Elizabeth Arden]], but the latter was later sold (in 2000) to [[FFI Fragrances]]. <ref>New York Times, February 15, 1996 "Unilever Agrees to Buy Helene Curtis".</ref>
In 1996, Unilever purchased Helene Curtis Industries, giving the company "a powerful new presence in the United States shampoo and deodorant market". <ref>New York Times, February 15, 1996 "Unilever Agrees to Buy Helene Curtis".</ref> The purchase brought Unilever the Suave and Finesse hair-care product brands and Degree deodorant brand. <ref>Id.</ref>
In 2000 the company absorbed the [[United States|American]] business [[Best Foods]], strengthening its presence in North America and extending its portfolio of foods brands. In a single day in April 2000, it bought, ironically, both [[Ben & Jerry's]], known for its calorie-rich ice creams, and [[Slim Fast]].
Today the company is fully multinational with operating companies and factories on every continent and research laboratories at [[Colworth House|Colworth]] and [[Port Sunlight]] in [[England]]; [[Vlaardingen]] in the [[Netherlands]]; [[Trumbull, Connecticut]], and [[Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey]] in the [[United States]]; [[Bangalore]] in [[India]] (see also [[Hindustan Unilever Limited]]); [[Pakistan]]; and [[Shanghai]] in [[China]].
The US division continued to carry the [[Lever Brothers]] name until the 1990s, when it adopted the parent company's moniker. The American unit is now headquartered in New Jersey, and no longer maintains a presence at [[Lever House]], the iconic skyscraper on [[Park Avenue (Manhattan)|Park Avenue]] in [[New York City]].
Unilever has recently started a five year vitality company initiative in which it began to converge the marketing of disparate arms of their business, including personal care, dieting, and consumables into an umbrella function displaying the breadth of their contributions to personal vitality. This plan has been implemented because of the lack of brand recognition that Unilever wields, even despite its ubiquitous presence. In 2006, it concluded with the sell off of the global frozen foods division, excluding the ice cream business and the Italian frozen vegetables businesses.
[[Image:LiptonRAKericho.jpg|thumb|right|Unilever's Lipton brand certified by the Rainforest Alliance|200px]]
The company publicly professes to take a strong stance on [[sustainability]], as stated by its [[CEO]], [[Patrick Cescau]]<ref> [http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=5110 Ethical Corporation article] </ref>. The company started a [[sustainable agriculture]] programme in 1998<ref>[http://www.unilever.com/ourvalues/environment-society/sus-dev-report/integrating-sustainability/sustainable-agriculture/default.asp Unilever's sustainable agriculture programme]</ref>. In May 2007, it became the first tea company to commit to sourcing all its tea in a sustainable manner<ref> [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070525-0857-tea-unilever-sustainable.html San Diego Times]</ref>, asking the [[Rainforest Alliance]], an international environmental [[NGO]], to start certifying tea estates in East Africa. It declared its aim to have all [[Lipton]] Yellow Label and [[PG Tips]] [[tea]] bags sold in Western Europe certified by 2010, followed by all Lipton tea bags globally by 2015<ref>[http://www.unilever.com/ourcompany/newsandmedia/pressreleases/2007/sustainable-tea-sourcing.asp Unilever press release]</ref>.
Covalence, an ethical reputation ranking agency, placed Unilever at the top of its ranking based on positive versus negative news coverage for 2007<ref>[http://www.covalence.ch/docs/CovalenceEthicalRanking2007_PressRelease_02.01.2008.pdf Covalence Ethical Ranking 2007 Press Release, 2 January 2008]</ref>.
In 2008 Unilever was honored at the 59th Annual [[Technology & Engineering Emmy Award]]s for Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for Creation and Distribution of Interactive Commercial Advertising Delivered Through Digital Set Top Boxes for its program ''Axe: Boost Your ESP.''
==Corporate governance==
Unilever's highest executive body is called the Unilever Executive which is led by the Group Chief Executive ([[Patrick Cescau]]). It is responsible for delivering profit and growth across the company.
