Brandtree

Who owns Horlicks?

Horlicks is owned by Unilever (the United Kingdom, LSE: ULVR), which acquired the brand on 1 April 2020.[1][2] Horlicks was founded in 1873 in the United Kingdom and was independent until 2020.

Key facts

Current owner
Unilever PLC verified
Owned since
· deal details
Acquisition price
€3.3 billion (enterprise value)
Previous owner
Independent (1873–2020)
Owner HQ
🇬🇧 United Kingdom, London
Origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Founded
1873
Category
BeveragesCoffee, tea & hot drinks › Hot chocolate & malt drinks
Parent ticker
LSE: ULVR NYSE: UL AEX: UNA
Last verified
· 2 sources

About Horlicks

Horlicks is a malted milk drink invented in 1873 by two British brothers who had emigrated to Chicago, originally as an infant food and later as a bedtime drink. Unilever acquired the South Asian rights with GlaxoSmithKline's Indian consumer nutrition business in 2020, and the brand is now sold mainly in India and Bangladesh.

Ownership timeline of Horlicks

Owners of Horlicks from 2020 to 2026 Unilever 2020–present Unilever 20202021202220232024202520262027
  1. 2020 – present Unilever acquired 1 April 2020 [1][2] verified

Where Horlicks sits in Unilever

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where Horlicks sits in Unilever Tree of 54 brands under Unilever. Unilever Horlicks Axe Bango Brut Cif Clear and 48 more

Open the full Unilever ownership tree →

Other brands owned by Unilever

See the full Unilever brand portfolio (54) →

Deals involving Horlicks

Acquisition closed

Unilever acquires Horlicks

Unilever acquired GlaxoSmithKline's Indian consumer nutrition business, including Horlicks, in a transaction valued at about €3.3 billion and settled largely in Hindustan Unilever shares. It is one of the largest deals ever done in Indian consumer goods.

Value
€3.3bn
Seller
Regulatory
None recorded

Latest news about Horlicks

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of Horlicks?

The parent company of Horlicks is Unilever, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Is Horlicks British?

Yes. Horlicks originated in the United Kingdom in 1873 and its owner, Unilever, is also headquartered in the United Kingdom.

When did Unilever buy Horlicks?

Unilever completed its acquisition of Horlicks on 1 April 2020, after announcing the deal on 3 December 2018.

Who owned Horlicks before Unilever?

Horlicks was an independent company from its founding in 1873 until Unilever acquired it in 2020.

Is Horlicks still owned by Unilever?

Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Horlicks is still owned by Unilever. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (2) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] Unilever PLC Annual Report on Form 20-F filed 2026-03-12 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 20-F, published 12 March 2026; retrieved 8 September 2026.
  2. [2] Unilever completes acquisition of GSK's health food drinks portfolio — Unilever PLC, Official press release, published 1 April 2020; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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