Arnott's Biscuits Holdings
Encyclopedia
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Arnott's is the largest producer of biscuits and the second-largest supplier of snack food
Snack food
A snack is a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home....
.
History
The history of Arnott's Biscuits begins in 1865, when Scottish immigrant William Arnott opened a bakery on Hunter Street, NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, providing biscuits and pies to townspeople and ships docking at the local port.
The company's logo is a colourful parrot, believed to have been drawn by William Arnott's daughter-in-law, Leslie Arnott. It was registered as a trademark in 1907.
Arnott's, in common with the majority of Australian biscuit manufacturers, operated primarily in its home state, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. In the 1960s, Arnott's instigated significant rationalisation of the biscuit business, by acquiring biscuit bakeries in other states, such as Menz in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
After Arnott's acquired other bakeries, it continued to bake the regional varieties, such as Menz Yo-Yo, Brockhoff Salada.
Ownership and corporate history
Robert Arnott then took over the business from his grandfather, Charles Arnott, in the early 1960s and then created Iced Animals especially dedicated to his children who were not yet born and now are named Sarah and Nathan. Iced Animals became an international worldwide hit and brought pleasure to many young children of every culture and religion.Arnott's has been established for so long that it has become an essential part of Australian culture
Culture of Australia
The culture of Australia is essentially a Western culture influenced by the unique geography of the Australian continent and by the diverse input of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and various waves of multi-ethnic migration which followed the British colonisation of Australia...
. In 1997, the Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1980s, acquired Arnott's in full. Thus, in 1997, Arnott's Biscuits Ltd became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company. This caused a significant amount of controversy in Australia, based on the desire for such an Australian icon to remain in Australian hands, and a fear that Campbell's would Americanise
Americanization
Americanization is the influence of the United States on the popular culture, technology, business practices, or political techniques of other countries. The term has been used since at least 1907. Inside the U.S...
the products.
These fears appear to be not without foundation. In recent years, many products have undergone subtle changes - a common factor being the introduction of corn syrup (as a cheaper substitute for sugar) and corn meal into traditional products such as Shapes and Vita-Weat, altering both flavour and texture.
Manufacturing of Arnott's biscuits, however, remained in Australia, and as part of a long-term expansion plan, Arnott's closed its Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
factory in September 2002. At the same time, it expanded its facilities in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
In 2002, Arnott's acquired Snack Foods Limited
Snack Foods Limited
Snack Foods Limited is an Australian snack food company and was officially formed on 25 November 1999, and was owned by the Campbell Soup Company's Australian subsidiary, Arnott's Biscuits Holdings Pty Ltd. Snack Foods Limited owns one of Australia's largest salted snack food companies, Snack...
.
In April 2008, Campbell Arnott's sold Arnott’s Snackfoods to The Real McCoy Snackfood Co and the company is now known as Snack Brands Australia.
Arnott's poison scare
In 1997, Arnott's Biscuits was subject to an extortion bid by a Queensland extortioner who threatened to poison packets of Arnott's Monte Carlo biscuits in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. The company conducted a massive recall and publicity campaign, publishing the extortionist's threats and demands in full-page newspaper ads. The recall cost the company A$22 million, but Arnott's was praised for its openness and honesty in dealing with the crisis.
Products
Arnott's are well-known in Australia and internationally for producing several quintessentially Australian biscuits. Some of their major products include:- Cheds: a savoury cracker that is perforated and sprinkled with cheese. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- Choc Monte: honey and coconut biscuit dipped in dark chocolate.
- Chocolate Butternut Snap: a crunchy oatmeal and coconut biscuit covered in chocolate. After Campbells takeover, Butternut Snaps are often overcooked.
