Making the world cleaner and healthier since 1840

1843

George joins the company

George Reckitt, one of Isaac’s sons, joins the business at 18.

1847

Frederic – Reckitt’s first scientist

Frederic, Isaac’s eldest son, starts improving the company’s laundry starch formulations.

1848

George becomes a partner

George becomes a partner, after his success selling Soluble Starch as a travelling salesman. The company is renamed ‘Isaac Reckitt and Son’.

Francis and James join

Isaac’s two other sons join the business – Francis as a travelling salesman, and James, the youngest, as a junior clerk.

1849

Launch of first health product

The company launches a new product, invented by Frederic: “Dietetic Arrowroot”, a restorative health drink.

1851

National and international acclaim

The company’s patented starch products were displayed at the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace. The business begins to find overseas success: its adverts later in the year feature a “List of Distinctions” including “The supply of the Imperial Laundry of His Majesty the Emperor Louis Napoleon III and… His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias”.

1852

New ventures

Reckitt's Blue and Reckitt’s Black Lead were added to the considerable starch interests of the business. Francis joins George in becoming a partner in the renamed Isaac Reckitt and Sons.

1853

Continuing factory expansion

The Hull factory is extended to Dansom Lane.

1862

Death of Isaac Reckitt

Isaac dies on 7 March, at the age of 70. As well as a successful entrepreneur, he was a devoted family man, a Quaker philanthropist, and a great fighter for causes which appealed to his sense of fairness – particularly anti-slavery and free trade.

First London office

The company opens its first London office, at 40 King William Street.

1868

Thomas Ferens joins

Thomas R Ferens joins the company at the age of 20, as James Reckitt’s confidential and shorthand clerk.

Reckitt & Sons continues to grow

The company now employs 200-300 people and has six clerks.

1874

Thomas Ferens is promoted

As Works Manager, Thomas Ferens takes charge of the Blue and Blacklead Mills, the Sawmill and the Packing Room.

1886

First overseas office

Reckitt & Sons opens an office in Sydney, Australia - a long sea journey away from the company’s base in Hull.

1887

Donation of East Park

The company’s directors buy East Park and boating lake, and gift it to the people of Hull.

1888

Reckitt goes public

Reckitt & Sons Ltd. becomes a public company, with Thomas Ferens now General Manager.

Second overseas office

The company opens its second overseas branch at Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

1892

Funding for Hull's first free public library

James Reckitt funds a new library on Holderness Road. Today, the James Reckitt Library Trust manages England’s largest endowment devoted exclusively to public libraries.

1899

Launch of Robin Starch

The Robin brand will dominate the company’s starch business for many years.

1903

Support for Hull Royal Infirmary

James Reckitt funds a new wing in the Hull Royal Infirmary on Prospect Street.

1905

Launch of Brasso

Reckitt & Sons launches the UK's first liquid metal polish.

1908

Opening of Hull Garden Village

James Reckitt opens Hull’s Garden Village – a model housing development, largely funded and built by the company for its workers.

1912

Launch of Silvo

Reckitt & Sons introduces a liquid metal polish for silverware.

Reckitt & Sons continues to grow

The company now employs over 5000 people.

1914

Caring for the wounded during WW1

During World War One, the company converts its Social Hall to a military hospital, staffed by members of its own Nursing Division.

1916

The Francis Reckitt Institute opens

The company opens the Institute to provide its employees with a range of social and recreational facilities, including dining rooms offering good food at low prices.

1921

Founding of the Sir James Reckitt Charity

The Sir James Reckitt Charity is founded; it is still running today, as is the Sir James Reckitt Library Trust.

1922

Opening of company swimming baths

Thomas Ferens opens swimming baths for Reckitt & Sons employees; the pool could also be covered over and used as a dance hall.

1924

Launch of Windolene

The company launches a window polish, Windolene, which quickly gains popularity in British households.

1926

Donation for Sutton Annexe to Hull Royal Infirmary

Reckitt & Sons donates £10,000 towards the cost of the Sutton Annexe – Philip Reckitt having also donated his old house and grounds as the site.

1927

Opening of Ferens Art Gallery

Thomas Ferens donated both the land and money for the building, as well as paintings from his own collection and funds to buy new artworks.

1928

Founding of Hull University College

Thomas Ferens is the college’s major benefactor, having donated much of the land where it is built.

1932

Acquisition of Harpic

Reckitt acquires Harpic toilet cleaner from Harry Pickup – whose name was the source of several other "–pic" brandnames.

1933

Launch of Dettol

Dettol becomes Reckitt & Sons’ first pharmaceutical product, having been introduced to the medical profession the previous year.

1937

Acquisition of Steradent

The company strengthens its interests in toiletries, following the launch of Reckitt's Bath Cubes a decade earlier.

