Cleaning up

摘要

Reckitt benckiser is not a household name, but as one of the world's biggest makers of household cleaning-products it has become the star of a staid industry. Since the merger in December 1999 of Benckiser, a German company incorporated in the Netherlands, and Britain's Reckitt & Colman, the outfit's sales have increased by an average of 7% a year, and its share price has risen by 356% compared with a 13% decline in the ftse 100 index. Bart Becht, who was at the helm of Benckiser before taking over as chief executive of the merged company, is one of the best-paid bosses in Britain.