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Members of the Unilever Executive include:
*[[Patrick Cescau]] (Group Chief Executive)
*[[Vindi Banga]] (President Categories)
*[[Doug Baillie]] (President Western Europe)
*[[Harish Manwani]] (President Asia,Africa, Central & Eastern Europe)
*[[Jim Lawrence]] (Chief Financial Officer)
*[[Sandy Ogg]] (Chief HR Officer)
*[[Michael B. Polk]] (President Americas)
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Executive and non-executive [[board of directors|directors]] at Unilever are:
*[[Michael Treschow]]
*Professor [[Geneviève Berger]]
*[[The Rt. Hon. The Lord Brittan of Spennithorne, QC]]
*[[Wim Dik]]
*[[Charles E. Golden]]
*[[Kees J. Storm]]
*[[Jeroen van der Veer]]
*[[Byron E. Grote]]
*[[Hixonia Nyasulu]]
*[[N. R. Narayana Murthy]]
*[[Lord Simon of Highbury]] [[CBE]]
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Unilever is currently focusing on 400 brands in a bid to increase its profits by reducing the variety, and therefore cost, of advertising and packaging.
==Brands==
After some recent purges, Unilever now owns about 400 brands, many of them local that can only be found in certain countries. The brands fall almost entirely into two categories: Food and Beverages, and Home and Personal Care.
====Food and beverages====
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*[[Ades]] or [[Adez]] — soya-based drinks
*[[Alsa (dessert)|Alsa]] — desserts and syrups
*[[Amora (Company)|Amora]] — French mayonnaise and dressings
*[[Annapurna (brand)|Annapurna]] — salt and wheat flour (India)
*[[Becel]] — also known as Flora/Promise; health-aware: margarine, spreads, cooking oil, milk, fermented milk
*[[Ben and Jerry's]] — ice cream
*[[Best Foods]] — mayonnaise, sandwich spreads, peanut butter and salad dressings
*[[Bertolli]] — pasta sauces and olive oil (ambient/chilled & frozen)
*[[BiFi (snack)|Bifi]] — a mini salami
*[[Blue Band]] — family-aware: margarine, bread, cream alternatives
*[[Bovril]] — beef extract
*[[Breyers]] — ice cream
*[[Brooke Bond]] — tea
*[[Bru]] — [[instant coffee]] (India)
*[[Brummel & Brown]] — margarine
*[[Bushells]] — tea (Australia, New Zealand)
*[[Calvé]] — sauces, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, peanut butter
*[[Capitan Findus]] — children's frozen food
*[[Conimex]] — [[Asia]]n spices (Netherlands)
*[[Colman's]] — mustard
*[[Continental (Brand)|Continental]] — side dishes
*[[Country Crock]] — margarine
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*[[Du Darfst]] (Germany)
*[[Elmlea]] — Pourable cream available in different varieties (UK)
*[[Fanacoa]] — Mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup (Argentina)
*[[Findus]] — frozen foods (Italy, UK, Scandinavia)
*[[Flora (margarine)|Flora]] — margarine, light butter, jams
*[[Fruco]] — ketchup, mayonnaise and condiments
*[[Fudgsicle]]
*[[Gallo]] — [[olive oil]]
*[[Unilever#Heartbrand|Heartbrand]] — ice cream (umbrella logo)
*[[Hellmann's]] — [[mayonnaise]]
*[[I Can't Believe It's Not Butter]] — margarine spread
*[[Imperial Margarine]] — margarine
*[[Jif (lemon juice)|Jif]] Lemon & Lime Juice
*[[Karo]] — syrups
*[[Kecap Bango]] — [[soya sauce]] in Indonesia
*[[Kissan]] — Ketchups Squashes and Jams (India and Pakistan)
*[[Klondike_bar|Klondike]] — Ice cream sandwiches
*[[Knorr (brand)|Knorr]] (Knorr-Suiza in Argentina) — sauces, stock cubes, ready-meals, meal kits, ready-soups, frozen food range
*[[Lady's Choice]] — mayonnaise, peanut butter and sandwich spreads (Philippines)
*[[Lan-Choo]] — tea (Australia/New Zealand)
*[[Lao Cai]] Seasoning
*[[Lawry's]] and Adolph's
*[[Lipton]] — tea
*[[Lipton Ice Tea]] — ready-to-drink tea (partnership with [[PepsiCo]])
*[[Maille (Company)|Maille]] — French mustard
*[[Maizena]] — corn starch
*[[Mazola]] — edible oils
*[[Marmite]] — yeast extract spread (except in Australia and New Zealand)
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*[[McCollins (tea)|McCollins]] — tea ([[Peru]])
*[[Mrs. Filbert's]] — margarine (USA)
*[[Paddle pop]] — Icecream (Australia)
*[[Pfanni]] — Bavarian potato mixes
*[[Peperami]]
*[[PG Tips]] — tea (UK)
*[[Phase]] — cooking oil
*[[Planta]] — margarine
*[[Popsicle]] — Frozen treats
*[[Pot Noodle]] — cup noodles
*[[Becel|Promise]] — Becel/Flora
*[[Ragú]] — pasta sauces
*[[Rama (brand)|Rama]] — margarine
*[[Royal pasta|Royal]] — pastas (Philippines)
*[[Royco]] — stock cubes, non-MSG stock (only in Indonesia)
*[[Red Rose Tea]] — tea (Canada)
*[[Sana (margarine brand)|Sana]] — Margarine (Turkey)
*[[Saga tea|Saga]] — tea (Poland)
*[[Sariwangi]] — tea (Indonesia)
