Penguin (biscuit) facts for kids
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| Type | Biscuit |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Glasgow |
| Created by | William McDonald |
| Invented | 1932 |
| Variations | Orange Mint Cake bars |
The Penguin is a yummy chocolate bar. It has a crunchy biscuit and creamy chocolate filling. A company called McVitie's makes them in their factory in Stockport, England.
Contents
History of Penguin Biscuits
How Penguin Biscuits Started
The Penguin biscuit was first made in 1932. A man named William Macdonald started his own biscuit company in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1928. He saw some chocolate-covered biscuits from another country and got an idea. He wanted to make a biscuit with chocolate cream in the middle, covered in chocolate.
A few years later, in 1965, Macdonald's company joined a bigger company called United Biscuits. That's how the Penguin became a McVitie's product.
Fun Facts and Slogans
Every Penguin wrapper has a joke or a "funny fact" printed on it. The wrappers also have cool pictures of penguins, sometimes even looking like famous artworks!
You might have heard the famous advertising slogan from the 1980s: "When you're p-p-p-peckish, p-p-p-pick up a Penguin!” This slogan helped make Penguin biscuits very popular.
Penguin's Cousin: The Tim Tam
Did you know that the Tim Tam biscuit from Australia is based on the Penguin? It was first sold in 1964. People sometimes playfully debate which biscuit is better!
Changes to Ingredients
For a while, some people were concerned because Penguin biscuits used an ingredient called "trans fatty acids" in their cream filling. However, by December 2007, United Biscuits removed this ingredient. They even started advertising that Penguins no longer contained trans fats.
Wrapper Design
The front of a Penguin wrapper usually shows a picture of a penguin. On the back, you'll typically find a joke to make you smile!
Types of Penguin Biscuits
Penguin biscuits come in a few different types:
- Milk Chocolate
- Orange
- Mint
Past Flavours
Some flavours that are no longer made include:
- Toffee
- Dark chocolate
Other Penguin Treats
Over the years, McVitie's has made other snacks inspired by the Penguin biscuit. In 2003, they introduced "sub brands" like Penguin Chukkas, Wing Dings, Flipper Dipper, Splatz, and Mini Splatz. Later, in 2008, they also made Penguin triple chocolate wafers.
