
Rejuvenating RB
Full report pdfChief Executive’s statement
Reinvigorating performance
It’s been a complex year for RB, but we’ve made our way through it successfully by taking important decisions about our future and making good financial progress.
In Hygiene Home, we achieved volume and price/mix growth, gaining momentum throughout the year-to-end with good volume growth. Our Health business had a much more difficult 2019, but also finished the year positively.
We operate in strong, structural growth categories. Our outstanding collection of trusted market-leading brands are benefitting from the tailwinds of global mega trends.
By following a clear strategy and investing in capabilities at scale, we’re positioned to achieve faster, sustainable growth and significant value creation in the new decade.
For an overview of our 2019 performance, financial highlights and strategy, scroll through this page or click here to download the full 2019 Annual Report.
We have an amazing 200-year heritage that we are proud of. We have strong positions in attractive categories and markets with global scale and reach.
We have a clear strategy, anchored in purpose to rejuvenate growth.
Laxman Narasimhan Ceo
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A consumer-centric organisation
RB is now made up of 3 category-focused global business units:
- Hygiene
- Health
- Nutrition
dRB will be linked to Greater China integrated business. Each business unit is supported by Global Functions and Centres of Excellence
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Business model
Our focus on sustainable value creation
Our enablers
Our people and culture
We employ outstanding people who work in a unique culture that harnesses their passion and allows them to make a real difference.
Our key brands
We have a portfolio of global leading brands and other ‘local hero’ brands that offer faster growth and higher margins. Disruptive, ‘rocket’ brands redefine and extend the spaces in which we operate.
Our knowledge and skills
We have deep consumer understanding, proven R&D and innovation capabilities and an agile organisation, which gets products to markets fast.
Our relationships
We develop strong, trusted relationships with our customers, consumers, suppliers and communities. We access and develop networks and partnerships that extend our impact.
Our infrastructure
Our business is underpinned by strong manufacturing sites, R&D laboratories, centresof excellence and logistics centres.
Our financial strength
Shareholders’ equity, debt and retained profit give us the financial resources to implement our strategy.
Global trends
Urbanisation and global warming
Dense populations in warmer regions drive demand for good hygiene as the foundation for health.
Demographics
Growing, ageing populations are increasing demand for nutrition solutions.
Sexual health
Sexual wellbeing is a growing priority as more young people reach adulthood.
Growth in self-care
As public health systems come under pressure, self-care has a vital role.
Technology
Technologically savvy consumers want personalised solutions. Data spurs innovation and creates space for disruption.
Our purpose
Today, our brands like Dettol, Lysol, Harpic, Finish, Durex, Mucinex, Enfamil and Move Free, among others, fight at the frontlines to give our consumers a better life. Why we exist – our purpose, our soul – is clear.
Each word matters. They speak to our portfolio and the categories in which we play. Relentless pursuit captures RB’s entrepreneurial and can-do spirit, all in service of creating a cleaner, healthier world.
Our fight
Our Company is inspired by the fight of making access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right, not a privilege.
Access has multiple platforms: quality products that are available, with attractive price points, along with awareness and advocacy, are all part of how we make high quality accessible.
Our brands will over-index on social with intentionality. But while doing so, we will redouble our focus through our brands on reducing, recycling or reusing plastics, reducing our water footprint and meet our science-based carbon reduction categories
We aim to respond to trends and underserved needs within growing consumer markets, helping to tackle important global issues and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Our compass
Our compass sets out the new values and behaviours for our business. At it’s heart is the goal of always doing the right thing with clear principles around putting consumers and people first, seeking out new opportunities, striving for excellence and building a culture of shared success. Our compass will guide us to sustainable growth in the future.

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A focused portfolio of trusted brands
We own, build and acquire high-quality, trusted brands within our chosen categories of hygiene, health and nutrition. We address environmental impacts and advance important social objectives through our brands.

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A consumer-centric organisation
3 category-focused global business units:
- Hygiene
- Health
- Nutrition

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A virtuous circle of growth

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The value we create
Consumers
Consumers receive innovative, safe and high-quality products, which help them live cleaner, healthier lives.
Shareholders
Shareholders benefit from strong operational and financial performance, resulting in attractive returns via dividends and longterm share price appreciation.
Customers
Bricks and mortar and e-commerce customers gain from selling our leading brands, growing our categories and driving customer value in relevant channels.
People
RB provides exciting and challenging careers, with excellent rewards for outstanding performance.
Communities
Our products and social programmes lead to improved health and hygiene standards.
Environment
We recognise the impact we have on the environment we share with others. We are working to reduce our impact by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions we create, contributing to reducing global warming and climate change.
Our purpose drives our performance
RB is inspired by the fight to make access to high-quality hygiene, health and wellness a right not a privilege. We’re driven by a strong sense of purpose – to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. By learning from each of our stakeholder relationships, we’re able to perform better and deliver more.
Serving our consumers
Consumers buy brands they trust. They expect these to be safe, effective, sustainable and fairly-priced. Increasingly they also want them to be responsibly sourced and kinder to the environment. These people are our lifeblood. We work hard to earn their trust with products that make a difference to their lives.
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Download this section in fullConnecting with our customers
We align ourselves with our customers’ interests through a shared sense of purpose. We manage relationships with major customers centrally, engaging with them at multiple different levels. We collaborate closely to meet shared strategic objectives and focus on operational performance and execution at a local level.
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Download this section in fullEmpowering our people
We are fighting to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right and not a privilege. For everyone. Everywhere. It’s a big ambition and we’re determined to make it happen. To achieve this we give our people the opportunity to own their careers and make a real difference. We call this ‘Freedom to Succeed’
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Download this section in fullForging links with partners
We work with our partners to deliver solutions that will create a cleaner, healthier world. Together, we build resilient global supply chains and forge purposeful alliances that link with our categories and brands. We also take part in local and global campaigns for the good of society and the environment.
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By investing in communities and programmes through our brands, we’re bringing our purpose to life at scale. We’ve learned that even small, everyday changes can make a difference that lasts a lifetime. Whether as individuals and or as a business, we do better when society is lifted by progress.
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Download this section in fullSafeguarding the future
Consumers expect brands and the companies behind them to address global environmental challenges. We must be part of the solution, not part of the problem. As a responsible business, we must tackle the key issues and safeguard the future.