Wright's Biscuits facts for kids

Wright's Biscuits was a famous company that made biscuits and cakes. It started a long time ago in 1790 in South Shields, England. By the 1930s, Wright's Biscuits was making lots of tasty treats using modern factory methods. They became a big supplier of biscuits, cakes, and other food items all over the United Kingdom. They were also a very important employer in the Tyne and Wear area, giving many people jobs.

A well-known children's artist named Mabel Lucie Attwell created the fun logo for Wright's. It was a curly-haired boy called Mischief! There was even a "Mischief Club" for children, and members could collect special badges.

The Story of Wright's Biscuits

Workers making biscuits at Wright's factory around the 1940s.

Wright's Biscuits began in 1790 in a place called Holborn in South Shields. At first, they mainly made tough biscuits for ships. These were important for sailors on long journeys.

In 1898, a fire destroyed their factory. But Wright's didn't give up! They built completely new buildings at Tyne Dock, which helped them grow even more.

Making Biscuits During Wartime

During the Second World War, the factory was very busy. They worked day and night to make biscuits for the Army. About 300 people, mostly women, worked in shifts around the clock to keep production going. This shows how important their biscuits were for the country.

Growing Bigger and Changing Hands

In 1936, Wright's Biscuits became a "public company." This meant people could buy parts of the company, like shares. At their first big meeting, they said the company had grown from "nothing" just four years before.

Later, in 1962, another big company called J Lyons took over Wright's Cakes factory. Wright's Biscuits decided it wasn't profitable enough to sell cakes by van all over the country anymore. In the same year, Wright's Biscuits bought another biscuit company called Kemp Biscuits.

By 1966, the company faced some challenges because Kemp Biscuits Ltd was losing money. This slowed down the growth of Wright's Biscuits.

The Final Chapter

In 1972, a very large food group called United Biscuits took over Wright's Biscuits, Kemp Biscuits Ltd, and Carr's Carlisle. They became part of the giant Cavenham Foods group. However, in October 1972, the company faced problems and the factory finally closed in 1973.

Workers packing Wright's Biscuits for places like Rangoon and Hamburg around the 1940s.

After Wright's Biscuits closed, the factory reopened in 1975 under a new name, Lowe's. This new company made dog biscuits! But this also eventually closed in 1983. After that, the factory buildings and its tall chimney, which was a well-known landmark in the Tyne and Wear Dock area, were taken down.