Branston (brand) facts for kids
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A jar of Branston Pickle when it was sold under the Crosse and Blackwell brand
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| Type | Pickle, sauces |
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| Owner | Mizkan |
| Country | England |
| Introduced | 1922 |
| Previous owners | Crosse and Blackwell Nestlé Premier Foods |
| Tagline | Bring out the Branston |
Branston is a well-known English food brand. It is most famous for its original Branston Pickle. This sweet pickle was first made in 1922. It was created in the village of Branston in Staffordshire, England. The company Crosse & Blackwell started making it.
The first factory in Branston was not very efficient. So, in 1924, production moved to London. It went to a company called E Lazenby & Sons. This company was part of Crosse & Blackwell. The London factory made Branston Pickle until 1969. Later, in 2004, Nestlé sold the pickle business to Premier Foods. Production then moved to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. In 2013, Premier Foods sold the brand to Mizkan. Today, over 17 million jars of Branston Pickle are sold in the UK each year.
Contents
What is Branston Pickle?
Branston Pickle is a special kind of pickle. It is made from different diced vegetables. These include swede, carrots, onions, and cauliflower. These vegetables are pickled in a tasty sauce. The sauce is made from vinegar, tomato, apple, and spices.
Even though it's called a pickle, it's a bit like a chutney. It is sweet and spicy. It has a thick, sticky brown sauce with chunks of vegetables. People often eat it with a ploughman's lunch. This is a popular meal in British pubs. It is also very popular in cheese sandwiches. Many sandwich shops in the UK offer a cheese and pickle option.
Different Kinds of Branston Pickle
Branston Pickle comes in a few different forms. There is the standard 'chunky' version. There is also a 'small chunk' variety. A 'smooth' version is also available. This one is pureed, making it easy to spread on bread. You can also find it in convenient squeeze-bottle packs. Branston also makes other flavored pickles. These include Sweet Chilli and Beetroot flavored pickle.
Other Branston Products
Branston makes more than just pickle. They also produce other food items. These include mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, piccalilli, brown sauce, salad cream, and baked beans.
Branston Baked Beans
In 2005, Premier Foods launched Branston Baked Beans. They wanted to compete with Heinz. Heinz was the main brand for baked beans in the UK. Branston's marketing showed a bean tin explaining how their beans were very "saucy."
They also held a 'Great British Bean Poll.' People tasted both Branston beans and the "brand leader" (Heinz). In this poll, 76% of people chose Branston over Heinz. This led Heinz to change their own bean recipe.
Other Branston Sauces
Premier Foods also tried to use the Branston name for relishes. They made four different flavors. These were Hot Chilli & Jalapeño, Gherkin, Sweet Onion, and Tomato & Red Pepper. Around 2015, a sweet chili-flavored pickle was launched. The brand's rich and fruity sauce was also updated. Two new sauce flavors, rich and spicy, and rich and smoky, were added. In 2017, Branston started selling its tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, and brown sauce in small single-serving sachet packs.
You might have even seen "Cheese and Branston Pickle" flavored crisps. These were made by Walkers at one time.
Branston's New Owner
In late 2012, Premier Foods decided to sell the Branston brand. They sold it to the Japanese food company Mizkan Group for £92.5 million. This sale helped Premier Foods reduce its debt. Branston joined other brands like Sarson's vinegar and Hayward's pickled onions under Mizkan. The factory in Bury St Edmunds still makes Branston products today.
Where Branston is Sold
Branston Pickle is popular in the UK. But it is also sold in many other countries. You can find it in Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It's also available in New Zealand, Norway, France, and Denmark. Other countries include Malta, Singapore, Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands. It's also sold in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. You can find it in South Africa, parts of Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, Angola, and Namibia. Even though Mizkan Group owns the brand, it is not sold in Japan.
See also
In Spanish: Branston Pickle para niños
