Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery

Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery

Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery was a renowned British confectionery business based in York, England. It was formed by the merger of two powerful confectionery businesses, Rowntree's and John Mackintosh and Sons, in 1969.

History

Rowntree's

Rowntree's was established in 1862 by Henry Isaac Rowntree, a Quaker from York. The company initially started as a grocery business but later shifted its focus to confectionery. Rowntree's is best known for creating the Kit Kat, Aero, and Smarties brands.

John Mackintosh and Sons

John Mackintosh and Sons was founded in 1890 by John and Violet Mackintosh. The company was famous for its toffee, which combined the traditional English butter toffee with American-style caramel. The company's most popular brands were Quality Street and Rolo.

Merger and Acquisition

In 1969, Rowntree's merged with John Mackintosh and Sons to form Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery. The merger brought together some of the most popular confectionery brands under one umbrella.

In 1988, Rowntree Mackintosh was acquired by Nestlé, a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate. The acquisition led to the expansion of Nestlé's confectionery line, making it one of the largest in the world.

Brands

Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery was home to several popular confectionery brands. Some of these include:

• Kit Kat: A chocolate-covered wafer bar created by Rowntree's in 1935.
• Aero: A chocolate bar known for its unique bubbly texture, introduced by Rowntree's in 1935.
• Smarties: Colourful sugar-coated chocolate candies, launched by Rowntree's in 1937.
• Quality Street: A selection of individual wrapped chocolates, toffees, and sweets, introduced by Mackintosh's in 1936.
• Rolo: Caramel-filled chocolates, launched by Mackintosh's in 1937.

Legacy

Today, the brands created by Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery continue to be enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. They are now produced and marketed by Nestlé, which continues the legacy of Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery.