LU (biscuits) facts for kids
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LU factory in Nantes, pictured in 2011
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Formerly
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Lefèvre-Utile Biscuit Co. |
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| Industry | Food |
| Fate | Acquired by Danone in 1986, then other owners |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Founder | Jean-Romain Lefèvre Pauline Lefèvre-Utile Louis Lefèvre-Utile |
| Headquarters |
Nantes
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Products | Biscuit |
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LU, short for Lefèvre-Utile, is a famous French brand that makes delicious biscuits. It's especially well-known in the city of Nantes, where it started. Today, LU is part of a big American company called Mondelēz International. This happened in 2012, after it was owned by Kraft Foods Inc. and before that, by Groupe Danone.
The most famous LU biscuit is the Petit-Beurre. Other popular LU biscuits include the Ladyfinger, Champagne biscuits, Petit four, and Prince de LU.
History of LU Biscuits
LU was started in Nantes, France, in 1846 by Jean-Romain Lefèvre. At first, he sold biscuits from an English factory. Soon, he began making his own biscuits. The company's name, Lefèvre-Utile, comes from Jean-Romain Lefèvre and his wife, Pauline-Isabelle Utile. She was also his business partner.
How LU Got Its Name
The initials "LU" first appeared in 1897. An artist named Alfons Mucha used them in an advertisement for the "Lefèvre-Utile Biscuit Co." that year. Also in 1897, the company hired another artist, Firmin Bouisset, to create a poster.
Bouisset was famous for his work with the Menier Chocolate company. He created a poster called Petit Écolier, which means "the Little Schoolboy." This poster included the LU initials. The Petit Écolier image became very popular. It was even pressed onto the company's famous Petit Beurre biscuits. Because the logo was so successful, the company soon became known simply as LU.
Changes in Ownership
Jean-Romain Lefèvre's son, Louis Lefèvre-Utile, later took over the company. Over the years, LU was bought by different companies. In 1986, it became part of Groupe Danone. Even though LU is now known around the world, most of its products are sold in Western Europe. In 2005, LU biscuits made up almost half of Danone's biscuit sales.
In July 2007, LU was sold to Kraft Foods. Later, Kraft Foods changed its name to Mondelez International in 2012. LU is still part of Mondelez International today.
Gallery
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Petit Beurre biscuit, 1886
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Advertisement for LU Champagne Biscuits by Alfons Mucha, 1896
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Advertisement for Biscuits Lefèvre-Utile by Alfons Mucha, 1897
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A display of various LU biscuits
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La Bretonne, painted by Hippolyte Berteaux for Lefèvre-Utile
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A postcard showing a painted sign for LU biscuits in the background of this Paris street scene, 1908
See also
In Spanish: Lefèvre-Utile para niños
- Château de Goulaine
- Prince de lu
