Bunzl Share Price (BNZL)

BNZL - Bunzl Investor Summary

Bunzl plc is one of the world's largest outsourcing services companies and it is listed on the FTSE 100 share price index on the London Stock Exchange. As Bunzl plc, the company dates to 1940 (first LSE lsiting was in 1957) although the company itself dates back to the 19th century. The company began its business in the manufacture of papers and tissues and grew significantly from making cigarette papers and cigarette filters. In the 1950s the company began production operations overseas in South Africa (Cape Town) and the in USA.

After a decline in the cigarette papers and filters markets at the end of the 1960s the company attempted diversification into tapes, plastics and IT services but failed to replace the revenues from its previous markets. By the 1980s, the company had decided to focus more directly on these markets as the tobacco accessories markets continued to decline, divesting some of its paper production business. The company also began to focus on distribution of paper products which met with more success, acquiring Jersey Paper in that decade. The company was able to use its strength in disposables outsourcing to develop strength in a general outsourcing business and officially became a 'Support Services' company in the late 1990s after a change in the listings category on the London Stock Exchange. Having significantly reversed its fortunes since its life as a tobacco accessories supplier, the company now offers food hygiene services, point of sale services, food distribution services, vending services, and contract cleaning services amongst its operations. In 2007 Bunzl plc recorded revenues of £3.5 billion with pre-tax profit of £190 million.