10 years of RB
A lot can happen in ten years. Presidents and Prime Ministers come and go; fashions fade then make a comeback and technology doesn't stand still for a second.
A decade ago, Reckitt Benckiser was created and since then we've striven for innovation and quality, bringing our millions of customers the latest product developments.
The next ten years
We speak to some of RB's senior management to get their view on where they'd like to see RB in 2020.
Looking back
Next
Previous
Well, we made it. It's a decade since the creation of RB through the merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser and we've hardly looked back since. Thanks to our talented staff and our innovative products, we outperform again and again.
To celebrate our very first decade, we're taking a look at some of the things that have helped give us a perfect ten years.
Cillit Bang
Launched in 2005, Cillit Bang is the latest in a long line of Reckitt Benckiser success stories. A truly international rollout, Cillit Bang was introduced into 68 countries in just one year and is now one of the most recognisable brands in the world. Bang!
Bart Becht
Our Chief Executive, Bart Becht has been at the helm of RB since our creation 10 years ago. His strong leadership and the creation of a culture where everyone plays a part in the company's success has led to RB defying economic trends and delivering an excellent share price and profitability. It's no surprise he was voted European Business Leader of the Year in 2009. Under his tenure, RB has grown to be the fourth best-performing stock in the FTSE 100 over the last decade.
Air Wick Freshmatic
RB is always striving to innovate. Not only is it good for our industry, it makes sure that our customers are always getting the most up-to-date products fast. In 2007, Air Wick Freshmatic changed the home fragrance market for ever. Its ingenious system of regular bursts of fragrance created a completely new Aircare segment.
Carbon 20 and Trees For Change
We don't just have a responsibility to our customers and our investors: we believe we have a responsibility to our planet too. With our Carbon 20 programme, we are the first major FMCG company to set targets for reducing our products' Total Carbon Footprint, tackling the real impact our products have on climate change across their complete life cycle. In addition, our carbon-offset initiative Trees For Change has planted more than 3 million native trees at our project sites in British Columbia, Canada.
Vanish
Although the Vanish brand has been around for almost 30 years, it was within the last decade that the stain remover really came into its own. Constant innovation of the core product, instantly recognisable packaging and consistent advertising have made Vanish the world number one in Fabric Care, yet another of our proudest achievements.
Our work with Save The Children
RB is proud to be associated with the work done worldwide by Save The Children. From fundraising events like mountain treks to partnering on unique initiatives like Business Heroes for Haiti, RB helps Save The Children make a difference and we're proud of all our employees who have contributed their time in some way.
Innovation marketing
Here at RB, we never stand still. We're always looking at new ways of ensuring our customers are enjoying the very latest and best products available. Rather than flood the market with new brands, we stick to developing the products we know our customers already love, using our model of the rapid succession of product variants. 2010 saw the introduction of the next generation of dishwasher detergents, as Finish Quantumatic was launched. It's this smart-thinking that has kept RB on top for so long.
RB goes global
Thanks to the strength of our brands, the innovation of our products, the hard work of our employees and, of course, the trust of our customers, RB is a truly global brand, with a presence in over 180 countries. We have achieved more in the last 10 years than many organisations can hope to achieve in 100, and we're looking forward to the next decade.