A Look at Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery's Past and Present

Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery has a rich history that spans over a century. The company was founded in 1862 by Henry Isaac Rowntree and his brother Joseph Rowntree in York, England.

Their early success was built on traditional confectionery products like toffees and caramels. They also experimented with new recipes and flavors.

In 1934, Rowntree Mackintosh merged with the Mackintosh confectionery company, expanding their product range and customer base. This marked a significant turning point in the company's history.

The company's most iconic products, such as Quality Street chocolates, are still enjoyed today by people around the world.

Rowntree Mackintosh has its roots in the Quaker movement, dating back to 1725 when Mary Tuke started a grocer's shop in York.

The business was initially run by Mary's nephew William, who took over after her death in 1750. He renamed the shop William Tuke & Sons and made significant changes to the business.

In 1862, Henry Isaac Rowntree bought the chocolate business and set up the shop in Coppergate, York. He later built a new factory at Tanner's Moat.

Henry's brother Joseph joined him in full partnership in 1869, and the business was renamed H I Rowntree & Co. The factory was staffed by 12 men at this time.

Rowntree struggled to make a milk chocolate product comparable to Cadbury's Dairy Milk, but the company began to market its fruit gums in 1927 and pastilles in 1928.

In the 1960s, Rowntree entered the continental Europe market, establishing production facilities in Hamburg, Dijon, Elst, and Noisiel. After Eights were launched in 1962.

The company merged with John Mackintosh and Co in 1969 to become Rowntree Mackintosh. Mackintosh produced popular brands like Rolo, Munchies, Caramac, and Quality Street.

Rowntree Mackintosh also had a long-term agreement with Hershey, which produced Rowntree products under license in the US. The company rejected a £37 million takeover bid from General Foods in the same year.

Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery has a rich history of evolution, with significant milestones marking its growth and development. The company merged with John Mackintosh and Sons Ltd. in 1969 to form Rowntree Mackintosh plc.

In 1971, the company expanded its operations by opening plants in Castleford and Leicester, and also acquired French business Chocolate-Menier SA. This acquisition added to the company's global presence and product offerings.

The company continued to innovate and expand its product lines, introducing the Yorkie and Lion chocolate bars in 1976. The Hershey contract was renegotiated in 1978, giving Hershey the rights to the Kit Kat and Rolo brands in the US in perpetuity.

In 1969, Rowntree's merged with John Mackintosh and Co to form Rowntree Mackintosh, expanding their global presence.

Rowntree's made a strategic decision to partner with Hershey in the US, allowing Hershey to produce and market their products, starting with Kit Kat in 1970 and Rolo in 1971.

The company continued to grow through acquisitions, buying Menier Chocolate from France in 1971 and Hoadley's Chocolates in Australia in 1972.

The Yorkie and Lion chocolate bars were introduced in 1976, further diversifying the company's product line.

In 1978, the deal with Hershey was renegotiated, giving Hershey the rights to the Kit Kat and Rolo brands in the US in perpetuity.

Under the leadership of Ken Dixon, who became chairman and chief executive in 1981, Rowntree's invested heavily in upgrading their manufacturing facilities and developing high-volume equipment.

Between 1981 and 1987, Rowntree's spent nearly £400 million on factory upgrades and equipment development, significantly improving their production capabilities.

The company continued to expand through acquisitions, buying Tom's Foods, Laura Secord Chocolates, and Sunmark confectionery between 1983 and 1987.

By 1987, Rowntree's had 25 factories in nine countries, employing 33,000 people, including almost 16,000 in the UK.

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Rowntree's made a significant move in 1926 by acquiring the Canadian company Cowan Company. This marked the beginning of their expansion into new markets.

In 1927, they started selling their fruit gums in tubes, a packaging innovation that we still see today. Later that year, they introduced pastilles in tubes as well.

George Harris, the marketing manager for chocolate bars, played a crucial role in the company's success in the 1930s. He had learned new marketing ideas in the United States and brought them back to Rowntree's.

In 1932, Rowntree's hired a new advertising company that conducted extensive research to understand customer preferences. This research led to the launch of the Black Magic box of chocolates in 1934.

The company shifted its focus away from competing directly with Cadbury Dairy Milk in 1935. Instead, they launched Aero, a new kind of bubbly milk chocolate, in May of that year.

The Chocolate Crisp, a wafer and chocolate bar, was also launched in 1935. It would later become known as the Kit Kat.

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Rowntree Mackintosh is still active in the confectionery industry, with much of its production taking place in the York factory.

The company continues to create new products under the Rowntree name, including 'Rowntree's Randoms' in 2009 and 'Rowntree's Fruit Bottles' in 2012.

Unfortunately, some beloved products have been discontinued, with 'Caramac' being a notable example, having been on shelves for 64 years before its discontinuation in November 2023.

Nestlé bought Rowntree's for £2.55 billion in 1988.

The takeover was a bit controversial, as Nestlé itself was protected from similar takeovers under Swiss law.

