Trebor (confectionery) facts for kids
| Owner | Mondelez International |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Previous owners | Trebor Limited |
Trebor is a well-known British brand that makes sweets, especially mints. It is currently owned by a company called Mondelez International. Trebor used to be its own company before it became part of a larger group.
Contents
The Story of Trebor Sweets
How Trebor Started
Trebor began on January 4, 1907, in south-west Essex, England. Four friends named W.B. Woodcock, Thomas Henry King, Robert Robertson, and Sydney Herbert Marks started the company. Their first factory was on Katherine Road in Forest Gate, London.
The name Trebor is simply "Robert" spelled backwards. This name was officially registered as a trademark shortly after World War I ended. Sadly, during World War II, the factory on Katherine Road was hit by a German bomb on April 18, 1944.
Growing Bigger
As the years passed, Trebor grew. In 1959, they bought another sweet company called Moffat Toffee. The next year, in 1960, they also bought Jamesons Chocolates.
By the late 1960s, Trebor was selling its sweets to over 50 countries around the world. About 20% of all the sweets they made were sent to other countries. The United States was their biggest international customer.
In 1966, Trebor had doubled its exports in just four years. Because of this success, the company's chairman, John Marks (who was the son of one of the founders), received a special award in 1967.
Becoming a Top Sweet Maker
By the end of the 1960s, Trebor was the fourth largest sweet-making company in the United Kingdom. Their main rivals were other big names like Rowntree Mackintosh and Cadbury.
Early advertisements for Trebor used a catchy jingle that said, "Trebor mints are a minty bit stronger." In January 1969, Trebor bought the sweet-making parts of another company called Clarnico.
In 1970, John Graham Marks, the grandson of the company's founder, became the chairman. He and his brother Ian ran the company, keeping it a family business. They even had a special way of running things that focused on caring for their employees. For example, in 1981, they stopped night shifts because they believed it was better for family life.
In December 1985, Trebor bought the Maynards sweet company. By the mid-1980s, Trebor was the top seller of branded mints and boiled sweets in Britain.
Joining Cadbury
On September 14, 1989, a very big sweet company called Cadbury Schweppes bought Trebor. Cadbury paid £147 million for the company. At that time, Trebor had about 3,000 employees.
From March 1, 1990, the company became known as Trebor Bassetts, and it was a part of Cadbury. Eventually, the production of Trebor sweets moved to a factory in North Sheffield.
Where Trebor Sweets Were Made
Trebor's main office was in Woodford, which is now part of Greater London. They had a factory in Forest Gate called the Trebor Works starting in 1935.
In 1939, another factory opened in Chesterfield. This factory was built on the site of an old brewery. It closed down in 2005. Trebor Bassett also had a large distribution center in Holmewood, where sweets were sent out to shops.
In 1978, a new factory was built in Colchester. This factory cost £15 million to build, but it closed in March 2000.
Special Recognition
In April 1966, Trebor received a special honor called the Queen's Award to Industry. This award recognized their excellent achievements.
Trebor in Pop Culture
In 1987, a song called "Mr. Soft" by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel was used in TV commercials for Trebor Softmints and Softfruits. A singer named Phillip Pope sang the song, sounding like Steve Harley. Because the adverts were so popular, the original song was re-released as a single in the UK in March 1988.
Popular Trebor Sweets
Trebor has made many popular sweets over the years:
- Refreshers: These fizzy sweets were first launched in 1935.
- Extra Strong Mints: These powerful mints were introduced in 1937. They were first known as Extra Strong Peppermints.
- SoftMints: These chewy mints come in peppermint or spearmint flavors.
- SoftFruits: These soft, chewy sweets come in orange, lemon, and strawberry flavors.
See also
- Maynards
- Bassetts
- Barratt (confectionery)