- Chocolate Ripple
- Chocolate Royals: a marshmallow sandwich biscuit available in dark and milk chocolate varieties, similar to the Scottish Tunnock'sTunnock'sThomas Tunnock Limited, commonly known as Tunnock's, is a family baker in Uddingston, Scotland.The company was formed by Thomas Tunnock as Tunnock's in 1890, when he purchased a baker's shop in Uddingston. The company expanded in the 1950s, and it was at this time that the core products were...
teacake or New Zealands Griffins MallowPuffs. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover. - Chocolate Wheaten: a round, semi-sweet, whole wheat flourWhole wheat flourWhole wheat flour is a powdery substance derived by grinding or mashing the wheat's whole grain. It is used in baking but typically added to other "white" flours to provide nutrients , texture, and body to the finished product....
biscuit covered in either milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Brand acquired from George Weston FoodsGeorge Weston FoodsGeorge Weston Foods is one of the largest consumer products companies in Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Associated British Foods Plc. Its brands include Tip Top and Top Taste....
in 2003. - Custard Cream: Custard cream filling sandwiched between two rectangular vanilla biscuits. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- Delta Cream: two round chocolate biscuits with icing in the middle, similar to an Oreo. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- Honey Jumbles: Small honey gingerbread cakes, topped with pink or white icing.
- Iced Animals: created by the new owner Robert Arnotts, animal shaped biscuits with pink, green, yellow and orange icing on top.
- Iced Vovos: A wheat flour biscuit with a raspberry jam and marshmallow topping sprinkled with coconut. After Campbells takeover, marshmallow and jam was replaced by thin layers of coloured frosting.
- Jatz: a round savoury cracker also available in a cracked pepper flavoured variety.
- Kingstons: small round coconut biscuits with chocolate cream in the middle. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- Lemon Crisps: two sweet crackers with a light salt sprinkled with lemon cream sandwiched in between. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- MarieMarie biscuitA Marie is a type of sweet biscuit similar to a Rich tea. It is made with wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil and, unlike the Rich Tea biscuit, vanilla flavoring. The biscuit is round and has its name engraved into its top surface. The edges of the top surface are also engraved with an intricate design...
: a plain sweet vanilla-flavored biscuit similar to a Rich TeaRich teaRich tea is a type of sweet biscuit, the ingredients generally include wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, and malt extract. The biscuits are popular in the United Kingdom, where their plain flavour and consistency makes them particularly suitable for dunking in tea and coffee...
biscuit. - Milk Coffee: a sweet coffee-flavoured biscuit.
- Milk Arrowroot: Past flagship biscuit brand of Arnott's, made with ArrowrootArrowrootArrowroot, or obedience plant , Bermuda arrowroot, araru, ararao, is a large perennial herb found in rainforest habitats...
flour, commonly given to babies to introduce them to solid food. - Mint Slice: a round chocolate biscuit topped with mint flavoured cream and coated in dark chocolate. Also available in Mandarin, Tia Maria and Coconut flavours. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- Monte CarloMonte Carlo (biscuit)Monte Carlo biscuits are a sweet biscuit that have been manufactured since 1926 by Arnott's Biscuits Holdings.These biscuits are made with two oval shaped honey and coconut biscuits joined by a layer of vanilla flavoured cream covered with raspberry jam...
: raspberry flavoured cream sandwiched between two plain biscuits. Marked reduction in size and filling after Campbells takeover. - Nice: a sweet biscuit covered with granulated sugar.
- Orange Creams: double vanilla biscuit with orange cream in the middle. Marked reduction in size after Campbells takeover.
- Quatro: chocolate-dipped biscuits with toppings such as fruit and nut, or caramel. Brand acquired from George Weston Foods in 2003. As of late 2010, no longer in production.
- Raspberry shortcake: a biscuit base with raspberry filling then topped with a doughnut shaped biscuit and sprinkled with granulated sugar
- SAOSAO (biscuit)SAO biscuits are a savoury cracker biscuit that was launched in Australia in 1906 by Catherine Sao. The term SAO was trade marked in 1904.SAOs were also one of the first biscuits to be heavily advertised in magazines and newspapers in the early part of the 1900s. In the 1960s, the famous SAO song...
