Findus facts for kids
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| Type | Frozen food |
|---|---|
| Owner | Nomad Foods (Nordic countries, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium) |
| Country | Sweden |
| Introduced | 1945 |
| Markets | Europe |
| Previous owners | Nestlé Unilever |
Findus is a well-known brand that sells frozen food. It first started in Sweden in 1945. You might know Findus for its ready meals, peas, or its famous Crispy Pancakes. These pancakes were first made in the early 1970s.
Over the years, different companies have owned the Findus brand. From 1962 to 2000, the Swiss food company Nestlé owned Findus. Today, a company called Nomad Foods owns the brand in many parts of Europe, including Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
Contents
The Story of Findus
The Findus brand began in Sweden. It started with a company called Skånska Frukt- vin- & Likörfabriken in 1905. This name means "Scanian Fruit, Wine and Liqueur Factory." In 1941, a candy company bought it. They changed its name to Findus Canning Factory.
First Frozen Foods
In 1945, the first Findus-branded frozen foods went on sale in Sweden. These foods were made in a small factory. By the late 1950s, Findus products were sold in more and more European countries. They arrived in the United Kingdom in 1958.
Changes in Ownership
In 1962, the big Swiss food company Nestlé bought Findus. A year later, in 1963, Nestlé and another company called Unilever teamed up. They created a joint company in Italy to sell frozen foods under the Findus name.
In the 1970s, a famous film director named Orson Welles did voiceovers for Findus TV ads in the UK. Some recordings of him complaining about the ads became famous. In 1971, Findus started using its well-known "Findus Flag" logo.
Later, in 1985, Unilever took full control of the Findus brand in Italy. Nestlé launched a new range of Findus meals called Lean Cuisine in 1987.
New Owners and Growth
In 1999, a Swedish company bought the Findus brand from Nestlé. This included Findus in Scandinavia, France, Spain, and the UK. In 2006, another company bought most of the Findus business. They created a larger company called FoodVest. This company also owned Young's Seafood.
In 2008, a British company bought FoodVest, which was then renamed Findus Group. In 2015, Nomad Foods bought the Findus business in most of Europe. However, Findus UK and Young's stayed with their original owners for a while. In 2016, Young's said it would stop using the Findus name in the UK. Later, Nomad Foods bought Findus UK as well. In 2021, Nomad Foods also bought Findus in Switzerland. This brought all the main Findus brands in Europe under one owner.
Findus Products
Findus sells many different frozen foods. In Italy, the Findus range includes "4 Salti in Padella." This means "four jumps in a pan." These are easy-to-cook versions of classic Italian dishes. You can heat them in a microwave or a pan. Examples include pasta with amatriciana or ragù.
Crispy Pancakes
Crispy Pancakes are a very popular Findus product. They are frozen, savory pancakes. They have different fillings and are covered in breadcrumbs. In the past, fillings included cheddar cheese, chicken and bacon, or chicken and mushroom.
Crispy Pancakes are sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Italy, they are called Sofficini. This means "soft ones" or "fluffy ones." Italian Sofficini often have fillings like mozzarella and cheese, or tomato and mozzarella. A TV chef named Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall even made his own version of Crispy Pancakes on his show. He said he loved them as a child.
Sports Sponsorships
Findus has also supported sports teams. They used to sponsor the British National League in ice hockey. Findus also sponsored the English football club Grimsby Town from 1979 to 1984.
See also
In Spanish: Findus para niños