1938

Reckitt & Colman Ltd. is formed

The new company brings together Reckitt’s established household products business with Colman’s food business.

1941

Supporting Britain during WW2

Dettol is hugely important to the war effort during WW2. After half the Dansom lane site is destroyed by enemy bombing, the government persuades the company to relocate the factory to a safer location. It is moved to Skipton in West Yorkshire, where it will stay until returning to Hull in 1968.

1948

Launch of the first soluble aspirin

Disprin is the result of many years of research, undertaken in difficult conditions during the war years.

1960

Entry into the air freshener market

Reckitt & Colman acquires its first two aerosol products, Haze and Floret, from Bradford Aerosols Ltd.

Expansion of medicines portfolio

By acquiring Westminster Laboratories, the company gains a range of household pharmaceuticals, including Senokot.

1968

Test launch of Lemsip

The company launches a new cold and flu remedy, initially called Lem-Sip.

1969

Veet becomes a Reckitt brand

Veet, a depilatory product on the market since the 1920s, becomes a Reckitt & Colman brand following the company’s acquisition of Dae Health Laboratories.

Purchase of Samuel Taylor Ltd.

Reckitt & Colman gains a number of established household brands, including Mr Sheen polish and Mortein insecticide.

1970

Acquisition of Gaviscon

The company acquires Gaviscon in a number of markets, initially under licence from Swedish company Ferring AB.

1985

Expansion of aircare product range

Reckitt & Colman strengthens its portfolio of aircare products, by acquiring Airwick Industries.

1990

Acquisition of Woolite and Immac

The company gains established brands Woolite and Immac, by acquiring the Boyle-Midway Division of American Home Products.

1994

Lysol becomes a Reckitt brand

Long-established disinfectant brand Lysol becomes a Reckitt & Colman product, following its acquisition of L & F Products.

1999

Merger with Benckiser

On 27 July, the Boards of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser NV announce their merger. Benckiser’s portfolio of household products include Vanish, Finish, Calgon and Cillit. On 6 December, the merged company is officially named Reckitt Benckiser plc and begins trading on the London Stock Exchange

2006

Reckitt buys Boots Healthcare International

Reckitt Benckiser acquires Boots Healthcare International for £1.926 billion, gaining a new platform for over-the-counter healthcare and leading brands Nurofen, Strepsils and Clearasil.

2008

Acquisition of US-based Adams Respiratory Group

The company adds brands including Mucinex, a decongestant, and Delsym, a cough suppressant, to its range of health brands.

2010

Purchase of SSL International

Reckitt Benckiser gains major global brands, including Durex.

2013

Acquisition of Latin American healthcare brands

The company acquires a range of over-the-counter healthcare brands from Bristol Myers-Squibb, including Naldecon, Luftal and Dermodex in Brazil and Tempra, Picot and Graneodin in Mexico.

2014

Launch of Banega Swasth India Campaign

Reckitt launches a campaign to promote better health, hygiene and nutrition across India. Still running today, the campaign has improved the lives of tens of millions of people.

2016

Expansion of sexual health product portfolio

Reckitt acquires Hypermarcas’ Brazilian condom and lubricants business, which includes the brands Jontex, Olla and Lovetex.

Battling the Zika virus

The company pledges a relief package of US $1 million in cash and product donations, to help health authorities and international NGOs battle the spread of the Zika virus.

2017

Acquisition of infant nutrition brands

The business gains two leading infant and child nutrition brands, Enfa and Nutramigen, by acquiring Mead Johnson Nutrition.

2018

15 years in the FTSE4Good Index

For the 15th continuous year, the company is accredited in the FTSE4Good Index, the world’s leading responsible investment index measuring companies’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance.

2019

Acquisition of Upspring

Reckitt acquires the innovative pre- and post-natal health company – strengthening its commitment to supporting the care and nutrition of mothers, infants and children.

Science and Innovation Centre opens

Reckitt opens its new Science and Innovation Centre in Hull, on the site of Isaac Reckitt’s original starch mill. Combining new and old buildings with 21st century technology, this inspirational science hub addresses the consumer health challenges of the future.

2020

Launch of Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute

This US $25 million, multi-disciplinary research hub is designed to fill the gaps in scientific evidence about hygiene, and the behaviours and solutions needed to sustain it. 

Supporting the fight against COVID-19

Reckitt donates £5.5 million in cash and antibacterial products to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in China.

2021

Purchase of Biofreeze

The company acquires Biofreeze, the No. 1 clinically recommended pain relief brand in the USA, from Performance Health.

Acquisition of Queen V

Established in the US, the feminine sexual wellness brand Queen V is focused on making vaginal health products more accessible and empowering.

Supporting COP26

Reckitt is appointed official Hygiene Partner of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26. Reckitt helps to protect the summit’s attendees and global audiences, at one of the largest in-person events since the start of the pandemic.