*[[Scottish Blend]] — tea
*[[Skippy peanut butter|Skippy]] — peanut butter
*[[Slim Fast|Slim·Fast]] — diet products
*[[Sunlight Soap]] (Africa)
*[[Stork margarine]]
*[[Streets (ice cream)]] (Australia/New Zealand)
*[[Turun sinappi]] — mustard (Finland/Sweden)
*[[Unilever Foodsolutions]] — professional markets (food service)
*[[Unox]] — soups, smoked sausages
*[[Vaqueiro]] — cooking margarine, cooking oil
*[[Wish-Bone salad dressing]]
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=====Heartbrand=====<!-- This section is linked from [[Unilever]] -->
[[Image:Algida.jpg|thumb|left|200px|An ice cream menu from Unilever's Italian subsidiary Algida.]]
[[Image:Old heartbrand.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Algida's old logo]]
Unilever is the world's biggest ice cream manufacturer, with an annual turnover of €5 billion<ref name="heartbrand">{{cite web |url=http://www.unileverbestfoods.com/ourbrands/foods/Heartbrand.asp |publisher=Unilever |title=Unilever Heartbrand |accessdate=2006-09-08}}</ref>. Except for [[Breyers]] and [[Ben & Jerry's]], all its ice cream business is done under the "Heartbrand" brand umbrella, so called because of its heart-shaped logo. Unilever currently operates eleven ice cream factories in Europe; the biggest include factories at Heppenheim in Germany, Caivano in Italy, St. Dizier in France and Gloucester in the United Kingdom.
The Heartbrand was launched in 1999 (and slightly modified in 2002) as an effort to increase international brand awareness and promote cross-border synergies in manufacturing and marketing ("centralisation"). It is present in more than 40 countries<ref name="heartbrand" />. Although the logo is common worldwide, each country retained the local brand so as to keep the familiarity built over the years, one notable exception being Hungary where the previous Eskimo brand has been replaced with Algida in 2003.
[[Image:A to Z Strauss Freezer.JPG|150px|thumb|right|A freezer in Queens, NY filled with Strauss ice cream from Israel with the Heartbrand]]
In 2005, [[Strauss (company)|Glidat Strauss]] received special permission from Unilever to export their brand of ice cream to the United States because of the strict kosher certification the products in [[Israel]] have. Under terms of the agreement, Strauss ice cream and [[krembo]] may be sold only in kosher supermarkets and import shops. It is distributed in North America by Dairy Delight, a subsidiary of Norman's Dairy.
Partial list of national brands:
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* Algida - [[Greece]], [[Cyprus]], [[Hungary]], [[Italy]], [[Slovenia]], [[Turkey]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], [[Poland]], [[Malta]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]
* Bresler - [[Chile]]
* Cargills - [[Sri Lanka]]
* Eskimo - [[Austria]]
* Frigo - [[Spain]], [[Serbia]]
* Frisko - [[Denmark]]
* [[GB Glace]] - [[Sweden]], [[Finland]]
* [[Strauss (company)|Glidat Strauss]] - [[Israel]], [[United States|USA]]
* [[Good Humor]] - [[USA]], [[Canada]]
* [[HB (Unilever)|HB]] - [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
* Helados La Fuente - [[Colombia]]
* Hertog Ola - [[Netherlands]] (selected products)
* 和路雪 - [[China]], [[Hong Kong]]
* Holanda - [[Mexico]], [[Central America]]
* [[Kibon]] - [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]]
* [[Kwality Wall's]] - [[India]]
* [[Langnese]] - [[Germany]]
* Lusso - [[Switzerland]]
* Miko - [[France]]
* [[Ola]] - [[Belgium]], [[Netherlands]], [[South Africa]]
* Olá - [[Portugal]]
* [http://www.elempleo.com/Sitios_empresariales/unilever/ECUADOR/index.asp Pingüino] - [[Ecuador]]
* [[Selecta]] - [[Philippines]]
* [[Streets (ice cream)|Streets]] - [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] (slogan 'Nothing Beats Streets')<ref>[http://www.streets.com.au/index.asp?flash=yes&screenW=1024&screenH=768&flashV=WIN%209,0,28,0 Streets Ice Cream]</ref>
* Tio Rico - [[Venezuela]]
* [[Wall's ice cream|Wall's]] - [[United Kingdom]] ([[Great Britain]]), [[Singapore]], [[Indonesia]], [[Pakistan]], [[Malaysia]],[[Thailand]] and other parts of [[Asia]]
* [[Wall's HB]] - United Kingdom ([[Northern Ireland]])
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Prior to the heart logo, each country could choose its own logo, although the most common one consisted of a blue circle with the local brand's name over a background of red and white stripes; second most common old logo, used by Wall's in the UK and other countries, was a yellow logo with Wall's in blue text.