Nestlé always thought Rowntree's would be a great fit for its own business, combining their strengths in making large and individual chocolate bars and sweets.

Between 1988 and 1994, the Nestlé Rowntree workforce was reduced by 2,000 people.

Nestlé invested over £200 million in the Rowntree business since 1988, making the York site one of the world's largest sweet factories.

In 2009, Nestlé launched a new jelly sweet called Rowntree's Randoms, and in 2012, they launched another new jelly sweet, Fruit Bottles, both under the Rowntree's brand.

The Rowntree brand is also used for some ice lollies, made by R&R Ice Cream for Nestlé.

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The Rowntree Mackintosh company is still active and producing products in their York factory. They've been able to adapt and create new products under the Rowntree name.

One of their newer creations is 'Rowntree's Randoms', which was introduced in 2009. This is a great example of how the company is able to innovate and bring new products to market.

As of November 2023, the beloved 'Caramac' was discontinued after 64 years of being available on store shelves.

Rowntree's Fruit Gums and Fruit Pastilles are still widely popular today. They've been a staple in many households for generations.

Rowntree's Jelly Tots are a beloved treat among kids in Europe. They're soft, chewy, and come in a variety of fruit flavors.

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Rowntree's Fruit Gums and Fruit Pastilles are still widely popular today, and for good reason - they're delicious!

Rowntree's Fruit Gums have been a favorite for many years.

Jelly Tots are a beloved treat among kids in Europe, where they were first introduced in 1965.

These soft, chewy sweets are made with 25% fruit juices and come in a variety of flavors.

The inventor of Jelly Tots was Dr Brian Boffey, who worked for Rowntree's in Leeds.

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Caramac is being discontinued after over 60 years of production. The name is a combination of caramel and the name of its original manufacturers Mackintosh.

The iconic bar was first launched in the UK in 1959. It was produced in Norwich until 1996, when it moved to Nestlé's Fawdon factory near Newcastle.

Caramac contains no cocoa, making it a unique treat in the chocolate world. It's also suitable for vegetarians, as it doesn't contain egg or gelatine.

Fans of Caramac are disappointed to see it go, but Nestle is shifting focus to its best-performing brands. This change will enable the company to develop new innovations to delight consumers' tastebuds.

Rowntree's Tokens were a very limited line that disappeared from sale within a year of their launch in 1963. They're one of the many lost classics from yesteryear.

Rowntree's Chocolate Cream Eggs were launched in 1963 but phased out in the early 1980s to make room for the Smarties Eggheads. It's a reminder that even popular treats can come and go.

Texan, the Rowntree's milk chocolate covered nougat bar, ran from 1972 to 1981. It was a fan favourite that still receives mail from consumers who want to see its return.

Weekend, Mackintosh's assortment of candied fruits, nougat and jelly beans, was a popular treat during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It's a nostalgic treat that many people still remember fondly.

Good News, launched by Mackintosh's in 1960, was a rival to Rowntree's Black Magic chocolates. It ran until 1988, a long time for a treat to be enjoyed by many.

Toffee Mallow Eggs, launched by Mackintosh's in 1972, were a delightful treat filled with toffee and marshmallow. They continued to delight consumers well into the 1990s.

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Rowntree's initially believed that good products would sell themselves, but as a public company, they realized the importance of advertising. They hired an advertising agency in 1897.

Their advertising approach changed significantly in 1932, when they switched to J. Walter Thompson. This agency conducted extensive research to understand what customers truly wanted.

Rowntree's finally took a more customer-centric approach to advertising, recognizing that their products needed to meet the needs of their target market.

Rowntree was a family-run business that started small, producing cocoa powder and chocolate drops. They began to produce fruit pastilles in 1881, which became a huge hit and helped their business take off.

The company's breakthrough came with the introduction of fruit pastilles, which had previously been imported from France. This new product line helped the business balloon, and the following year, the brothers bought an old flour mill and converted it.

In 1890, Rowntree expanded further by purchasing 140 acres of land where their factory still stands today. The company's growth was rapid, and by 1906, they employed over 4,000 workers.

Rowntree was a pioneer in employee welfare, introducing schemes such as a widow's fund, worker's dining room, gym, company optician, and a week's paid holiday. They also reduced hours to just 44 per week.

The company's philanthropic efforts extended beyond their employees, with Joseph Rowntree building the village of New Earswick between 1902-1904. Each house had its own garden with two fruit trees, providing a better living environment for factory workers.

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Joseph Rowntree's commitment to social reform continued throughout his life, and he set up several charitable trusts to aid social reform. The Rowntree Trusts still exist today, a testament to his legacy.

In the early 20th Century, Rowntree's business started to decline due to changing consumer tastes. However, the company's fortunes were turned around by George Harris, who introduced American promotional methods and focused on the brand.

Under Harris's leadership, Rowntree introduced some of their most famous brands, including Kit Kat, Aero, Smarties, Dairy Box, and Black Magic. The company conducted extensive market research to perfect their chocolate assortment, interviewing over 7,000 customers.

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