Rowntree's

Nestlé UK Ltd., trading as Rowntree's, is a famous British confectionery brand based in York, England. Rowntree's created many loved treats, including the Kit Kat, first sold in 1935, and Smarties, which came in 1937. Other popular candies like Aero, Fruit Pastilles, After Eight thin mints, the Yorkie bar, and the Lion bar also started with Rowntree's.

The company began in 1862 and became known for its strong Quaker values and good work in the community. For many years, Rowntree's was one of the top three confectionery companies in the United Kingdom, along with Cadbury and Fry. Rowntree's helped make the festive selection box a Christmas tradition in the UK.

In 1969, Rowntree's joined with Mackintosh's to form Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery, adding brands like Rolo and Quality Street to its collection. Rowntree's received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 1981 for its success around the world. The company was bought by Nestlé in 1988, and while Rowntree's stopped existing as a separate company in 1991, the Rowntree name is still used, especially for jelly sweets like Fruit Gums and Fruit Pastilles.

History

Rowntree's started in 1862 in York by Henry Isaac Rowntree, a Quaker. He bought the Tuke family business. In 1881, Rowntree made Fruit Pastilles, which became very popular. This helped the company grow.

In the 1930s, Rowntree made famous chocolates like Aero and the Kit Kat. In 1937, they made Smarties. In 1969, Rowntree joined with Mackintosh's, adding brands like Rolo and Quality Street.

In 1988, Nestlé took over Rowntree. After this, some Rowntree sweets were made under the Nestlé name, but Rowntree’s stayed famous for its sweets. Nestlé kept growing the Rowntree brand and improved its factories and research.

Current branded products

The most well-known products with the Rowntree name are Rowntree's Fruit Gums, Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles, and Jelly Tots. Jelly Tots are soft, chewy fruit-flavoured sweets. They are round, sugar-coated, and have fruit juices in them. They were invented by Dr Brian Boffey and launched in 1965. They quickly became popular with children in Europe. Another product, Rowntree's Randoms, came out in 2009.

The Rowntree brand is also used on ice lollies made by Froneri for Nestlé. It competes with the Trebor Bassett division of Cadbury in several fruit-gum categories.

Advertising

Before becoming a public company in 1897, Rowntree's didn't spend much on advertising. They thought their high-quality products would sell well without promotions. The company began using an advertising agency called S. H. Benson around that time. Later, in 1932, they changed to a new agency, the London branch of J. Walter Thompson.