Organization Profile

ORGANIZATION PROFILE
1.1. History of the Organization
Fig 1. Logo of Reckitt Benckiser Company

Reckitt Benckiser plc is a British multinational consumer goods company headquartered
in Slough, United Kingdom. It is a major producer of health, hygiene and home products. It
was formed in 1999 by the merger of the UK-based Reckitt & Colman plc and the
Netherlands-based Benckiser NV.
Reckitt Benckiser's brands include Dettol (the world's largest-selling antiseptic), Strepsils (the
world's largest-selling sore throat medicine), Veet (the world's largest-selling depilatory
brand), Air Wick (the world's second-largest-selling air freshener), Calgon, Clearasil, Cillit
Bang, Durex, Lysol, and Vanish. It has operations in around 60 countries and its products are
sold in almost 200 countries. it is the global No 1 or No 2 in the majority of its categories.
Reckitt Benckiser is in the top 25 of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a
constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It had a market capitalization of approximately
£31.6 billion as of 13 February 2013.
Origins
Reckitt & Colman

Colman's was founded in 1814 when Jeremiah Colman began milling flour and mustard
in Norwich, England. Reckitt & Sons started in 1840 when Isaac Reckitt rented a starch mill
in Hull, England. He diversified into other household products and in due course passed on
his business to his four sons. Reckitt & Sons was first listed on the London Stock Exchange
in 1888. In 1938 Reckitt & Sons merged with J&J Colman to become Reckitt & Colman Ltd.
The company made several acquisitions, including the Airwick and Carpet Fresh brands
(1985), the Boyle-Midway division of American Home Products (1990), and the Lehn &
Fink division of Sterling Drug (1994). Reckitt & Colman sold the Colman's food business in
1995.
Benckiser
Johann A. Benckiser founded a business in Germany in 1823. Its main products were
industrial chemicals. Benckiser went public in 1997.
The company was formed by a merger between Britain's Reckitt & Colman plc and the Dutch
company Benckiser NV in December 1999. Bart Becht became CEO of the new company
and has been credited for its transformation, focusing on core brands and improving
efficiency in the supply chain. The new management team's strategy of "innovation
marketing". – a combination of increased marketing spend and product innovation, focusing
on consumer needs – has been linked to the company's ongoing success. For example, in
2008, the company's "rapid succession of well published new product variants" were credited
for helping them "to capture shoppers' imagination" Business Week has also noted that "40%
of Reckitt Benckiser's $10.5 billion in 2007 revenues came from products launched within
the previous three years."
In October 2005, Reckitt Benckiser agreed to purchase the over-the-counter drugs
manufacturing business of Boots Group, Boots Healthcare International, for £1.9 billion. The
three main brands acquired were Nurofen's analgesics, Strepsils sore throat lozenges,
and Clearasil anti-acne treatments. In January 2008, Reckitt Benckiser acquired Adams
Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, for $2.3 billion; one of the major
brands acquired was Mucinex. In July 2010, Reckitt Benckiser agreed to buy SSL
International, the makers of Durex condoms and Scholl's footcare products, in a £2.5 billion
deal.
On 27 August 2011, Reckitt Benckiser recalled all remaining stock of its major analgesic
product, Nurofen Plus, after packs were found to contain an antipsychotic drug. It turned out
that this was the work of a codeine addict who had been stealing the pills and replacing them
with his antipsychotic medication.
In April 2011, Bart Becht announced he was to retire as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser and would
be replaced from September 2011 by executive vice president of Category
Development, Rakesh Kapoor, who had played a key role in recent acquisitions.
In November 2012, Reckitt Benckiser agreed to acquire Schiff Nutrition, a United States-
based manufacturer of vitamins and nutritional supplements, for US$1.4 billion (£877
million)
Operations
Reckitt Benckiser is headquartered in Slough, United Kingdom, and has operations in around
60 countries. Its products are sold in nearly 200 countries.
The company runs a number of graduate programmers, in most of its markets, with over 200
graduates joining the schemes worldwide. Once hired, graduates tend to work for a couple of
years as a trainee in the country in which they were originally employed, followed by a
posting overseas for those who have excelled during initial training. Graduate trainees start
off in one of the firm's business areas—marketing and sales, supply chain, research and
development, and information systems.
Vision And Mission

• Our vision
• is a world where people are healthier and live better
• Our Mission
• is to make a difference by giving people innovative
solutions for healthier lives and happier homes. This
means we are expanding our capabilities and investing in
innovation to stay ahead of the game
Reckitt Benckiser plc
Type Public LSE: RB
Founded 1814,1938 by merger of Reckitt & Sons and J&J Colman.
1999 by merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser.
Headquarters Slough, England, UK
Key people Adrian Bellamy (Chairman)
Bart Becht (CEO)
Colin Day (CFO)
Industry Chemicals
Products Cleaning products, healthcare, condiments
Revenue £5,3 billion (2007)
Operating income £1,2 billion (2007)
Net income £938 million (2007)
Employees 21,900 (2006)
Website www.reckittbenckiser.com

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ORGANIZATION PROFILE

1.1. History of the Organization

Fig 1. Logo of Reckitt Benckiser Company

Reckitt & Colman

Vision And Mission

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