Gale's facts for kids
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| Private (1919–86) | |
| Industry | Food |
| Fate | Acquired by Rowntree Mackintosh in 1986, currently a brand |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Richard Westley Gale |
| Headquarters |
United Kingdom
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Area served
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U.K. |
| Products | Honey |
| Parent |
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Gale's is a well-known brand of honey in the United Kingdom. It is currently owned by a company called Premier Foods. The original Gale's company started way back in 1919 and made its own honey for many years. It remained an independent company until 1986.
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The Sweet Story of Gale's Honey
The Gale's company began in 1919. Two friends, Richard Westley Gale and Sidney Thomas Rayner, started a business together. They called their partnership "Rayner & Gale."
In 1926, their partnership changed. It became "R.W. Gale & Co. Ltd." The company was based in south London.
Joining Reckitt & Colman
In 1948, a company called Joseph Farrow & Company bought Gale's. Joseph Farrow was part of a bigger company called Reckitt & Colman. This company made canned foods like peas.
In the early 1960s, Gale's introduced a new product. It was a peanut spread called Smooth'n Nutty. In 1962, they also started making mincemeat. For many years, Gale's was the biggest honey maker in the UK!
Becoming Part of Rowntree Mackintosh
On November 28, 1986, a large company called Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery bought Gale's. The honey production then moved to Hadfield, Derbyshire.
Rowntree Mackintosh was later bought by another big company, Nestlé, in 1988.
Moving to Premier Foods
In May 2002, Gale's honey became part of Premier Foods. Premier Foods bought several brands from Nestlé, including Gale's.
The factory where Gale's honey was made in Hadfield closed in 2004. Production moved to a plant in Cambridgeshire. This plant also makes other sweet products like Hartley's jam.
Today, Gale's honey is made at the Premier Foods plant in Histon, near Cambridge. They sell about 4 million jars of honey every year!
In 1964, when Joseph Farrow owned Gale's, they suggested ways to use honey. They promoted stirring honey into hot milk as a nightcap before bed. They also suggested honey in hot water with lemon juice to help a sore throat.
Gale's honey was advertised with a catchy jingle. It went: Gale's, Gale's pass the honey please, think about the honey, think about the bees.
Gale's honey sells especially well in the colder months. This is usually from November to February each year.
Different Kinds of Gale's Honey
Gale's offers different types of honey for people to enjoy:
- Gale's Traditional Set Honey (this honey is thick and creamy)
- Gale's Traditional Clear Honey (this honey is runny and smooth)
- Gale's Lemon Curd (a sweet and tangy spread, not honey)
