Terry's facts for kids
 |
|
| Traded as | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Fate | Bought by Kraft General Foods (later Kraft Foods and Mondelēz International) Became part of Carambar & Co in 2016. |
| Predecessor | Bayldon and Berry Terry and Berry |
| Successor | Terry's Suchard |
| Founded | 1767 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters |
,
England
|
|
Number of locations
|
The Chocolate Works, York |
|
Area served
|
Global |
| Products | Terry's Chocolate Orange Terry's All Gold |
Terry's is a famous British company that makes chocolate and sweets. It started way back in 1767! For a long time, its main factory was in York, England. But that factory closed in 2005.
Later, in 2019, the company started up again as Terry's Chocolate Co in London. Terry's is best known for its yummy Terry's Chocolate Orange, which first came out in 1932. They also make the popular Terry's All Gold box of chocolates.
Over the years, the Terry's brand has been owned by several different companies. In 1993, Kraft Foods bought it. Then, in 2012, it became part of Mondelēz International. In 2016, a company called Eurazeo bought it. Now, Terry's products are made in Strasbourg, France, by a company called Carambar & Co.
The Sweet Story of Terry's
The Terry's story began in 1767 in York, England. It started as a small shop near Bootham Bar. The shop sold things like cough drops, candied fruits, and other sweet treats.
In 1823, a chemist named Joseph Terry joined the business. He was married to a relative of one of the owners. Joseph was very clever and used his chemistry skills to create new kinds of sweets. He made sugared candies, candied fruit peels, and even marmalade.
Growing the Business
Joseph Terry was a smart businessman. He started using the new railway system to send his products all over northern England and even to London. This helped the company grow a lot!
After Joseph Terry passed away in 1850, his sons took over. One of his sons, also named Joseph, really expanded the business. In 1858, he moved production to a bigger factory in Clementhorpe, right next to the River Ouse. This was great because ships could easily bring in ingredients like sugar and cocoa, and also coal to power the new steam machines.
Joseph Terry Jr. was so successful that he was made a knight in 1887. He also became the Lord Mayor of York four times! The company's name changed to Joseph Terry & Sons.
A New Factory and Famous Chocolates
After Sir Joseph Terry died in 1898, his sons Frank and Thomas took charge. In 1911, Thomas's son, Noel, joined the company.
In the 1920s, the family decided to build a brand new, modern factory. It was called Terry's Chocolate Works and was built in a cool Art Deco style. It even had a tall, special clock tower! This new factory opened in 1926.
At this new factory, they created some of their most famous products:
- The Chocolate Apple (1926)
- The Terry's Chocolate Orange (1932)
- Terry's All Gold (also in the 1930s)
Terry's During Wartime
During the Second World War, the Terry's factory helped with the war effort. It was used to make and fix airplane parts! But they still made some sweets. They produced jellies for other companies and even chocolate for soldiers and lifeboat rations.
After the War and New Owners
After the war, it was hard to make chocolate because ingredients were scarce. So, in 1954, they stopped making the Chocolate Apple to focus more on the popular Chocolate Orange.
Over the years, Terry's was bought by several big companies. In 1977, Colgate-Palmolive Company bought it. Then, in 1982, United Biscuits took over. Finally, in 1993, Kraft Foods bought Terry's. They combined it with another chocolate company to create Terry's Suchard.
Around 2000, the company changed its name from "Terry's of York" to just "Terry's." This made it seem less connected to York.
The York Factory Closes
In 2004, Kraft Foods decided to close the Terry's factory in York. They moved the production of Chocolate Orange and All Gold to factories in other countries like Belgium and Poland. The York factory closed its doors on September 30, 2005, and many people lost their jobs.
In 2012, Kraft Foods split into two companies, and Terry's became part of Mondelēz International. Then, in 2016, the brand was bought by a company called Eurazeo. Now, Terry's is part of Carambar & Co, and the Chocolate Orange is made in France.
Terry's Chocolate Co Today
In 2019, a new company called Terry's Chocolate Co was set up in London. Its job is to sell Terry's products in the UK.
Terry's Key Locations in York
Terry's had a few important places in York over its long history.
St Helen's Square Shop
The business was in St Helen's Square from as early as 1818. This building was both a shop and a small factory. Later, it became a fancy restaurant. Even today, you can still see the "Terry" name carved on the front of the building!
Clementhorpe Factory
In 1858, Terry's leased a new factory site in Clementhorpe. A new chocolate factory was built there in 1862. This factory kept making sweets even after the bigger Chocolate Works opened. The Clementhorpe factory was eventually torn down in 1987.
The Chocolate Works Factory
Work on the famous Terry's Chocolate Works began in 1924. This huge factory had a 135-foot tall clock tower and a very long main building. These buildings were so special that they were given a "Grade II listed" status in 2005. This means they are important historical buildings.
After the factory closed, the site was bought by developers. It's now being redeveloped into homes and other businesses. The main factory building has been turned into apartments called "The Residence."
The Terry Family's Legacy
Members of the Terry family were important people in York. Sir Joseph Terry was the Lord Mayor of York several times in the late 1800s. Other family members also held important roles in the region, like High Sheriff.
