Arnott's Biscuits Holdings

Arnott's Biscuit Holdings
Type Proprietary Limited
Industry Biscuits
Snack food
Founded 1865
Headquarters Sydney, Australia
Products Tim Tams
Iced Vovos
Tiny Teddys
Revenue A$1.2 billion (2004)[1]
Employees 4,300+ [2]
Parent Campbell Soup Company
Website Arnotts.com.au

Arnott's Biscuits Holdings (commonly known as Arnott's), is a subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company of the United States.

In Australia Arnott's is the largest producer of biscuits and the second-largest supplier of snack food.

Contents

History

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 Yo-Yo, Brockhoff Salada. Until 1975 the company was under family control with the descendants of William Arnott, including Halse Rogers Arnott and Geoffrey Arnott, acting as Chairman.

Ownership and corporate history

In 1997, the Campbell Soup Company of North America, 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 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 factory in September 2002. At the same time, it expanded its facilities in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.[3]

In 2002, Arnott's acquired Snack Foods Limited.[4]

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 Australia and Victoria. The company conducted a massive recall and publicity campaign, publishing the extortionist's threats and demands in full-page newspaper ads.[5] The recall cost the company A$22 million, but Arnott's was praised for its openness and honesty in dealing with the crisis.[6]

Products

Arnott's are well-known in Australia and internationally for producing several quintessentially Australian biscuits. Some of their major products include:

References

  1. ^ Arnott's Biscuits Heritage external website.
  2. ^ Australian government (IP Australia): Australia's favourite trade mark: the short list. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
  3. ^ Moynihan, Stephen: Tearful workers feel the final crunch at Arnott's, The Age, August 3, 2002.
  4. ^ Business Breakfast: Arnotts bids for Snack Foods, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 6, 2002.
  5. ^ Radio National (PM): Herron's actions a contrast to Arnotts' open-ness, ABC Radio, March 17, 2000.
  6. ^ The 7.30 Report: Mars, snickers threat aimed at unnamed organisation, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 4, 2005.
  7. ^ Salvation Army: Did You Know?

Further reading

External links