The producers behind beloved snacks like Jammie Dodgers, Wagon Wheels, and Party Rings have announced a bumper year, creating hundreds of jobs while slashing losses, as sales soared above the £600m threshold in the latest financial year.
In newly disclosed accounts to Companies House, the conglomerate – encompassing Burton's Biscuit Company and Fox's Biscuits – reported revenues of £638m for the year ending 31 August 2024, as reported by .
This marked a significant rise from the previous year's revenue of £595.1m reported by the group.
According to the recent filings, the group witnessed its pre-tax losses plummet from £21.5m down to a more palatable £6.4m, with workforce numbers ticking up from 3,460 to 3,721 within this period.
Sales within the º£½ÇÊÓƵ surged from £544m to £586.5m over this timeframe, with turnover in other European regions climbing from £39.3m to £43.2m.
However, the group did observe a slight dip in North American sales, which fell from £1.5m to £1.2m.
Headquartered in St Albans, the company also takes pride in a portfolio including Fabulous Fox’s, Chocolatey, Rocky, Maryland, and even produces Mars-branded biscuits under licence.
This report follows the 2022 amalgamation of Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits to form a new entity overseeing production at Batley, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Livingston, Llantarnam, and Uttoxeter.
Biscuit giant overcomes 'continuing challenges'
Withstanding 'continuing challenges,' the company appears to be on an upward trajectory, as noted in a board-signed statement: "2024 represents a year of continuing challenges which the group has successfully managed."
"Despite the ongoing external pressures from the continued conflict in Ukraine and impact of inflation on key ingredients, the benefit of bringing together Burton's and Fox's under one combined senior leadership team has continued to strengthen the group's combined market position as the second largest biscuit manufacturer in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ."
"The business continues to invest in its brands through above the line advertising campaigns for the group's brands together with innovative new product development."
"The group is already benefitting from being part of a wider group ecosystem and expects these relationships to drive further top line growth."
The group is ultimately owned by a Ferrero-related company. City AM recently reported that the group's º£½ÇÊÓƵ sales jumped by more than £60m during its latest financial year.
Ferrero º£½ÇÊÓƵ, which also owns Thorntons and Tic Tacs, has posted a revenue of £624.4m for the 12 months to 31 August, 2024, up from the £557.5m it achieved in the prior period.
The Middlesex-headquartered firm also grappled with "the ongoing inflationary environment" – which saw its cost of sales rise by more than £70m, to post a pre-tax profit of £21m, up from £15.8m.
