# Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V.

> enterprise

**Wikidata**: [Q101536874](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101536874)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/van-den-bergh-s-en-jurgen-s-fabrieken-n-v

## Summary
Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. was a Dutch manufacturing enterprise headquartered in Rotterdam that specialized in the production of margarine and similar edible fats. Established in 1919 as Van den Bergh's Fabrieken N.V., the company operated as a *naamloze vennootschap* (public limited company) and served as the parent organization for international subsidiaries, including the UK-based Van den Berghs and Jurgens, Ltd. The entity played a pivotal role in the margarine industry's consolidation, acting as a component of the Margarine Unie and serving as a direct predecessor to Unilever N.V.

## Key Facts
*   **Inception:** Founded in 1919.
*   **Headquarters:** Rotterdam, Netherlands.
*   **Legal Form:** *Naamloze vennootschap* (N.V.).
*   **Primary Industry:** Manufacture of margarine and similar edible fats; also classified under the food and tobacco industry.
*   **Main Product:** Margarine.
*   **Leadership:** Samuel van den Bergh served as chairperson starting in 1919.
*   **Corporate Evolution:** 
    *   Originally named "Van den Bergh's Fabrieken N.V." (1919).
    *   Renamed "Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V." in 1938.
*   **Parent Organization:** Margarine Unie (1927–1929).
*   **Successor:** Unilever N.V.
*   **Predecessors:** Margarinefabriek Van den Bergh and Jurgens Margarinefabriek.
*   **Subsidiaries:** Included Jurgens Margarinefabriek and Van den Berghs and Jurgens, Ltd. (United Kingdom).
*   **Identifiers:** 
    *   GND ID: 5031802-0
    *   20th Century Press Archives ID: co/053484
*   **Digital Presence:** Has a category on Wikimedia Commons.

## FAQs

**What products did Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. manufacture?**
The enterprise was primarily engaged in the food and tobacco industry, with a specific focus on the manufacture of margarine and similar edible fats. Its material output was dominated by margarine production.

**Where was the company located and who was its leadership?**
The company was headquartered in Rotterdam, a major city in South Holland, Netherlands. Samuel van den Bergh served as the chairperson of the organization beginning in 1919.

**What was the relationship between Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. and its UK subsidiary?**
The Dutch enterprise owned and operated Van den Berghs and Jurgens, Ltd., a commercial company headquartered in Bebington, United Kingdom. This UK subsidiary was formed in 1932 and focused on the British market for margarine and edible fats.

**How did this company fit into the larger history of Unilever?**
The entity acted as a bridge between early margarine manufacturers and the modern conglomerate Unilever. It was a component of the Margarine Unie from 1927 to 1929 and was directly followed by Unilever N.V., marking a critical step in the consolidation of the European margarine industry.

## Why It Matters
Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. represents a foundational node in the historical development of the global food processing industry, specifically regarding the production and distribution of margarine. By integrating the operations of the Van den Bergh and Jurgens families into a single Dutch corporate structure, the company facilitated the cross-border expansion of margarine production, linking the Netherlands with the United Kingdom through its subsidiary. Its existence highlights the era of industrial consolidation in the early 20th century, where independent family enterprises merged into larger cartels like Margarine Unie, eventually forming the backbone of what became Unilever N.V., one of the world's largest consumer goods companies.

## Notable For
*   **Corporate Succession:** Serving as the direct predecessor to Unilever N.V., effectively acting as a legacy entity for the global giant.
*   **Strategic Name Change:** Officially changing its name from "Van den Bergh's Fabrieken N.V." to "Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V." in 1938 to reflect the union of the two founding families.
*   **Cartel Participation:** Being a component of the Margarine Unie, a significant European cartel that controlled margarine production.
*   **International Subsidiary Ownership:** Owning and operating Van den Berghs and Jurgens, Ltd., which maintained a distinct corporate identity in the UK while being controlled from Rotterdam.
*   **Longevity of Leadership:** Having Samuel van den Bergh, a key figure in the industry, serve as chairperson from its inception in 1919.

## Body

### Corporate Identity and Location
Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. was formally classified as a business and a juridical person, operating legally as a *naamloze vennootschap* (N.V.). The enterprise was headquartered in Rotterdam, a city located in the South Holland province of the Netherlands. This geographic location placed it within a major European port city, facilitating the export and distribution of its manufactured goods. The entity underwent a significant official name change during its history; it was originally established as "Van den Bergh's Fabrieken N.V." in 1919 and was later renamed "Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V." in 1938 to reflect the inclusion of the Jurgens family interests in the corporate title.

### Industrial Operations and Products
The company's core industrial operations were situated within the food and tobacco sector. According to NACE classifications found in the 20th Century Press Archives, its specific area of expertise was the "manufacture of margarine and similar edible fats." As an enterprise, its primary material product was margarine. This focus positioned the company as a key player in the edible fats market during a period when margarine was becoming a staple food product in Europe. The company's operations were extensive enough to be documented in international press archives and recognized by library authority files such as the German National Library (GND).

### Corporate Structure and Leadership
The governance of Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. included a defined leadership structure with Samuel van den Bergh serving as chairperson starting in 1919. The corporate structure was hierarchical and integrative, linking various production facilities under a single organizational umbrella. The company followed the legacy operations of the Margarinefabriek Van den Bergh and the Jurgens Margarinefabriek. In terms of higher-level corporate affiliations, the entity was a component of the Margarine Unie, serving under this parent organization from 1927 until 1929. This relationship was part of a broader strategy to consolidate market control and standardize production across the region.

### Historical Evolution and Succession
The timeline of the enterprise reflects the consolidation trends of the early 20th century food industry. Following its inception in 1919, it operated as a distinct entity before becoming integrated into the Margarine Unie. The company's corporate lineage ultimately led to its succession by Unilever N.V. This transition marked the absorption of the Dutch margarine interests into a multinational conglomerate. The company is documented in historical archives, including the 20th Century Press Archives (folder ID co/053484), which preserves records of its activities and press communications.

### Subsidiaries and International Operations
A critical aspect of the company's operations was its management of international subsidiaries. Notably, it owned and operated Van den Berghs and Jurgens, Ltd., a commercial enterprise based in Bebington, United Kingdom. This UK subsidiary, formed in 1932 through the merger of Jurgens, Ltd. and Van den Berghs, Ltd., allowed the Dutch parent company to maintain a significant manufacturing and commercial presence in the British market. Additionally, the N.V. held Jurgens Margarinefabriek as a subsidiary. Through these entities, Van den Bergh's en Jurgen's Fabrieken N.V. coordinated margarine production and sales across national borders, illustrating the international scale of its business operations.

## References

1. 20th Century Press Archives
2. [Source](http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/bwn1880-2000/lemmata/bwn3/bergh)
3. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/folder/co%2F053484)