Bunzl plc was incorporated in 1940 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1957, but its origins date back to 1854 when Moritz Bunzl opened a small haberdashery business in Bratislava, now the capital of Slovakia. The business has changed and grown considerably over the years to become what is now a well-known and recognised international distribution and services Group.
1854
Moritz Bunzl registers a haberdashery business in Bratislava, now the capital of Slovakia
1883
HQ relocates to Vienna and paper manufacturing business begins
1938
HQ relocates to London due to political upheaval in Central Europe
1957
Bunzl lists as a public company on the London Stock Exchange
1980s
Bunzl is a diversified business with a fine paper distribution and manufacturing arm
1981
Acquisition of first consumables distribution business in the USA
1993
First European consumables distribution business acquired
2002
Sale of fine paper distribution business
2005
Manufacturing businesses demerge and Bunzl becomes a focused distribution and outsourcing Group with a presence in 18 countries
2007
Bunzl celebrates 50 years as a listed company on the London Stock Exchange
2008
Expansion into South America with acquisition in Brazil AND Shanghai sourcing and auditing office opened
2012
Further growth in South America with acquisitions in Chile, Peru, Argentina and Colombia
2012
Bunzl has a presence in 27 countries
2014
Bunzl acquires its 100th company since 2004
2016
Frank Van Zanten appointed as CEO of Bunzl Group
2018
Bunzl’s operations now in 31 countries following acquisitions in Singapore, China and Norway over 2017 and 2018
2020
Bunzl completes its 170th acquisition since 2004 and launches its new We Believe programme
2021
Bunzl joins the Race to Zero, the largest global alliance on climate change
2022
30th year of consecutive annual dividend growth (10% CAGR '04-'23)
2023
Surpassing the milestone of £5 billion of committed acquisition spend since 2004
2024
First acquisition in Finland, further extending our business in the Nordics
1854
Moritz Bunzl registers a haberdashery business in Bratislava, now the capital of Slovakia
1883
HQ relocates to Vienna and paper manufacturing business begins
1938
HQ relocates to London due to political upheaval in Central Europe
1957
Bunzl lists as a public company on the London Stock Exchange
1980s
Bunzl is a diversified business with a fine paper distribution and manufacturing arm
1981
Acquisition of first consumables distribution business in the USA
1993
First European consumables distribution business acquired
2002
Sale of fine paper distribution business
2005
Manufacturing businesses demerge and Bunzl becomes a focused distribution and outsourcing Group with a presence in 18 countries
2007
Bunzl celebrates 50 years as a listed company on the London Stock Exchange
2008
Expansion into South America with acquisition in Brazil AND Shanghai sourcing and auditing office opened
2012
Further growth in South America with acquisitions in Chile, Peru, Argentina and Colombia
2012
Bunzl has a presence in 27 countries
2014
Bunzl acquires its 100th company since 2004
2016
Frank Van Zanten appointed as CEO of Bunzl Group
2018
Bunzl’s operations now in 31 countries following acquisitions in Singapore, China and Norway over 2017 and 2018
2020
Bunzl completes its 170th acquisition since 2004 and launches its new We Believe programme
2021
Bunzl joins the Race to Zero, the largest global alliance on climate change
2022
30th year of consecutive annual dividend growth (10% CAGR '04-'23)
2023
Surpassing the milestone of £5 billion of committed acquisition spend since 2004
2024
First acquisition in Finland, further extending our business in the Nordics
