Unilever is selling two of its most iconic brands — Unox and Zwan — to Dutch food corporation Zwanenberg Food Group. The announcement follows recent reports that Unilever was preparing to let go of several food brands worth a potential €1 billion (US$1.05 billion). 

Unox and Zwan have been part of Unilever’s portfolio for almost 100 years, joining in 1937 and 1928, respectively. By letting them go, Unilever says it will sharpen its food portfolio for long-term growth and scalability, focusing on fewer and bigger brands in categories such as cooking aids, mini meals and condiments.  

The company says that Unox and Zwans meat and soup products require a specific supply chain, sourcing model, and technological and R&D capabilities, making them less scalable within the broader Unilever portfolio.

However, Unox’s Noodles and Cup-a-Soup products remain suited with the mini meals category and will therefore remain part of the total Unilever Foods portfolio.

Heiko Schipper, President of Unilever Foods, says: “Unox is a beloved and iconic brand in the Netherlands, and the decision to part with it has not been easy. The association with Dutch winter activities, such as the New Year’s Dive in Scheveningen and ice-skating events, along with its distinctive orange hat branding and wide range of award-winning advertising campaigns, has cemented Unox’s place in Dutch culture.”