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 famous English food brand. It's most known for its original Branston Pickle. This is a sweet pickle that was first made in 1922. It was created in a village called Branston in Staffordshire, England. The company that first made it was Crosse & Blackwell.
The first factory in Branston wasn't very good for making the pickle. So, in 1924, the production moved to London. It stayed there until 1969. Later, in 2004, the Branston pickle business was sold to a company called Premier Foods. The production then moved to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. In 2013, Premier Foods sold the brand to a Japanese company called Mizkan. Today, over 17 million jars of Branston Pickle are sold in the UK every year!
Contents
What is Branston Pickle?
Branston Pickle is made from different chopped vegetables. These include swede, carrots, onions, and cauliflower. These vegetables are pickled in a special sauce. The sauce is made from vinegar, tomato, apple, and spices.
Even though it's called a pickle, it's not like a cucumber pickle. It's sweet and spicy, with a thick, sticky brown sauce. It has chunks of vegetables in it, a bit like a chutney.
How People Enjoy Branston Pickle
Branston Pickle is a very popular food in the UK.
- It's often served with a ploughman's lunch. This is a common meal in British pubs.
- Many people love it in sandwiches, especially with cheese. A cheese and pickle sandwich is a classic!
- You can find Branston Pickle in different forms. There's the regular 'chunky' version.
- There's also a 'small chunk' version and a 'smooth' version. The smooth one is pureed, which makes it easy to spread.
- You can even buy it in squeeze-bottle packs.
- Branston also makes other flavored pickles, like Sweet Chilli and Beetroot.
Other Branston Products
Branston makes more than just pickle! They also have other food products. These include mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, piccalilli, brown sauce, salad cream, and baked beans.
Branston Baked Beans
In 2005, Branston launched its own baked beans. They wanted to compete with Heinz, which was the most popular brand in the UK.
- Branston promoted their beans by saying they were very "saucy."
- They even held a "Great British Bean Poll." People tasted Branston beans and Heinz beans without knowing which was which.
- In this poll, 76% of people chose Branston over Heinz!
- After this, Heinz even changed their own bean recipe.
Branston also tried to make other products using their famous name. They created Branston Relishes in four different flavors:
- Hot Chilli & Jalapeño
- Gherkin
- Sweet Onion
- Tomato & Red Pepper
Around 2015, Branston launched a sweet chili-flavored pickle. They also brought back their rich and fruity sauce. Plus, they added two new sauce flavors: rich and spicy, and rich and smoky. In 2017, Branston started selling their tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, and brown sauce in small, single-serving sachets.
Did you know? Walkers once made a type of crisps (potato chips) called "Cheese and Branston Pickle."
Branston's New Owner
In late 2012, it was announced that Premier Foods would sell the Branston brand. They sold it to a Japanese food company called Mizkan Group for £92.5 million. This sale helped Premier Foods reduce its debts. Mizkan also owns other well-known brands like Sarson's vinegar and Hayward's pickled onions. The factory in Bury St Edmunds still makes Branston products today.
See also
In Spanish: Branston Pickle para niños