Unilever generally manufactures the same ice-cream with the same names, with rare occasions of regional availability, under different brands. Some of these ice-creams include Carte D'Or, [[Cornetto (ice-cream)|Cornetto]], [[Magnum (ice cream)|Magnum]], [[Solero]] and [[Viennetta]].
====Home and personal care brands====
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* Ala - laundry detergent (Argentina-Brazil)
* [[Surf (detergent)|All]] - laundry detergent
* Andrelon
* Aviance
* [[Axe (deodorant)|Axe]] - deodorant ([[Lynx (deodorant)|Lynx]] in the UK, Ireland and Australia)
* Ayush (India)
* Baba (East Europe)
* Brilhante - laundry detergent (Brazil)
* [[Brut (cologne)|Brut]] - cologne
* Caress - soap
* [[Cif]] - cleaning
* [[Clear (shampoo)|Clear]] - anti- dandruff shampoo (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan)
* Close-Up - Toothpaste
* [[Comfort (Fabric Softener)|Comfort]]
* [[Cream Silk]] - conditioner (Philippines)
* [[Degree (deodorant)|Degree]]
* [[Domestos]]
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* [[Dove (soap)|Dove]] - skin, hair, and deodorant
* Finesse - shampoo and conditioner (sold in 2006 to Lornamead Brands, Inc.)
* Gessy (Brazil)
* Glorix
* Good Morning (Soap Egypt)
* [[Impulse (body mist)|Impulse]] - deodorant
* [[Lever 2000]]
* Lifebuoy (Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia)
* Linic - dandruff shampoo
* Lynx - deodorant, men's
* Lyso Form - home care (Italy)
* [[Lux (soap)|Lux]] - women's soap, shower gel, and lotions (Caress in the US)
* Minerva - laundry and dishwasher detergents (Brazil)
* Mist (Soap Egypt)
*[http://www.PearsInternational.com Pears Transparent Soap]
* [[Pepsodent]] - dental
* [[Persil]] (IE/UK/FR/NZ)
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* [[Pond's Creams|Pond's]]
* Q-Tips
* [[Rexona]] deodorant
* [[Rinso]]
* [[Robijn]] softener
* [[Salon Selectives]] - shampoo and conditioner (Sold in 2007 to River West Brands, Inc.)
* Sedal (known in Brazil as Seda) shampoo and conditioner
* Signal (dental care)
* SR -Dental
*Skip - laundry detergent
*[[Snuggle]] - fabric softner
* [[Suave]]
*Sun - dishwasher
*Sunil
* [[Sunlight (detergent)|Sunlight]]
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* [[Sunsilk]] - shampoo and conditioner
* [[Sure (brand)|Sure]]
* [[Surf (detergent)|Omo]] - laundry detergent
* [[Surf (detergent)|Surf]] - laundry detergent
* [[Swan Soap|Swan (defunct)]]
* Thermasilk - shampoo and conditioner
* [[Timotei]]
* [[Vaseline]] body lotion, shower gel, deodorant (Vasenol in Portugal, Brazil, Italy and Spain)
* Vibrance - shampoo and conditioner
* Vim (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan)
* Vinólia - soap (Brazil)
* Wisk - laundry detergent
* Xedex
* Zhonghua Toothpaste
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==Advertising==
Unilever is well known for memorable advertising around the globe like;
* Lynx/Axe click advert with [[Nick Lachey]]
* PG Tips Monkey and Al
* Knorr [[Chicken Tonight]], 'I feel like chicken tonight'
* Flora London Marathon
* Knorr global brand
* [[Dove Campaign for Real Beauty]], including [[Evolution (Dove)|Evolution]]
* Calve Pindakaas (peanut butter) in Holland
* Comfort Pure recommended by mothercare
* Clear Anti-Dandruff shampoo and conditioner with [[Rain (entertainer)]]
==Criticism==
Unilever's status as a large multinational has attracted a variety of criticisms from political activists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=260#cheapresources|publisher=Corporate Watch|title=Unilever Corporate Crimes|accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref> For example, it has been criticised by [[Greenpeace]] for causing [[deforestation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/contentlookup.cfm?CFID=6864301&CFTOKEN=96874361&ucidparam=20010620124942&MenuPoint=G-A | publisher=Greenpeace|title=Unilever admits toxic dumping: will clean up but not come clean|accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref> for testing products on animals by [[PETA]], and for making use of [[child labour]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaresource.org/issues/agbiotech/2003/monsantounilever.html |publisher=India Committee of the Netherlands |title=Monsanto, Unilever use Child Labour in India|accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref> among others.
