Who Owns Lipton?
Lipton is primarily owned by Lipton Teas and Infusions since 2022, with Unilever retaining ownership in India, Nepal, and Indonesia, and for ready-to-drink teas globally. Founded in 1890 by Thomas Lipton, the brand was partially sold to CVC Capital Partners in 2022 for €4.5 billion.
Parent Company
Unilever plc
Acquired
1938
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
London, UK / Rotterdam, Netherlands
Who Owns Lipton?
- Parent Company: Unilever plc
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 1938
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: LSE: ULVR
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Lipton | Unilever plc | Wholly owned |
History of Lipton
- Founded: 1890
- Founders: Thomas Lipton
- Acquired by Unilever plc: 1938
Lipton was founded by Thomas Lipton in 1890 in Glasgow, Scotland. Lipton had opened his first shop in 1871 with small savings, and by the 1880s the business had grown to more than 200 stores. After opening his shop, Lipton began traveling the world for new items to stock.
Tea, historically a rare and expensive luxury, was experiencing rapid growth in sales, doubling from £40 million in the late 1870s to £80 million by the mid-1880s. In 1890, Lipton purchased tea gardens in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), from where he packaged and sold the first Lipton tea.
Lipton arranged packaging and shipping at low cost and sold his tea in packets by the pound, half-pound, and quarter-pound, with the advertising slogan: "Direct from the tea gardens to the teapot." Lipton teas were an immediate success in the United States.
The Lipton tea business was acquired by consumer goods company Unilever in a number of separate transactions, starting with the purchase of the United States and Canadian Lipton business in 1938. Unilever completed the full acquisition of Lipton's tea business in August 1972.
In 1991, Unilever created a joint venture with PepsiCo, the Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership (PLTP), for the marketing of ready-to-drink teas in North America. This was followed by a second joint venture, Pepsi Lipton International (PLI), covering many non-North American markets in 2003.
In May 2007, Unilever became the first company to commit to sourcing all tea sustainably, working with the Rainforest Alliance. By 2015, all Lipton tea bags sold globally were Rainforest Alliance certified.
In November 2021, Unilever reached an agreement to sell the majority of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners for €4.5 billion. The sale was completed in July 2022, with the new company named 'Lipton Teas and Infusions.'
About Unilever plc
What does Unilever own?
Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing (Dove, Vaseline, TRESemme, Pond's), Personal Care (Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lux, Lifebuoy, Close Up), Home Care (Domestos, Cif, Surf, Omo, Comfort), and Nutrition (Knorr, Hellmann's, Lipton, Marmite). Following the 2025 demerger of its Ice Cream business, Unilever no longer owns Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, or Breyers. The company also owns approximately 61% of Hindustan Unilever Limited, a publicly listed subsidiary in India.
Is Unilever publicly traded?
Yes, Unilever plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker ULVR and on Euronext Amsterdam under ticker UNA. American Depositary Receipts are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker UL. The company does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Who founded Unilever?
Unilever was formed in 1929 through the merger of Lever Brothers, a British soap company founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1885, and Margarine Unie, a Dutch margarine producer formed through the merger of the Jurgens and Van den Bergh companies in 1927. The founders of the predecessor companies include William Lever, James Darcy Lever, Antonius Johannes Jurgens, and Samuel van den Bergh.
Where is Unilever headquartered?
Unilever is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company's registered office and principal executive offices are located in London. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom and ending the separate Unilever N.V. Dutch entity. The company's shares continue to trade on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam.
How many brands does Unilever own?
Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Nutrition. The company's largest brands by revenue include Dove, Hellmann's, Knorr, Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lipton, Vaseline, Domestos, and Cif. Following the 2025 demerger of its Ice Cream business, Unilever's portfolio no longer includes ice cream brands such as Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, and Breyers.
Who owns Unilever?
Unilever plc is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and index funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in Unilever. Fernando Fernandez serves as CEO, having been appointed in March 2025 following the departure of Hein Schumacher. The company's board includes a majority of independent non-executive directors.
- Founded: 1929
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: LSE: ULVR
Where Is Lipton Made / Based?
- Headquarters: London, UK / Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Manufacturing / Operations: United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Global facilities
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Lipton Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Over 130 years of tea expertise backed by extensive R&D investment
- +Strong global distribution through established retail channels
- +Leadership in sustainable tea sourcing (Rainforest Alliance certification)
- +Diverse product range from traditional tea bags to ready-to-drink beverages
- +Premium quality assurance supported by corporate resources and tea heritage
Considerations
- -Complex ownership structure following 2022 partial sale
- -Premium pricing compared to store-brand tea alternatives
- -Competition from specialty tea brands and private labels
- -Dependency on global tea supply chains and weather conditions
- -Need to adapt to changing consumer preferences for premium and specialty teas
Frequently Asked Questions About Lipton
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