Rowntree's
Encyclopedia
Rowntree's was a confectionery
business based in York
, England
. It is now a historic brand owned by Nestlé
, used to market a range of fruit gums and pastilles formerly owned by Rowntree's. Following a merger with John Mackintosh & Co., the Company became known as Rowntree Mackintosh, was listed on the London Stock Exchange
, and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
. It was acquired by Nestlé in 1988.
in 1862 by Henry Isaac Rowntree
, who bought a chocolate company from the Tuke family
. In 1869, he was joined by his brother, the philanthropist
Joseph Rowntree
. The original factory was in the centre of the City of York
, by the River Ouse
at Tanners Moat, but was relocated in 1906 to Haxby Road in the north of the City.
The Company merged with Mackintosh's
in 1969, to become Rowntree Mackintosh. Rowntree was responsible for such chocolate favourites as Kit Kat
, Smarties
, Aero
, Fruit Pastilles
and Black Magic, while John Mackintosh and Co. produced Rolo
, Munchies
, Caramac
and Quality Street
.
The company went public in 1987, and was the subject of a takeover battle between Nestlé and Jacobs Suchard in 1988. Nestlé eventually won control with an offer valuing Rowntree at $4.55billion. The takeover was controversial, as Nestlé was effectively protected from similar takeover attempts under Swiss law. After the Nestlé takeover, the Rowntree chocolate ranges began to use the branding "Nestlé Rowntree", before eventually the Rowntree name was dropped from the packaging altogether, except on Rowntree's Cocoa and the famous "Fruit Pastilles" and "Fruit Gums". The "Mackintosh" branding was dropped from all former Rowntree Mackintosh products, except for Mackintosh's Toffee
, which retained the branding.
The Nestlé Rowntree factory in Norwich
closed in 1994, and Rolo, Yorkie and Easter-egg production was moved to York. This site is now the Chapelfield
Shopping Mall.
In September 2006, it was announced that the manufacture of Smarties was to be moved abroad, causing 646 job-losses at the York factory.
In May 2009, Nestlé launched a new jelly sweet, Randoms, under the Rowntree brand.
The Rowntree brand is also used on a number of ice lollies (made by Richmond Foods
) for Nestlé. The brand has a similar marketplace to that of the Trebor Bassett division of Cadbury's, and competes head-to-head with this company in a number of fruit-gum categories.
Former Rowntree-branded products now re-branded as Nestlé include Walnut Whip
.
, Aero
, Polo
, Fruit Pastilles
, and Quality Street
. Since taking over Rowntree-Mackintosh, the following changes have been made:
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
business based in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is now a historic brand owned by Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
, used to market a range of fruit gums and pastilles formerly owned by Rowntree's. Following a merger with John Mackintosh & Co., the Company became known as Rowntree Mackintosh, was listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
, and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
. It was acquired by Nestlé in 1988.
History
Rowntree's was founded in YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in 1862 by Henry Isaac Rowntree
Henry Isaac Rowntree
Henry Isaac Rowntree was the founder of Rowntree's, one of the United Kingdom's largest confectionery businesses.-Career:Having served his apprenticeship in his father's shop at The Pavement in York, and following his father's death in 1860, Henry Rowntree went to work for the Tuke family at their...
, who bought a chocolate company from the Tuke family
Tuke family
The Tuke family of York were "a remarkable family of Quaker innovators". They were involved in establishing*Rowntree's Cocoa Works*The Retreat Mental Hospital*three Quaker schools - Ackworth, Bootham, and The Mount.They included four generations...
. In 1869, he was joined by his brother, the philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Joseph Rowntree
Joseph Rowntree (philanthropist)
Joseph Rowntree was a Quaker philanthropist and businessman from York, England. Rowntree is perhaps best known for being a champion of social reform and his time as a chocolatier at family business Rowntree's, one of the most important in Britain...
. The original factory was in the centre of the City of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, by the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
at Tanners Moat, but was relocated in 1906 to Haxby Road in the north of the City.
