United Biscuits facts for kids
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Trade name
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United Biscuits |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Food |
| Predecessor | United Biscuits (holdings) plc |
| Founded | 18 March 1948 |
| Headquarters | London, England, UK |
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Key people
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Murat Ülker (Chairman) David Murray (Managing Director) Sridhar Ramamurthy (Chief financial officer) |
| Products | Sweet and salty snacks |
| Revenue |  £867.5 million (2020) |
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Operating income
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£83.0 million (2020) |
| £77.4 million (2020) |
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Number of employees
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4,526 (2018) |
| Parent | Pladis (50–75%) |
United Biscuits (often called UB) is a big British company that makes food. They are famous for popular biscuits like McVitie's and Jacob's Cream Crackers, plus snacks like Twiglets.
UB used to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, which is where shares of big companies are bought and sold. In 2014, a company called Yıldız Holding bought United Biscuits. Now, UB is part of a larger food group called Pladis.
United Biscuits makes its products in several countries across Europe, including the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. They also have a factory in India. The main office for the company is in Chiswick Business Park in West London.
Contents
How United Biscuits Started
United Biscuits (UB) was created in 1948. It happened when two Scottish family businesses joined together: McVitie & Price and MacFarlane Lang.
In 1962, UB bought another biscuit company called William Crawford & Sons. This company was known for its shortbread. A few years later, in 1965, UB also bought William MacDonald & Sons. This deal brought the popular Penguin biscuit brand into the UB family.
United Biscuits became a public company on the London Stock Exchange on July 27, 1948.
Growing the Company
In 1972, United Biscuits bought Carr's of Carlisle. This company made Table Water biscuits. Two years later, in 1974, UB bought a company in the USA called Keebler Company.
For a while, between 1977 and 1989, United Biscuits even owned the Wimpy Bar fast food restaurant chain.
In 1988, UB bought a frozen food company called Ross Young's.
Changes and Sales
In 1995, United Biscuits sold Keebler, the US company, because they found it hard to succeed in the American market.
In 2000, a group of investors bought United Biscuits. At this time, UB also took over some of Nabisco's businesses in Europe. They also sold off parts of their international business in places like Scandinavia and Asia. They sold some brands, including TUC, to Groupe Danone.
In 2001, UB sold Young's Bluecrest. This helped them focus more on making sweet biscuits. In 2004, United Biscuits bought the UK part of Groupe Danone's Jacob's Biscuit Group. This deal brought famous products like Cream Crackers and Twiglets back to UB.
In 2006, the company was sold again to a group of investment firms. Later, in 2012, UB sold its KP Snacks business. Finally, in November 2014, Blackstone and PAI Partners sold United Biscuits to Yıldız Holding.
Where UB Operates
The main part of United Biscuits' business is in the United Kingdom. Here, they make biscuits under many well-known names. These include McVitie's biscuits and Jacob's Cream Crackers.
The company has factories in several European countries, such as the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. They also have a factory in India.
The main office for United Biscuits is in Chiswick Business Park in West London. Their main distribution center in the UK is in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
Popular Brands
United Biscuits makes many different types of biscuits and snacks. Here are some of their well-known brands:
- Carr's
- Crawfords
- Tasties
- Delacre
- Verkade
- Go ahead!
- Wing Dings
- Flipper Dipper
Jacob's Biscuits
Jacob's is a very popular brand, especially known for its crackers and savory snacks.
- Biscuits for Cheese
- Mini Cheddars
- Cheddars
- Cheeselets
- Choice Grain
- Cornish Wafer
- Cream Crackers
- Essentials Crackers
- Mediterraneo
- Thai Bites
- Water Biscuits
- Twiglets
- Crinklys
- Oddities
- TUC (UK market only)
McVitie's Biscuits
McVitie's is one of the most famous biscuit brands in the UK, known for many sweet treats.
- Ginger Nuts
- Digestives
- Hobnobs
- BN
- Rich Tea
- Penguin
- Taxi
- Lyle's
- Mini Rolls
- Club
- Gold
- Iced Gems
- Happy Faces
- Jaffa Cakes
- United (discontinued)
United Biscuits Network
The United Biscuits Network was a special radio station just for UB factories across the UK. It ran from 1970 to 1979. This network helped start the careers of famous UK radio and TV personalities like Steve Allen and Dale Winton.
See also
In Spanish: United Biscuits para niños
- Burton's Biscuit Company
- Huntley & Palmers
- Jacob Fruitfield Food Group
- Tunnock's
