In 1872, Simon, helped by his sons Samuel, Arnold, Henry, Isaac and Jacob, started production of "artificial butter," or oleomargarine, in a factory in Oss. In 1888, Simon founded a company for the industrial production of margarine in Kleve. In 1904 the Sanella brand was introduced as an almond milk plant butter margarine.
Simon decided to expand his business by exporting butter to England. In 1890, he sent his sons Jacob and Henry to London to look after the company’s interest there.
In 1895 the Van den Bergh formed a limited liability company in the UK called Van den Berghs Margarine Ltd, which was changed in 1897 to Van den Berghs Ltd.
In 1927 Van den Bergh and Jurgens, the two major Dutch competitors in the margarine business for many years, had decided to bury the hatchet and formed the Margarine Unie/Union. In 1928 Centra and Schicht, leading companies in the oils, fats and soap business in Central Europe, had also come into the Margarine Unie.
In 1930 the Van den Bergh Margarine Union Ltd. merged with Lever Bros. Ltd., forming Unilever Ltd.
Simon Van den Bergh (1819–1907): Dutch businessman
