Hullwebs History of Hull
Reckitt & Coleman's Chronology
One of Hull's major employers for many years, the Reckitt Beckiser company has had a mojor effect on the people of Hull and the growth of the City itself.
| 1814 | Jeremiah Colman begins milling flour and mustard in Norwich, UK. Diversifies mid-century into starch, wheat flour and laundry blue. |
| 1823 | Founding of Benckiser by Johann A. Benckiser. Core business derived from industrial chemicals. |
| 1840 | Isaac Reckitt rents, then subsequently (in 1848) buys a starch mill in Hull, diversifies into other household products, becoming renowned for starch, washing blue and black lead for polishing His four sons take over after his death. (Reckitt's history page). |
| 1886 | Reckitt & Sons begins its expansion and opens businesses around the world - the first in Australia. |
| 1888 | Reckitt & Sons is launched on the London Stock Exchange. |
| 1904 | Hull's Garden Village was inaugurated by Sir James Reckitt, Bart. |
| 1912 | Lehn & Fink Products begins US production of Lysol - originally imported from Germany |
| 1913 | Joint venture set up in South America between Reckitt & Sons and J&J Colman - Atlantis Ltd. So successful that it is extended, in 1921, to cover all trading outside U.K. |
| 1913 | In the UK, Reckitt & Sons join the Mason brothers in forming the Chiswick Polish Company. Diversification into other branded household products continues through the war years and the Twenties. |
| 1933 | A major breakthrough for Reckitt & Sons,
with the decision to market a germicide, Dettol, endorsed by the medical
profession. |
| 1913 | Reckitt & Sons merge with J&J Colman to become Reckitt & Colman Ltd |
| 1933 | The Chiswick Polish Company merges with Reckitt & Colman Ltd. |
| 1938 | Benckiser diversifies into consumer goods and industrial cleaning products. In the same year, Benckiser launches Calgon water softener |
| 1954 | Benckiser develops and launches Calgonit Automatic Dishwashing Detergent and Quanto Fabric Softener in 1966. |
| 1956 | Benckiser continues its expansion into consumer goods via acquisitions and divestitures and in 1985 acquires St. Marc S.A, France |
| 1964 | Reckitt & Colman buys Airwick products |
| 1982 | Benckiser purchases Mira Lanza Spa and Panigal Spa, Italy |
| 1989 | Benckiser acquires S.A. Camp Group, Spain |
| 1990 | Reckitt & Colman acquire Boyle-Midway, the American household products group with brands Woolite, Easy-Off, Sani-Flush, Wizard and Old English. |
| 1990 | Benckiser acquires worldwide branded business of Beecham Household Products in US and Canada. |
| 1991 | Benckiser begins expansion into Eastern Europe |
| 1994 | Reckitt & Colman acquires Lehn & Fink Products, including Lysol, the famous household disinfectant brand in the USA |
| 1995 | Reckitt & Colman sells the Colman’s food business |
| 1996 | Benckiser continues its expansion into the Baltic countries, Belorussia, China, Israel |
| 1999 | Reckitt & Colman plc and Benckiser N.V. merge to become Reckitt Benckiser plc – The world no.1 in household cleaning |
| 2000 | In November, Reckitt Benckiser acquires Tiga Roda - an Indonesian pest control business |
| 2001 | March - RB acquires Oxy, a leading household business in Korea |
| 2001 | April - RB disposes of (non-core) firelighter business |
| 2001 | August - RB disposes of Dr. Becher, a non-core business |
| 2002 | Reckitt Benckiser acquires outstanding minority interest in India and Sri Lanka |
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