Unilever is currently targeted by Greenpeace UK,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7358071.stm|title= Ape protest at Unilever factory|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-03-23}}</ref> who have criticised the company for buying [[palm oil]] from suppliers who are destroying Indonesia's rainforests. In [[Ivory Coast]], too, Unilever is clearing forest for oil palm plantation.{{fact|date=July 2008}} Activities by Unilever are currently threatening the extinction of a [[primate]] species—[[Miss Waldron's Red Colobus]] (''Piliocolobus badius waldronae'')—the last few individuals of which apparently live in a particular forest patch that is targeted for logging by an Unilever contractor.<ref>Wolzer, Chris (2008): [http://www.wildvet.at/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=193&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Tanoé Swamps Forest destruction by Unilever]. Version of 2008-MAY-28. Retrieved 2008-JUN-24.<!-- there are more detailed sources, but this seems to be the only English one that gets the taxonomy right. The most reliable sources at present would seem to be exclusively in French and German. --></ref>
According to ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', [[Hindustan Unilever]], an Indian company that is majority owned by Unilever, was forced to withdraw television advertisements for its women's [[Skin whitening|skin-lightening cream]], [[Fair and Lovely]]. Advertisements depicted depressed, dark-skinned women, who had been ignored by employers and men, suddenly finding new boyfriends and glamorous careers after the cream had lightened their skin.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/01/wskin101.xml India's hue and cry over paler skin - Telegraph<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The band [[Chumbawamba]] has a song critical of Unilever, simply named after the company.
{{main|Unilever Axe/Dove controversy}}
A recent target of criticism is the 2007 Axe/Dove marketing campaign. There has been widespread criticism of Unilever by political advocates concerning the mixed messages being sent by the [[Axe (Lynx)|Axe]] marketing campaign, which some consider sexist, and the [[Dove (brand)|Dove]] marketing campaign, which project a "caring" attitude.<ref>[http://technorati.com/tag/dove++onslaught?authority=a4&language=en dove onslaught: Blogs, Photos, Videos and more on Technorati<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.commercialexploitation.org/pressreleases/axtheaxe.htm Ax the Axe Campaign<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=773 Shaping Youth » Unilever Disrobed: Interview With Dove/Axe Mashup Artist<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Unilever's response is that the Axe campaign is intended as a spoof of 'the mating game' and "not meant to be taken literally".<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/business/media/15axe.html?_r=2&ex=1350187200&en=85b572dfe3df0e72&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Unilever Shuns Stereotypes of Women (Unless Talking to Men) - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==See also==
* [[Morris Tabaksblat]], a previous [[CEO]]
* [[Gorton's of Gloucester]], a former subsidiary
* [[Palm Line]], a former shipping company
==References==
<references/>
(Note: Some of these references have incorrect 'retrieved' dates. Those marked 'August 2007' were actually retrieved before 28th May 2007.)
==External links==
{{commonscat|Unilever}}
*[http://www.unilever.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.cjly.net/deconstructingdinner/090607.htm One-hour Radio Broadcast on Unilever - Part I (Deconstructing Dinner)]
*[http://www.cjly.net/deconstructingdinner/091307.htm One-hour Radio Broadcast on Unilever - Part II (Deconstructing Dinner)]
*[http://www.unileverfoodsolutions.com/ Foodservice website]
*[http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/ Lady Lever Art Gallery]
{{Unilever}}
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[[Category:Multinational companies|Unilever]]
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[[Category:Companies based in London]]
[[Category:Multinational food companies]]
[[Category:Dental companies]]
[[Category:Dual-listed companies]]
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[[zh:联合利华]]