Barratt (confectionery) facts for kids
Barratt is a super popular sweet brand in the United Kingdom. You might know some of their famous treats like DipDab, Refreshers, Sherbet Fountain, Fruit Salad, Black Jack, and Wham!
The company, Barratt & Co., started way back in 1848 in London. It was founded by a man named George Osborne Barratt. By 1906, it had grown so much that it became the biggest sweet maker in the whole world!
Barratt became a limited company in 1909. Over the years, it was bought by different companies. First, Bassett's in 1966, then Cadbury Schweppes in 1989. Since 2008, it has been part of Tangerine Confectionery, which is now called Valeo Confectionery.
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The Sweet History of Barratt
How Barratt Began
George Osborne Barratt started his sweet business in 1848. He began with just one person making sweets in London. His business quickly became very successful. It grew so fast that he bought nearby buildings to make more space.
Mr. Barratt used to travel around London in his pony and trap. He delivered and showed off his delicious sweets. Later, his oldest son, George, took over these trips when he was about 17. Mr. Barratt then spent 20 years traveling across the country.
One of their big hits was a toffee called 'stickjaw'. People said it was made by accident, but kids loved it! This sweet helped the company become even more popular.
Growing Bigger and Moving Factories
Barratt's business soon became too big for its first location. So, they moved to a larger building in Wood Green, north of London. This new place was an old piano factory. The first part of the new factory was ready in 1882.
By 1904, Barratt was using eight buildings spread over nearly 5 acres of land. Even after a big fire in 1899 destroyed five buildings, they kept growing. Just two years later, about 2,000 people worked there. They made an amazing 350 tonnes of sweets every week! This made Barratt the largest sweet manufacturer in the world.
New Leaders and Changes
After George Osborne Barratt passed away in 1906, his oldest son, George William, became the chairman. In 1909, the company officially became a limited company. It was valued at a huge £330,000!
George Osborne's youngest son, Albert, also led the company from 1911 to 1921. He was even knighted in 1922 for his public service. Sir Albert passed away in 1941.
Barratt & Co. Ltd. joined Bassett's in 1966. Then, Cadbury Schweppes took over Bassett's in 1989. Since 2008, Barratt has been part of Tangerine Confectionery. The Barratt brand was brought back into use in 2018. The old factory in Wood Green closed in 1980. Today, a place called The Chocolate Factory stands there.
Looking After Staff
Barratt generally had good relationships with its workers. In the early 1890s, the company even started its own union for employees. It was called "Barratt & Co.’s and Employees Aid & Protective Union." Workers paid a small amount each week. In return, they received benefits if they needed them, like when they were sick.
Workers often showed how much they appreciated the company's management. For example, they celebrated Mr. and Mrs. Barratt's golden wedding in 1899. They also showed thanks for a fun trip to Southend in 1910.
In the 1930s, a social club opened for staff. It had a club room, snooker, darts, dancing, and even a drama group. The company also had a nurse and a doctor who visited the factory. They even had a foot doctor and a fully equipped dental center with a dentist who came once a week!
Popular Barratt Sweet Lines
Early Sweets
In the early days, Barratt mostly made "boilings." These were hard sweets like butter, raspberry, and ginger toffees. Later, they added other unique sweets. Some of these included Almond Rock, Brandy Snaps, and Ching Chang Marbles.
One very talked-about sweet was Tichborne Rock. This was a pulled rock sweet that had the figure of Sir Roger Tichborne inside. Shops would display it with a sign that said, "Crack the rock where’er you will / You'll find Sir Roger in it still."
Famous New Sweets
In the 1880s, Barratt introduced Yankee Panky. This was a soft sweet wrapped in wax paper, which was a new idea for the sweet industry! They also made Rose Pastilles and Refresher Sticks.
Two of Barratt's most famous sweets, Black Jack and Fruit Salad, first appeared in 1920. Then, the much-loved Sherbet Fountain came out in 1925. The sherbet came in a cardboard tube. It had a liquorice "straw" sticking out of the top for dipping!
By the 1950s, Barratt made about 200 different kinds of sweets! These included Rock, Sweet Cigarettes, Sherbet Products, and Liquorice. They also made Boilings, Caramels, and Toffees.
Today, the Barratt brand is back with many classic favorites. These include DipDab, Refreshers, Nougat, Sherbet Fountain, Fruit Salad, Black Jack, and Wham. They also have new versions like Refreshers Softies and Fruit Salad Softies. The modern Sherbet Fountain, introduced in 2009, has a slightly different design.
See also
- Maynards
- Trebor (confectionery)
- Bassetts
- Fox's Confectionery
- Swizzels
- Rowntrees
