Jurgens & Co

Margarine, a staple in many households today, traces its origins back to a pivotal moment in French history. In response to Napoleon III's quest for an affordable substitute to butter for both French workers and military personnel during the Franco-Prussian War, Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès, a French chemist, concocted the first margarine in 1869. This groundbreaking creation blended beef tallow with milk, offering a viable alternative to butter. However, it was the Dutch entrepreneurs at Jurgens & Co. who recognized its potential and propelled its widespread adoption.

Antoon Jurgens, the visionary founder of Jurgens & Co., established the company in 1867. Recognizing the value of Mège-Mouriès' invention, Jurgens acquired the patents and rights to margarine in 1871, setting the stage for its mass production. By 1908, production at Antoon Jurgens United had reached an impressive 50,000 tons, firmly establishing the company as a major player in the margarine industry.

In a strategic move to further expand its reach, Antoon Jurgens United entered into a profit-sharing arrangement with Van den Bergh's in 1908. This partnership, formed by Samuel van den Bergh, another luminary in the industry, proved instrumental in the company's growth. Both companies, based in Oss, Netherlands, shared a common vision for the future of margarine production.

The expansion of Jurgens and Van den Bergh's operations wasn't confined to the Netherlands. In 1917, they established factories in England, including one in Purfleet, Essex. Over the years, these facilities underwent several expansions, indicative of the burgeoning demand for their products. By 1959, the Purfleet factory alone boasted a workforce of 1,000 employees, producing not only margarine but also processed cheese and soft drinks under the Stork brand.

By the late 1920s, Jurgens had solidified its presence across the British Isles, with margarine factories sprouting in Scotland, Ireland, and England. This geographical expansion propelled Jurgens into the echelons of Europe's largest butter and margarine businesses.

The trajectory of Jurgens & Co. took a transformative turn in 1927 when it merged with another prominent player, sparking the creation of Margarine Unie. Three years later, in 1930, Margarine Unie joined forces with Lever Brothers to form the conglomerate known today as Unilever. This pivotal merger not only reshaped the landscape of the margarine industry but also laid the groundwork for Unilever's emergence as a global powerhouse in consumer goods.

In conclusion, the story of Jurgens & Co. is a testament to the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that drove the evolution of margarine from a humble invention to a ubiquitous household staple. Through strategic partnerships, technological innovation, and visionary leadership, Jurgens cemented its legacy as a pioneer in the margarine industry, leaving an indelible mark on the world of food production.
Jurgens & Co

Dutch Margarine Union

The history of the margarine industry starts with the invention of margarine in 1869. Production of margarine was first taken up on an industrial scale by the two biggest Dutch butter traders: Antoon Jurgens and Van den Bergh.

Antoon Jurgens (1805-1880) was a Dutch merchant and industrialist. He founded a butter company that grew to be one of the largest butter and margarine companies in Europe. His company was instrumental in the formation of Margarine Unie.

Naamloze Vennootschap Margarine Unie (English: Margarine Union Limited) was formed in 1927 in Oss by the merger of Jurgens and Van den Bergh companies based in the Netherlands.

Jurgens and Van den Bergh both started their margarine production in Oss; a small city in the south of the Netherlands which was already the base for their butter trade.

The company main strength lay in Europe, especially Germany and the UK and its interests, whilst

mostly in margarine and other edible fats, were also oil milling and animal feeds, retail companies

and some soap production.

Jurgens and Van den Bergh operated on an international basis. They imported their raw materials from all over the globe. In the beginning, the larger part of their produce was exported. Later, export was replaced by proliferation of production plants in numerous countries.

In 1928 other major European producers of oils, soaps, and margarines were brought in. In September 1928 Calvé-Delft joins Margarine Union and at the end of the year 1928 Schicht and Centra join the group. While Hartog joins Margarine Union in January 1929.

Finally, in 1929, Lever Brothers and its associated firms joined the group, and the twin companies were renamed Unilever.
Dutch Margarine Union