Jacob Fruitfield Food Group

The Jacob Fruitfield Food Group is a company that once produced food products in Ireland, but is now mainly a brand for imported foods targeted at the Irish market. It was formed by Fruitfield Foods' acquisition of the Republic of Ireland portion of Jacob's Biscuit Group in 2004 from Groupe Danone. The CEO and part-owner is Michael Carey. Other major shareholders include Lioncourt with a 36% stake.[1][2]

Jacob Fruitfield Food Group
FormerlyW. & R. Jacob Biscuit Company
IndustryConfectionery
Founded1851 (1851) in Waterford, Ireland
FounderRobert and William Beale Jacob
Areas served
United Kingdom, Ireland
OwnerValeo Foods

The company is now part of brands owned by Valeo Foods.[3]

It is the owner of many iconic brands that project an Irish identity - despite now being made elsewhere, with the factories in Tallaght and Ringsend all closed. Brands such as Jacob's, Bolands and Chef were all once made in Ireland, but are now imported. Products such as "Old Time Irish" marmalade continue to be sold on the Irish market despite no longer being produced in Ireland.

In 2009, Bolands was re-launched in new packaging with a much broader range as a budget alternative to Jacobs. In 2007, Jacobs took McVities to court for infringement of copyright. McVities launched Cream Crackers and Fig Rolls in the Irish market in similar packaging. It was revealed that McVities were also making the same products under contract for Jacobs and had even designed Jacobs labels for them.[4]

In May 2009, Jacobs ceased production of biscuits at its home in Tallaght, Dublin.[5] Production was moved to Portugal, Poland, the UK, France and Malta for cost reasons.[6] Some minor production remains in Ireland with Wafer biscuits made in County Donegal, Real Irish products in Drogheda and premium oat biscuits in Cork.[7] 220 people lost their jobs as a result of the closure in 2009.[8]

Brands and sub-brands

Jacob's

Packed biscuits

Bars

Bolands

Fruitfield

  • Fruitfield Jam
  • Old Time Irish Marmalade

Chef

Clarendon

Real Irish Food Company

  • Relish
  • Jam

See also

References
  1. "To take the biscuit after Faker Baker Ciaran Brennan". Irish Independent. January 7, 2007.
  2. Joe Brennan (November 15, 2007). "Smooth sale in offing for Dairygold Co-op spin-off". Irish Independent.
  3. "Fruitfield". Valeo Foods. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  4. "Crackers legal row takes the biscuit". Irish Independent. October 2, 2007.
  5. "Jacob's ceases production in Ireland". RTE.ie. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  6. "Workers bid farewell to iconic biscuit factory". Irish Independent. May 23, 2009.
  7. Tom McEnaney (January 26, 2008). "Biscuit bosses realised that looking abroad was only chance of survival". Irish Independent.
  8. "Biscuit jobs can cease as well as be created". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2018-01-15.


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