Unilever at a glance
Key facts
- In 2008 our worldwide turnover was €40.5 billion
- We employ 174 000 people in around 100 countries worldwide
- Every day, 160 million people choose our brands to feed their families and to clean themselves and their homes
- Our strong portfolio of foods, home and personal care brands is trusted by consumers the world over. Among them, the top 25 brands account for over 70% of our sales
- We have thirteen €1bn brands: Axe/Lynx, Knorr, Becel/ Flora, Hellmann's, Lipton, Omo, Surf, Lux, Dove, Blue Band/Rama, Sunsilk, Rexona and our Heartbrand ice creams
- In 2008 we invested €927 million in research and development, for example in opening new Centres of Excellence for product research and development in Italy, Poland and the UK
- We are the global market leader in all the Food categories in which we operate: Savoury and Dressings, Spreads, Weight Management, Tea, and Ice Cream
- We are also global market leader in Skin and Deodorants, and have very strong positions in other Home and Personal Care categories
- In 2008 we invested €91 million on community projects worldwide
- We have 270 manufacturing sites across six continents, all of which strive for improved performance on safety, efficiency, quality and environmental impacts, working to global Unilever standards and management systems
