Arnott's Biscuits Holdings
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| Arnott's Biscuit Holdings | |
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| Type | Proprietry Limited |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1865, in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Industry | Biscuits |
| Products | Tim Tams Iced Vovos Tiny Teddies |
| Revenue | AUD $1.2 billion (2004)[1] |
| Employees | 7,942 (2004)[2] |
| Slogan | "There is no substitute for quality." |
| Website | arnotts.com.au |
Arnott's Biscuits Holdings, commonly known as Arnott's, is an American owned corporation in Australia and is the largest producer of biscuits in Australia. Arnott's is also Australia's second-largest supplier of snack food.
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[edit] History
The company originated from a bakery and confectionery in Newcastle, New South Wales, opened in December 1865 by Scottish Michael "Biscuits" Cole.[1]
The company's logo is a colourful parrot, believed to have been drawn by William Arnott's daughter-in-law, Leslie Arnott. It was registered as a trademark in 1907.[2]
[edit] Ownership and corporate history
Arnott's has been established for so long that it has become an essential part of Australian culture. In 2001, however, the Campbell Soup Company of North America acquired Arnott's. This caused a significant amount of controversy in Australia, based on the desire for such an Australian icon to remain in Australian hands, and a fear that Campbell's would somehow Americanise the products. The company closed its Melbourne factory in September 2002, but retained its facilties in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.[3]
Arnott's owns Snack Foods Limited, which in turn owns Snack Brands Australia.[4]
[edit] Arnott's poison scare
In 1997, Arnott's Biscuits was subject to an extortion bid by a Queensland extortioner who threatened to poison packets of Arnott's Monte Carlo biscuits in South Australia and Victoria. The company conducted a massive recall and publicity campaign, publishing the extortionist's threats and demands in full-page newspaper ads.[5] The recall cost the company AUD $22 million, but Arnott's was praised for its openness and honesty in dealing with the crisis.[6]
[edit] Products
Arnott's are well-known in Australia and internationally for producing several quintessentially Australian biscuits. Some of their major products include:
- Tim Tams: A cuboid chocolate-coated biscuit, named after a racehorse.
- Iced Vovos: A wheat flour biscuit with a raspberry and cream topping.
- Arnotts Shapes: A savoury cracker style biscuit with sprinkled flavourings. Sold in various varieties such as Barbecue, Pizza, Cheddar, Chicken Crimpy, and Cheese & Bacon.
- Teddy Bear Biscuits: Biscuits shaped like a teddy bear. Also comes in a popular chocolate coated variety. Note that these are a different product to Tiny Teddies.
- Tiny Teddies: Thumb-sized teddy bear-shaped snacks. Practically identical to the American Nabisco brand Teddy Grahams.
- TeeVee Snacks: A bite-sized chocolate coated biscuit, promoted as being ideal for TV snacking.
- SAO: A plain cracker style biscuit. The name is rumoured to stand for "Salvation Army Officer".[7]
- Monte Carlo biscuits: raspberry flavoured cream filled biscuits
[edit] References
- ^ Barker, Anthony: What Happened When: A Chronology of Australia from 1788 (2001), Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-426-3.
- ^ Australian Government (IP Australia): Australia's favourite trade mark: the short list. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
- ^ Moynihan, Stephen: Tearful workers feel the final crunch at Arnott's, The Age, August 3, 2002.
- ^ Business Breakfast: Arnotts bids for Snack Foods, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 6, 2002.
- ^ Radio National (PM): Herron's actions a contrast to Arnotts' open-ness, ABC Radio, March 17, 2000.
- ^ The 7.30 Report: Mars, snickers threat aimed at unnamed organisation, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 4, 2005.
- ^ Salvation Army: Did You Know?
[edit] Further reading
- Boag, Charles: The Story of Arnott's Famous Biscuits: A History & A Celebration (1993), Lansdowne (Sydney). ISBN 1-86302-284-8.
