How food shaped Unilever for nearly a century

Core Insights - Unilever has agreed to separate its food unit, which includes brands like Knorr and Hellmann's, and merge it with McCormick in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $44.8 billion [1][2] - This transaction signifies the end of an era for Unilever, which has roots in the food business dating back to 1860 [2] - Unilever will retain a 9% stake in the newly formed entity but plans to divest this stake one year after the deal closes [2] Company Evolution - The merger highlights Unilever's transformation from a soap-and-margarine company to the world's second-largest packaged food company, following Nestle [2]