Bisto
Encyclopedia
Bisto is a well-known brand of traditional British foods in the United Kingdom
, most famous for its gravy
products.
Naming of the Bisto twins?
In Birmingham in the 1930s a competition was held to put a name to the two Bisto twin characters,a boy and a girl sniffing the beautiful aroma of Bisto's gravy.The competition was won by Mr and Mrs Simmonds,who named the twins after themselves...they called them Bill and Maree.They were awarded a beautiful china doll.
Bisto Granules were introduced in 1979. The granules dissolve in hot water to form a gravy substitute. This product capitalised on the growing preference among British consumers for foods (or food substitutes) that can be quickly and conveniently prepared. As of 2005, Bisto Gravy Granules dominate the British market, with a share in excess of 70%. Every UK grocery outlet is likely to have a Bisto product on its shelf.
flavour (although it contains no beef). Bisto also comes in varieties to accompany chicken
, turkey
, lamb
, and other meats.
In 1991, Bisto launched a new, more expensive, beef-like granule. Packaged in a glass jar, it offered a fuller flavour than the standard granule. Fuller flavour chicken and onion
variants were added in 1993, and the whole range was relaunched as Bisto Best.
More recently, a ready-made Bisto "Heat And Pour" gravy has been available in beef and chicken flavours. This comes in plastic pouches suitable for heating.
In 2004, Bisto diversified into chilled and frozen products by introducing Bisto Roast Potatoes, Bisto Crispies, Bisto Yorkshire Puddings
and Bisto Frozen Mashed Topped Pies.
Bisto also makes a range of sauces, including white sauce
, cheese sauce, curry, and parsley sauce
in granulated form, as well as a range of casserole sauces, all in glass jars.
(1869–1957) ), appeared in newspapers and soon became popular. Bisto is notable both for the age of its brand and for the advertising campaigns it has used. Although the Bisto Kids have not been included in Bisto advertising for many years, many people still recognise them; the Bisto Kids, a boy and girl in ragged clothes, would catch the odour of Bisto on the breeze and exhale longingly, "Aah, Bisto!" This clever gambit was intended to capture the all-important "Oliver Twist" (or "urchin") segment of the working-class market. The Bisto Kids were also part of more elaborate advertising campaigns in later years.
During the 1980s, the company released a series of commercials in the UK which featured a song that included the recurring phrase, "Never in a month of Sundays". In fact in 1984 RHM Foods launched a nationwide competition to find the first live Bisto Kids. This was the beginning of "The Bisto Kids of the Year Awards" (which no longer runs in the UK).
The first ever competition was won by Hayley Griffiths and Jimmy Endicott from Doncaster. They were six years old at the time, and became the faces of Bisto both for public relations and marketing events, and also appearing in an advert shown on prime time TV to find the next Bisto Kids.
The advert showed Hayley and Jimmy fighting over a magnifying glass as they searched a giant globe, and finished with them in the gravy boat catching packets of Bisto, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
For 12 months the pair were the modern incarnation of the raggedy urchins mentioned above, until they handed over their crown in 1985.
The company sponsors the Bisto Book of the Year Awards
in the Republic of Ireland
.
The latest campaign for Bisto encourages families to sit up at the table for one night a week to eat 'proper' food. This advertising campaign has seen support from unlikely sources such as politicians and members of the clergy
.
, which acquired Bisto when it bought Rank Hovis McDougall
in March 2007 to form the largest UK foods manufacturing company. At the time of the acquisition, a Premier Foods director was quoted as saying, "When we acquired RHM, I don't think any of us realised that that old warhorse, Bisto, was part of the mix. To us, it's just gravy."
, which makes a branded gravy as well as most supermarket own-brand gravy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, most famous for its gravy
Gravy
Gravy is a sauce made often from the juices that run naturally from meat or vegetables during cooking. In North America the term can refer to a wider variety of sauces and gravy is often thicker than in Britain...
products.
History
The very first Bisto product, in 1908, was a meat-flavoured gravy powder, which rapidly became a bestseller in the UK. It was added to gravies to give a richer taste and aroma. Invented by Messrs Roberts & Patterson, it was named "Bisto" because it "Browns, Seasons and Thickens in One".Naming of the Bisto twins?
In Birmingham in the 1930s a competition was held to put a name to the two Bisto twin characters,a boy and a girl sniffing the beautiful aroma of Bisto's gravy.The competition was won by Mr and Mrs Simmonds,who named the twins after themselves...they called them Bill and Maree.They were awarded a beautiful china doll.
Bisto Granules were introduced in 1979. The granules dissolve in hot water to form a gravy substitute. This product capitalised on the growing preference among British consumers for foods (or food substitutes) that can be quickly and conveniently prepared. As of 2005, Bisto Gravy Granules dominate the British market, with a share in excess of 70%. Every UK grocery outlet is likely to have a Bisto product on its shelf.
Flavours
The famous red packets are the "favourite" flavour, purportedly beefBeef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
flavour (although it contains no beef). Bisto also comes in varieties to accompany chicken
Chicken (food)
Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world, and is prepared as food in a wide variety of ways, varying by region and culture.- History :...