The Company merged with Mackintosh's
Mackintosh's
Mackintosh's is a confectionery firm that was principally known for Mackintosh's Toffee and for brands such as Quality Street and Rolo.- Origins, Edwardian expansion and War-time contraction :...
in 1969, to become Rowntree Mackintosh. Rowntree was responsible for such chocolate favourites as Kit Kat
Kit Kat
Kit Kat is a chocolate-coated wafer confection that was created by Rowntree's of York, England, and is now produced worldwide by Nestlé, which acquired Rowntree in 1988, except in the United States where it is made under licence by The Hershey Company. Each bar consists of fingers composed of three...
, Smarties
Smarties (Nestlé)
Nestlé Smarties are a colour-varied sugar-coated chocolate confectionery popular primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Germany and Greece. They have been manufactured since 1937, originally by H.I. Rowntree & Co.....
, Aero
Aero (chocolate)
Aero is a milk chocolate bar filled with bubbles of air, made by Nestlé and primarily sold in the United Kingdom , the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Middle East and Canada.-History:...
, Fruit Pastilles
Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles
Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles are small round sweets measuring about 1.5 cm in diameter; they have a jelly-like consistency- due to the gelatin they are made from, and are covered with sugar...
and Black Magic, while John Mackintosh and Co. produced Rolo
Rolo
Rolo is a brand of truncated-cone-shaped or frustum-shaped chocolates with a caramel centre, the shape resembling that of a shallow inverted bucket or tub or a traditional lampshade. They are made by Nestlé, except in the United States where production has been under licence by The Hershey Company...
, Munchies
Munchies (confectionery)
Munchies are a type of confectionery produced by Nestlé. They were introduced by the British firm Rowntree's in 1957. The brand was later acquired by Nestlé as part of its takeover of Rowntree Mackintosh in 1988....
, Caramac
Caramac
Caramac is the brand name for a caramel flavoured bar manufactured by Nestlé. Originally it was launched by Mackintosh's in 1959. The name Caramac was derived from the syllabic abbreviation of caramel and Mackintosh.The name of the product was determined by a competition winner...
and Quality Street
Nestlé Quality Street (confection)
Quality Street is a popular selection of individual sweets, usually contained in tins or boxes, manufactured in Halifax, in the United Kingdom by Nestlé.-History:...
.
The company went public in 1987, and was the subject of a takeover battle between Nestlé and Jacobs Suchard in 1988. Nestlé eventually won control with an offer valuing Rowntree at $4.55billion. The takeover was controversial, as Nestlé was effectively protected from similar takeover attempts under Swiss law. After the Nestlé takeover, the Rowntree chocolate ranges began to use the branding "Nestlé Rowntree", before eventually the Rowntree name was dropped from the packaging altogether, except on Rowntree's Cocoa and the famous "Fruit Pastilles" and "Fruit Gums". The "Mackintosh" branding was dropped from all former Rowntree Mackintosh products, except for Mackintosh's Toffee
Mackintosh's Toffee
Mackintosh's Toffee is a sweet created by John Mackintosh.Mackintosh opened up his sweets shop in Halifax, Yorkshire, England in 1890, and the idea for Mackintosh's Toffee, not too hard and not too soft, came soon after...
, which retained the branding.
The Nestlé Rowntree factory in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
closed in 1994, and Rolo, Yorkie and Easter-egg production was moved to York. This site is now the Chapelfield
Chapelfield
Chapelfield is a large indoor shopping mall located on the edge of Norwich city centre, on the site previously occupied by the Caleys chocolate factory....
Shopping Mall.
In September 2006, it was announced that the manufacture of Smarties was to be moved abroad, causing 646 job-losses at the York factory.
In May 2009, Nestlé launched a new jelly sweet, Randoms, under the Rowntree brand.
Current branded products
- Rowntree's Fruit GumsRowntree's Fruit GumsRowntree's Fruit Gums are circular sweets formerly made by Rowntree's, who were later acquired by Nestlé. They appear in different colours, each with a different flavour: strawberry, orange, lemon, blackcurrant and lime. They are primarily composed of glucose syrup and fruit juices and are as a...
- Rowntree's Fruit PastillesRowntree's Fruit PastillesRowntree's Fruit Pastilles are small round sweets measuring about 1.5 cm in diameter; they have a jelly-like consistency- due to the gelatin they are made from, and are covered with sugar...
- Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles Body Parts (discontinued in UK)
- Rowntree's Beetles and Butterflies
- Rowntree's Fruity Frogs
- Rowntree's Xtra Sour Spiders
- Rowntree's Wiggly Worms
- Rowntree's Bursting Bugs (discontinued in UK)
- Rowntree's Megabeans
- Rowntree's Tooty Frooties
- Rowntree's CoCo
- Rowntree's Jelly TotsJelly totsJelly Tots are soft, chewy fruit-flavoured sweets produced by Rowntree's. They are round, sugar-coated gumdrop-like confections about 7mm in diameter, and are advertised as containing 25% fruit juices and no artificial colours or flavours...
- Rowntree's Randoms
- Rowntree's Sour Pastilles
The Rowntree brand is also used on a number of ice lollies (made by Richmond Foods
Richmond Foods
R&R Ice Cream is an ice cream manufacturer headquartered at Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, England.It holds the license to make a number of branded ice cream products and variations. The company currently owns the license to make a range of Nestlé ices having bought the division from the Swiss company...
) for Nestlé. The brand has a similar marketplace to that of the Trebor Bassett division of Cadbury's, and competes head-to-head with this company in a number of fruit-gum categories.
Former Rowntree-branded products now re-branded as Nestlé include Walnut Whip
Walnut Whip
A Walnut Whip is a whirl-shaped cone of milk chocolate with a whipped vanilla fondant filling, topped with a half-walnut.-Origin:Launched in 1910 by Duncan's of Edinburgh, Walnut Whip is Nestlé Rowntree's oldest current brand. Over one million walnuts, most of them imported from China and India,...
.
Changes to famous brands
Since Nestlé took over Rowntree Mackintosh's brands, there has been much criticism of the way that the company has changed them. Nestlé acquired the business to secure the five principal brands: Kit KatKit Kat
Kit Kat is a chocolate-coated wafer confection that was created by Rowntree's of York, England, and is now produced worldwide by Nestlé, which acquired Rowntree in 1988, except in the United States where it is made under licence by The Hershey Company. Each bar consists of fingers composed of three...
, Aero
Aero (chocolate)
Aero is a milk chocolate bar filled with bubbles of air, made by Nestlé and primarily sold in the United Kingdom , the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Middle East and Canada.-History:...
, Polo
Polo (mint)
Polos are a brand of sweets whose defining feature is the hole in the middle. The peppermint flavoured polo was first manufactured in the United Kingdom in 1948 by employee John Bargewell at the Rowntree's Factory, York, a range of flavours followed...
, Fruit Pastilles
Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles
Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles are small round sweets measuring about 1.5 cm in diameter; they have a jelly-like consistency- due to the gelatin they are made from, and are covered with sugar...
, and Quality Street
Nestlé Quality Street (confection)
Quality Street is a popular selection of individual sweets, usually contained in tins or boxes, manufactured in Halifax, in the United Kingdom by Nestlé.-History:...
. Since taking over Rowntree-Mackintosh, the following changes have been made:
- The Quality Street Brazil nutBrazil NutThe Brazil nut is a South American tree in the family Lecythidaceae, and also the name of the tree's commercially harvested edible seed.- Order :...
covered in chocolate became a hazelnutHazelnutA hazelnut is the nut of the hazel and is also known as a cob nut or filbert nut according to species. A cob is roughly spherical to oval, about 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm in diameter, with an outer fibrous husk surrounding a smooth shell. A filbert is more elongated, being about twice...
in a chocolate shell still shaped like a Brazil nut. Large, individually-sold Quality Street sweets were also introduced. - Kit Kat went from being foil-and-paper-wrapped to being plastic-wrapped. This later became 'flow-wrapped' foil. Variants were also introduced, including a chunky bar and alternative flavours.
- SmartiesSmarties (Nestlé)Nestlé Smarties are a colour-varied sugar-coated chocolate confectionery popular primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Germany and Greece. They have been manufactured since 1937, originally by H.I. Rowntree & Co.....
had their blue sweets temporarily replaced by white, as Nestlé rejected artificial colours in their sweets. Blue was later brought back into the mix, thanks to a dye from Spirulina). Smarties are now sold in "hexa-tube" hexagonal cardboard containers that replace the traditional cylindrical tube.