2025: Divestment of Essential Home

On 31 December 2025, we completed the divestment of Essential Home to Advent International. It is a key moment in our strategy to become a simpler, more focused consumer health and hygiene company, powered by our 11 high-growth, high-margin Powerbrands.

2024: New strategic direction

Reckitt announced a new strategic direction and split into three businesses: Reckitt (core brands), Essential Home, and Mead Johnson Nutrition.

2021: Biofreeze acquired

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

2020: Reckitt was the first company to prove its products killed the COVID-19 virus

As a result, £40million was mobilised to support the reopening of communities. This included product donations and partnering with COP, Transport for London and The Football Association to ensure robust hygiene practices.

2017: Mead Johnson Nutrition acquired

This brought infant nutrition brands Enfa and Nutramigen to the group.

2016: Acquisition of Brazilian condom brand

This added Jontex and Olla (among others) to a strong intimate wellness portfolio.

2013: Acquisition of Bristol Myers-Squibb

This included healthcare brands: Picot (anti-acid), Tempra (pain relief), Naldecon (cold and allergy relief) and Graneodin (oral pain relief).

2012: Acquisition of Schiff Nutrition International Inc in USA

This gave Reckitt access to a wide range of vitamins, minerals and supplements including “MegaRed”.

2011: Expansion of the business in India with Paras Pharmaceuticals Ltd

The purchase increased the healthcare portfolio, in India, adding brands such as Moov pain relief cream and spray.

2010: SSL International acquired bringing the Durex brand to Reckitt.

Durex was the first latex condom launching in 1932. The brand has promoted safe sex and positivity since its creation, supplying the military with condoms in 1939 to help prevent venereal disease.

2008: Adams Respiratory Therapeutics (Mucinex and Delsym) acquired.

Originally launched in 2002 Mucinex became a market leader in cough and congestion relief in USA.

2006: Acquisition of Boots Healthcare

This included Nurofen, the first over the counter ibuprofen, and Strepsils. These brands vastly increased the Reckitt healthcare powerbrands.

1999: Reckitt Benckiser plc formed from the merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser NV

After the sale of the Colman’s food business in 1995, to Unilever, the business focused primarily on health and hygiene.

1994: Acquisition of Lehn & Fink which brought Lysol into Reckitt’s portfolio.

Lysol was originally imported to the US from Germany and given its name by Lehn & Fink in 1889. The product played a key role in eradicating Spanish influenza in the early 20th century.

1987: Benckiser acquired Vanish and Finish from Ecolab.

Vanish originally launched in 1983 by Scottish based Projectina Co Ltd.

1974: Invention and launch of Fybogel in the UK

Originally an unflavoured drink, it was not until 1982 that Fybogel orange launched to provide constipation relief.

1970: Gaviscon licenced in several markets

After being accidentally discovered by a Swedish radiologist researching X-ray contrast media. The radiologist found a formula that created a thick layer over the contents of the stomach. This layer helped prevent acid from rising, which made it useful for treating heartburn and indigestion.

1969: Acquisition of Dae Health Laboratories

This brought Veet, a depilatory product which had been on the market since the 1920’s, to the Reckitt & Colman group.

1969: Launch of Lemsip

Originally launched as Lem-Sip the product was the first cold & flu product to contain real lemon, with each sachet containing the equivalent of one whole lemon.

1960: The acquisition of Westminster Laboratories

This acquisition brought with it a range of household name pharmaceuticals, including the laxative Senokot.

1953: Finish launched in the US

The brand was acquired by Benckiser in 1987 to complement its Calgonit automatic dishwasher range.

1948: Launch of Disprin

The world’s first soluble aspirin. This marked the company’s move into pain management products.

1938: Formation of Reckitt & Colman Ltd.

1933: Dettol launched

Dettol went to market as the first ‘safe’ antiseptic liquid, contributing to a 50% reduction in UK maternal deaths from sepsis.

1932: Harpic getting its name from its inventor, Harry Pickup, was acquired.

It was the first toilet cleaner that was able to remove limescale without using a scrubbing brush. By the 1950s over half of all UK households were using the brand.

1921: Sir James Reckitt Charity founded with shares from Reckitt & Sons.

The charity was one of many social impact initiatives launched by the Reckitt family and the business. It is still active today giving over £1million each year to causes in Hull.

1908: Garden Village opened

A housing estate built for the company’s workers in Hull, it offered spacious living, sanitary conditions and access to green space and recreational facilities. Garden Village was built by James Reckitt, Thomas Ferens and the Reckitt & Sons board due to the poor and unhygenic living conditions in Hull at the time.

1905: Brasso metal polish launched.

This innovation came after discovering traditional block metal polishes sold were difficult to use in Australia’s hot climate and a liquid product worked better. The team came back to Britain to create the first liquid metal polish in Britain and other parts of the world.

1892: James Reckitt Library Trust established to fund the first free public library in Hull, UK.

James believed in education and the right to read for all. The Trust is active today, managing the original endowment made by James Reckitt supporting library provision across the city.

1890–1899: Launch of Zebra Black Lead and Robin Starch

These brands become global successes, expanding the Reckitt portfolio.

1887: Launch of the Hull works cricket team

This was one of many social and sporting clubs created for the staff at Reckitt. It showcased the some of the welfare provision on offer for employees.

1886: First overseas Reckitt office opened in Sydney, Australia.

This was followed by South Africa just two years later (1888).

1879: Reckitt & Sons Ltd formed as a private joint stock company.

1852: Reckitt Blue and Reckitt Black Lead launched.

Blue was a laundry product to make whites whiter and Black Lead was a metal polish. These products became extremely popular and were exported globally, including to royal households.

1848: All of Isaac’s four sons had joined the business.

Frederic was the company’s first chemist, George and Francis were commercial travellers and James joined as a junior clerk. In 1852, the business became Reckitt & Sons.

1840: Isaac Reckitt leased a factory in Hull, Yorkshire, UK.

There were 25 employees, all women, manufacturing starch. By 1844 Reckitt was producing soluble starch, the company’s first patented product, which won an award at the Great Exhibition in 1851.