Griffin's Foods

Griffin's Foods Limited, a Philippines-owned biscuit, snack-food and confectionery manufacturer, operates in New Zealand. In 2011, The company has sales of approximately NZ$300 million.[1]

Griffin's Food Limited
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryFood
Founded1864
Headquarters
Auckland, New Zealand
ProductsGriffins, Eta, Nice & Natural
Number of employees
800
ParentIndependent (1864–1962)
Nabisco (1962–1990)
Danone (1990–2006)
Pacific Equity Partners (2006–2014)
Universal Robina (2014–present)
Websitehttp://www.griffinsbiscuits.com/en_NZ/

History

The company was founded by John Griffin in Nelson, New Zealand in 1864 [2] as a flour and cocoa miller. Newspaper records show biscuits were in production by the 1880s and the confectionery arm of the business launched in 1886. By the 1890s Griffins were producing a range of candied peels and by the late 1900s drinking cocoa. Main produce is distributed via the Griffins manufacturing plant on Ashmole Street in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Expansion and subsidiary

The company went public (as Griffin & Sons) to fund expansion the replacement of a factory destroyed by fire. It expanded, making army ration biscuits during World War II [2] until in 1962 when it was purchased by Nabisco.[3] In 1989 Griffin's acquired biscuit company Hudsons, taking on the copyright for the famous Hudson's icon Cookie Bear. When Nabisco was effectively broken up, Griffin's was acquired by Danone [4] in 1990. In 2006 Danone divested Griffin's to Pacific Equity Partners.[5]

Universal Robina

In July 2014, Pacific Equity Partners divested of Griffin's Foods, selling the operations to Universal Robina for NZ$700 million.[6]

In October 2015, Universal Robina announced they were expanding the Griffin's brand to the South-East Asian market starting with the Philippines.

Locations

Today, Griffin's has two factories in Auckland. A Lower Hutt plant closed in 2008 with the loss of 200 jobs,[7] with all production transferred to the Auckland sites. In 2009 Griffin's moved the production of its cream filled biscuits, which account for 2.5% of production, to Fiji.[8] The company currently employs approximately 800 people.[2]

Products

The company's food range comprises:

  • Griffin's and Huntley and Palmers – Biscuits including Chocolate Thins, Krispies, and Cameo Cremes.
  • Eta – Salty snacks, mainly potato chips and peanuts.
  • Nice & Natural – Wrapped snacks.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Australia's PEP set to tap buyers for Griffin's Foods". Reuters. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 September 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://www.eta.co.nz/Corporate/CompanyInformation/History/1962.aspx%5B%5D
  4. "Big players call tune". The New Zealand Herald. 9 January 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  5. "Pacific Equity buys Griffin's Foods". The Age. Melbourne. 1 April 2006.
  6. https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/21/us-philippines-universal-robina-idUSKBN0FQ0CP20140721 Universal Robina Reuters
  7. "200 jobs set to go as cookie factory crumbles". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  8. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3084306/Griffins-moves-biscuits-to-Fiji
  9. Ward, Stephen (3 March 2007). "Griffins tipped to gobble up more". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
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