Arnott's Group: Difference between revisions
Atomtester (talk | contribs) →Products: Also noticed Savoy on Brisbane shelves - added QLD to the list. |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
This history is completely incorrect and needs to be re-written. For example the making of Arnottts into an Australian National company was the work of Geof Arnott in the 1950s. Campbells purchased an interest as a defensive move against the takeover attempt of Alan Bond in the mid 1980s. By the end of the 1980s Campbells had 80% of the company. |
|||
The history of Arnott's Biscuits begins in 1865, when Scottish immigrant William Arnott opened a bakery on Hunter Street, [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[New South Wales]], providing biscuits and pies to townspeople and ships docking at the local port. <ref> [http://www.arnotts.com/about-us/arnotts-heritage.aspx Arnott's Biscuits Heritage] external website. </ref> |
The history of Arnott's Biscuits begins in 1865, when Scottish immigrant William Arnott opened a bakery on Hunter Street, [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[New South Wales]], providing biscuits and pies to townspeople and ships docking at the local port. <ref> [http://www.arnotts.com/about-us/arnotts-heritage.aspx Arnott's Biscuits Heritage] external website. </ref> |
||
| Line 27: | Line 29: | ||
Arnott's, in common with the majority of Australian biscuit manufacturers, operated primarily in its home state, [[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 Biscuit Company|Menz]] in [[South Australia]]. |
Arnott's, in common with the majority of Australian biscuit manufacturers, operated primarily in its home state, [[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 Biscuit Company|Menz]] in [[South Australia]]. |
||
After Arnott's acquired other bakeries, it continued to bake the regional varieties, such as [[Yo-Yo biscuits|Menz Yo-Yo]], [[Brockhoff (company)|Brockhoff]] [[Salada (biscuit)|Salada]] |
After Arnott's acquired other bakeries, it continued to bake the regional varieties, such as [[Yo-Yo biscuits|Menz in South Australia Yo-Yo]], [[Brockhoff in Victoria (company)|Brockhoff]] [[Salada (biscuit)|Salada]] |
||
Morrow in Queensland. |
|||
==Ownership and corporate history== |
==Ownership and corporate history== |
||
Robert |
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 [[Culture of Australia|Australian culture]]. In [[1997]], the [[Campbell Soup Company]] of [[North America]], a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1960s, 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 [[Americanization|Americanise]] the products. |
Arnott's has been established for so long that it has become an essential part of [[Culture of Australia|Australian culture]]. In [[1997]], the [[Campbell Soup Company]] of [[North America]], a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1960s, 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 [[Americanization|Americanise]] the products. |
||
Revision as of 07:29, 22 January 2010
| Company type | Proprietary Limited |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biscuits Snack food |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Products | Tim Tams Iced Vovos Tiny Teddys |
| Revenue | AUD $1.2 billion (2004)[1] |
Number of employees | 4,300+ [2] |
| Parent | Campbell Soup Company |
| Website | www.arnotts.com |
Arnott's Biscuits Holdings (commonly known as Arnott's), is a subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company of America.
In Australia Arnott's is the largest producer of biscuits[citation needed] and the second-largest supplier of snack food[citation needed].
History
This history is completely incorrect and needs to be re-written. For example the making of Arnottts into an Australian National company was the work of Geof Arnott in the 1950s. Campbells purchased an interest as a defensive move against the takeover attempt of Alan Bond in the mid 1980s. By the end of the 1980s Campbells had 80% of the company.
The history of Arnott's Biscuits begins in 1865, when Scottish immigrant William Arnott opened a bakery on Hunter Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, providing biscuits and pies to townspeople and ships docking at the local port. [1]
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.[2]
Arnott's, in common with the majority of Australian biscuit manufacturers, operated primarily in its home state, 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.
After Arnott's acquired other bakeries, it continued to bake the regional varieties, such as Menz in South Australia Yo-Yo, Brockhoff Salada Morrow in Queensland.
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. In 1997, the Campbell Soup Company of North America, a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1960s, 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 the products.
Manufacturing of Arnott's biscuits, however, remained in Australia, and as part of a long-term expansion plan, Arnott's closed its Melbourne factory in September 2002. At the same time, it expanded its facilities in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.[3]
More recently, the company has started manufacturing and importing some product lines from China.
In 2002, Arnott's acquired Snack Foods Limited.[4] As a result of the acquisition, brands such as CC's and Thins came under the Arnott's banner.
In April 2008 The Real McCoy Snackfood Co purchased all the shares in Snack Foods Limited (otherwise known as Arnott’s Snackfoods). [5]
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 Australia and Victoria. The company conducted a massive recall and publicity campaign, publishing the extortionist's threats and demands in full-page newspaper ads.[6] The recall cost the company AUD $22 million, but Arnott's was praised for its openness and honesty in dealing with the crisis.[7]
Products
Arnott's are well-known in Australia and internationally for producing several quintessentially Australian biscuits. Some of their major products include:
- CC's: Corn Chips. Coming in Original, Tasty Cheese and Nacho Cheese.
- Cheds: a savoury cracker that is perforated and sprinkled with cheese.
- Chocolate Ripple
- Chocolate Royals: a marshmallow sandwich biscuit available in dark and milk chocolate varieties, similar to the Scottish Tunnock's teacake.
- Custard Cream: Custard cream filling sandwiched between two rectangular vanilla biscuits.
- Delta Cream Two round chocolate biscuits with icing in the middle, similar to an Oreo.
- 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.
- Jatz: a crispy round savoury cracker that also comes with cracked pepper or plain.
- Kingstons: small round coconut biscuits with chocolate cream in the middle.
- Lemon Crisps: two sweet crackers with a light salt sprinkled with lemon cream sandwiched in between.
- Marie: a plain sweet vanilla-flavored biscuit similar to a Rich Tea biscuit.
- Milk Coffee: a classic sweet biscuit with a hint of coffee.
- Milk Arrowroot: Past flagship biscuit brand of Arnott's, made with Arrowroot flour. Commonly given to babies to introduce them to solid food.
- Milk Chocolate Wheaten
- Mint slice: a round chocolate biscuit topped with mint flavoured cream and then coated in dark chocolate. Also available in Mandarin slice, Tia Maria slice and Coconut slice.
- Monte: Honey and coconut biscuit dipped in dark chocolate.
- Monte Carlo biscuits: raspberry flavoured cream sandwiched between 2 plain (no chocolate coating) Monte biscuits.
- Nice: a sweet biscuit with granulated sugar on the outside.
- Orange creams: 2 vanilla biscuits with orange cream in the middle.
- Quatros: chocolate dipped biscuits with gourmet toppings like fruit and nuts or caramel.
- Raspberry shortcake: a biscuit base with raspberry filling then topped with a doughnut shaped biscuit and sprinkled with granulated sugar.
- SAO: A plain cracker style biscuit. The name is rumoured to stand for "Salvation Army Officer".[8]
- Savoy: Same as Jatz, however it is crispier. Originally only sold in SA, TAS and VIC but has made its way onto NSW, ACT and QLD shelves.
- Scotch fingers: a golden and buttery biscuit which is intended to be snapped into two pieces.
- Scotch fingers (Chocolate Covered): a golden and buttery biscuit which is intended to be snapped into two pieces half-coated with milk chocolate.
- Sesame wheats: a deluxe savoury cracker that is golden and topped with toasted sesame seeds.
- Shapes: A savoury cracker style biscuit 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 centre.
- Strawberry tarts: a tart base with red strawberry jam in the centre.
- Teddy Bear Biscuits: Biscuits shaped like a teddy bear. Also comes in a chocolate coated variety. Note that these are a different product to Tiny Teddies.
- 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 Tams: A cuboid chocolate-coated biscuit, named after a racehorse. 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 Teddies: Thumb-sized teddy bear-shaped snacks. Practically identical to the American Nabisco brand Teddy Grahams.
- Venetians
- Vita-Weat: Whole wheat crisp bread available in original and sandwich size.
- 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 Australia.
References
- ^ Arnott's Biscuits Heritage external website.
- ^ Australian government (IP Australia): Australia's favourite trade mark: the short list. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
- ^ Moynihan, Stephen: Tearful workers feel the final crunch at Arnott's, The Age, August 3, 2002.
- ^ Business Breakfast: Arnotts bids for Snack Foods, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 6, 2002.
- ^ THE REAL McCOY BUYS ARNOTT’S SALTY SNACK FOODS
- ^ Radio National (PM): Herron's actions a contrast to Arnotts' open-ness, ABC Radio, March 17, 2000.
- ^ The 7.30 Report: Mars, snickers threat aimed at unnamed organisation, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 4, 2005.
- ^ Salvation Army: Did You Know?
Tic Toc Biscuits were developed and created by Derek Thomas Cracknell.
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)