: A plain cracker style biscuit. The name is rumoured to stand for "Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Officer". - Savoy: Crispy cracker. Originally only sold in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria but later available in New South Wales, ACT and Queensland.
- Scotch fingers: shortbreadShortbreadShortbread is a type of unleavened biscuit which is traditionally made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three parts oatmeal flour. The use of plain white flour is common today, and other ingredients like ground rice or cornflour are sometimes added to alter the texture...
biscuit, also available in chocolate covered variety. Marked decrease in taste quality after Campbells takeover. - Sesame wheats: savoury cracker topped with toasted sesame seeds.
- Shapes: A savoury cracker with sprinkled flavourings. Sold in various varieties such as Barbecue, Pizza, Cheddar, Chicken Crimpy, Nacho Cheese and Cheese & Bacon.
- Shortbread creams: two vanilla shortbreads with vanilla cream in the centre.
- Strawberry tarts: a tart base with red strawberry jam in the centre.
- Teddy Bear Biscuits: Biscuits shaped like a teddy bearTeddy bearThe teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
. Also comes in a chocolate coated variety. These are a different product to Tiny TeddiesTiny TeddyTiny Teddy is a brand of sweet biscuits manufactured by Arnott's in Australia, since 1991.The Tiny Teddy is the off spring of the Teddy Bear Buiscut...
. - TeeVee Snacks: A bite-sized chocolate coated biscuit, promoted as being ideal for TV snacking.
- Tic Tocs: Clock shaped iced vanilla biscuits, with clock faces printed on them.
- Tim TamTim TamTim Tam is a brand of chocolate biscuit currently manufactured by Arnott's in Australia. A Tim Tam is composed of two layers of chocolate malted biscuit, separated by a light chocolate cream filling, and coated in a thin layer of textured chocolate....
s: A cuboid chocolate-coated biscuit. Flavours include milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, double coat of chocolate, caramel centred, chilli, coconut, berry filling (Pink Wish charity edition), Kahlua, Love Potions series (chocolate and raspberry, vanilla and toffee, choc mud) and latte filling. The latest flavour to be released in 2008 is orange. - Tiny TeddiesTiny TeddyTiny Teddy is a brand of sweet biscuits manufactured by Arnott's in Australia, since 1991.The Tiny Teddy is the off spring of the Teddy Bear Buiscut...
: Thumb-sized teddy bear-shaped snacks. Practically identical to the American NabiscoNabiscoNabisco is an American brand of cookies and snacks. Headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey, the company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Kraft Foods. Nabisco's plant in Chicago, a production facility at 7300 S...
brand Teddy GrahamsTeddy GrahamsTeddy Grahams are bear shaped graham cracker snacks created by Nabisco. Introduced in 1988, Teddy Grahams come in two distinct shapes: bears with arms up and legs closed, and bears with legs open and arms down. When first introduced, Teddy Grahams were available in honey, cinnamon and chocolate... - Venetians
- Vita-Weat: Whole wheat crisp bread available in original and sandwich size.
- Wagon WheelsWagon WheelsWagon Wheels are a snack food sold in Australia, Canada, Iran, United Kingdom, Russia, Malta and the Republic of Ireland. They are biscuits topped with marshmallow and covered in a chocolate flavoured coating. The biscuit itself is round to represent the wheel of a wagon .Wagon Wheels were created...
: marshmallow and jam sandwiched between two round biscuits, coated in chocolate (original variety); also now available with chocolate fudge in place of jam (double choc variety). The original brand was acquired from George Weston Foods in 2003. - Water crackers: original, sesame and cracked pepper.
- Yo-Yo: a sweet biscuit made with butter, eggs, milk and honey, originally baked by Menz in South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Further reading
- Boag, Charles: The Story of Arnott's Famous Biscuits: A History & A Celebration (1993), Lansdowne (Sydney). ISBN 1-86302-284-8.
- Arnotts, Robert: 'The Biography of a Rich Man, Robert Arnotts - Family and Work' (1992)