, turkey
Domesticated turkey
The domesticated turkey is a large poultry bird. The modern domesticated form descends from the wild turkey , one of the two species of turkey ; in the past the ocellated turkey was also domesticated.The turkey is raised throughout temperate parts of the world and is a popular form of poultry,...
, lamb
Lamb (food)
Lamb, mutton, and hogget are the meat of domestic sheep. The meat of a sheep in its first year is lamb; that of a juvenile sheep older than 1 year is hogget; and the meat of an adult sheep is mutton....
, and other meats.
In 1991, Bisto launched a new, more expensive, beef-like granule. Packaged in a glass jar, it offered a fuller flavour than the standard granule. Fuller flavour chicken and onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
variants were added in 1993, and the whole range was relaunched as Bisto Best.
More recently, a ready-made Bisto "Heat And Pour" gravy has been available in beef and chicken flavours. This comes in plastic pouches suitable for heating.
In 2004, Bisto diversified into chilled and frozen products by introducing Bisto Roast Potatoes, Bisto Crispies, Bisto Yorkshire Puddings
Yorkshire pudding
Yorkshire Pudding is a dish that originated in Yorkshire, England. It is made from batter and usually served with roast meat and gravy.-History:...
and Bisto Frozen Mashed Topped Pies.
Bisto also makes a range of sauces, including white sauce
Béchamel sauce
Béchamel sauce , also known as white sauce, is one of the mother sauces of French cuisine and is used in many recipes of Italian cuisine, for example lasagne. It is used as the base for other sauces . It is traditionally made by whisking scalded milk gradually into a white roux...
, cheese sauce, curry, and parsley sauce
Parsley sauce
Parsley sauce is a green sauce seasoned with parsley.It is essentially a simple béchamel sauce containing chopped parsley. A variant called "liquor" is often served with pie and mash as a traditional British food, particularly in London.Notes:...
in granulated form, as well as a range of casserole sauces, all in glass jars.
Advertising
In 1919, the Bisto Kids (created by illustrator Will OwenWill Owen (illustrator)
Will Owen was an English book illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist and a commercial and poster artist, possibly best known for his iconic images of the Bisto Kids, Bovril, Lux and Lifebuoy. He received his art training at the Lambeth School of Art, and evolved a style similar to that of Tom...
(1869–1957) ), appeared in newspapers and soon became popular. Bisto is notable both for the age of its brand and for the advertising campaigns it has used. Although the Bisto Kids have not been included in Bisto advertising for many years, many people still recognise them; the Bisto Kids, a boy and girl in ragged clothes, would catch the odour of Bisto on the breeze and exhale longingly, "Aah, Bisto!" This clever gambit was intended to capture the all-important "Oliver Twist" (or "urchin") segment of the working-class market. The Bisto Kids were also part of more elaborate advertising campaigns in later years.
During the 1980s, the company released a series of commercials in the UK which featured a song that included the recurring phrase, "Never in a month of Sundays". In fact in 1984 RHM Foods launched a nationwide competition to find the first live Bisto Kids. This was the beginning of "The Bisto Kids of the Year Awards" (which no longer runs in the UK).
The first ever competition was won by Hayley Griffiths and Jimmy Endicott from Doncaster. They were six years old at the time, and became the faces of Bisto both for public relations and marketing events, and also appearing in an advert shown on prime time TV to find the next Bisto Kids.
The advert showed Hayley and Jimmy fighting over a magnifying glass as they searched a giant globe, and finished with them in the gravy boat catching packets of Bisto, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
For 12 months the pair were the modern incarnation of the raggedy urchins mentioned above, until they handed over their crown in 1985.
The company sponsors the Bisto Book of the Year Awards
Bisto Book of the Year Awards
The Bisto Book of the Year Awards are literary awards presented annually in the Republic of Ireland to writers and illustrators of books for children and young people. The Awards are run by Children's Books Ireland and are open to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland; books may be...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
The latest campaign for Bisto encourages families to sit up at the table for one night a week to eat 'proper' food. This advertising campaign has seen support from unlikely sources such as politicians and members of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
.
Ownership
Bisto has had several owners since its creation. It is currently owned by Premier FoodsPremier Foods
Premier Foods plc is a British food manufacturer headquartered in St Albans, Hertfordshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
, which acquired Bisto when it bought Rank Hovis McDougall
RHM
RHM plc, formerly Rank Hovis McDougall, was a United Kingdom food business. The company owned numerous brands, particularly for flour, where its core business started, and for consumer food products...
in March 2007 to form the largest UK foods manufacturing company. At the time of the acquisition, a Premier Foods director was quoted as saying, "When we acquired RHM, I don't think any of us realised that that old warhorse, Bisto, was part of the mix. To us, it's just gravy."
Competition
Bisto's main competitor is Goldenfry Foods LtdGoldenfry
Goldenfry Foods is a British food manufacturer based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. The company manufactures most own brand supermarket gravy products as well as many of their own food products...
, which makes a branded gravy as well as most supermarket own-brand gravy.