Sooner Snacks

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Sooner Snacks Limited
IndustryFood
Founded1947; 78 years ago (1947) in Scunthorpe, England
FoundersAlfred Riley
FateInitially purchased by Rowntree Mackintosh in 1982, the business was sold to Borden Inc. in 1988, before finally being purchased by Dalgety plc in 1992 and eventually merged into Golden Wonder
Headquarters
Scunthorpe
,
United Kingdom
ProductsSnack foods, potato chips

Sooner Snacks was a British snack manufacturer based in Scunthorpe, England. The business started in 1947 as Riley's Crisps, becoming one of the top five manufacturers of crisps and snacks in the United Kingdom by the 1980s.[1] The business was eventually assimilated into Golden Wonder by then owners Dalgety plc during the 1990s. Several of the company's brands are still manufactured today, with Nik Naks and Wheat Crunchies made by former competitor, KP Snacks.

History

[edit]

Riley's Potato Crisps

[edit]

In 1947, Alfred "Biff" Riley quit his job as an electrician at Redbourn steelworks to set up his own crisp company in a converted stable behind a terrace house in Allenby Street. Riley had experience of frying, as his father Bill ran three fish and chip shops across Scunthorpe and he had worked in the stores during World War II. At the time, Britain was still affected by rationing and only had one major crisp brand, Smiths Crisps.[2] Riley employed four women to assist him, and by 1949 they were producing 100 tins of crisps a day, with his brother Dennis joining the business.[2] The company was affected by the Korean War, with the rationing of vegetable oil for two years. While other food manufacturers closed down because of the rationing, Riley's expanded into the row of terraced houses in Allenby Street. However, neighbours complained about the noise and smell, but Scunthorpe Borough Council found a compromise by offering Riley's a new location, which became their home at Colin Road.[2] By 1963, Riley's Crisps could be had in Plain (ready salted) and Cheese flavours.[3] In 1963, Riley's purchased the Botanical Brewery of T Brumpton, of West Street, Scunthorpe, that operated a bar and a home delivery service, manufacturing a wide range of temperance drinks, including stone ginger beer, herb beer, hop ale, lemonade, sarsaparilla and dandelion and burdock stout.[4] However the business was closed in 1977.[5]

By 1972, the company had become a multi-million pound company.[6] In the same year Riley's niece's husband, Bob Curgenven, joined the firm after completing a degree at University of Cambridge, initially as a placement for his studies to achieve a Doctorate, but would stay on to become the sales director at the age of 23.[2] The company modernised its packaging in 1976, with the introduction of Shorko SCC polypropylene film flex manufactured by Coldense, with the business being able to pack 50 bags a minute.[7] The company initially changed their name to RPC Foods, before becoming Sooner Foods in 1981.[8] To celebrate Charles, Prince of Wales marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, Sooner made the biggest bag of crisps ever created, measuring 119 ft 4 1/2 inches in length.[9] In the same year, Curgenven lead a £3 million plus deal to purchase the business, becoming its chairman.[2]

Rowntree Mackintosh take-over

[edit]

In June the following year, Rowntree Mackintosh purchased 90% of the business in a deal worth £13.5 million as part of its plan to diversify.[2][10][11] Curgenven retained 10% of the shareholding and continued in the position as chairman, but two years later he left the business.[2]

Two flavours of Nik Naks: "Nice 'n' Spicy" (left) and "Rib 'n' Saucy" (right)

Also in 1982, Sooner's launched a new extruded corn snack, Nik Naks.[12] By 1985, the company had grown its turnover by 13%.[13] The business continued to grow and by 1986, the company had seen an 8% growth in sales volumes, capturing 7% of the crisp market, and sitting behind Walkers, KP, Golden Wonder and Smiths.[2][14] The company employed 1,750 people and was the town's second largest employer behind Scunthorpe Steelworks.[2] In 1987, the company launched another of its renowned products, Wheat Crunchies,[15][a] however it announced sales were down due to increased competition.[16] In October 1987, the company was named Rowntree Snack Foods Ltd.[8]

The Americans arrive

[edit]

Rowntree Mackintosh announced in January 1988 that they would be pulling out of the crisp and snack market, with sales not only at Sooner down, but also a £1 million reduction at its US division Tom's Foods.[17][16] The business was sold to US food producer Borden Inc. in April 1988 for an fee of £43 million with the business being renamed Sooner Snacks in May. Sooner's sales at this time were reportedly $75 million a year.[18][19][20] This was Borden's first investment in the UK snack market, and stated Sooner would remain a standalone business.[21][8] During 1988, Sooner's won the Golden Bull award from the Plain English Campaign, awarded for doubletalk and jargon. It was given for the company's response to a letter from a customer asking why their crisps were purple. The response read:

Potato Varieties with pigmented skins owe their colour to anthrocyians dissolved in the cell sap of the periderm and cells of the peripheral cortex.... It is difficult to say whether this is due to a process of active migration of the anthrocyian from the periderm and cortex or to the primary protection within the flesh of the tubar.[22]

In 1990, Sooner announced lower sales due to increased competition and weak demand, and the factory was modernised and refurbished.[23][24] Sooner Snacks announced in December 1990, that they had a turnover of £57 million with pre-tax profits of £3.9 million.[25] The effects of the British recession which caused weak demand for snacks lead to the company making 400 people redundant in 1991.[26]

Swallowed by the competition

[edit]

By February 1992, Sooner Snacks was sold by Borden to Dalgety plc for £30 million plus a £14 million loan repayment. Sooner was absorbed into Golden Wonder, creating a business that had a combined turnover of £300 million and 20% of the market. Sooner had its own fleet of vans and depots, selling its snack products to independent shops and pubs, which Dalgety saw could be expanded by offering Golden Wonder products.[27][28][29][30][25]

Side of the Golden Wonder factory, Colin Road, Scunthorpe

The factory is still operational under Golden Wonder, and in 2016 was visited by a 94 year old Biff Riley.[31][32]

Products

[edit]

Sooners and it's predecessor, Riley's produced a variety of products over its lifetime. The list contains products that may have not be produced at the same time:

  • Riley's Crisps, by 1986 the range included 12 flavours.[2] Riley's were known for some unusual flavours including New Potato with Mint Sauce and Grouse.[6]
  • Murphy Crisps, by 1986 the range included 10 flavours.[2] This included the unusual flavour Roast Ox.[33]
  • Murphy Club Crisps, a potato crisp. [34]
  • Murphy Pub Crisps, a potato crisp.[34]
  • Murphy Nuts, including salted and dry roasted.[2]
  • Murphy Fruit & Nut Cocktail.[2]
  • Nik Naks, a extruded corn snack launched in 1982.[12] The snack is now manufactured by KP Snacks.
  • Wheat Crunchies, a crisp wheat snack launched in 1987.[2] The snack is now manufactured by KP Snacks.
  • Rounders, an extruded corn snack in the shape of a ball.[2]
  • Crunchy Frys, potato and corn snack.[2][35]
  • Champs, an extruded corn snack in a claw shape.[2]
  • Jaws, an extruded corn snack.[2][36]
  • Seyshells[2]
  • Primes Crisps, a potato crisp.[37]
  • Thundercats, a potato snack.[38]
  • The Real Ghostbusters, a potato and corn snack.[39][25]
  • Groovers, a crinkle cut potato crisp.[24][25]
  • King Cut Groovers, a crinkle cut potato crisp.[40]
  • Bumpkins, an extruded corn snack.[24]
  • Harvest Rings, a rye and wheat snack.[24]
  • Frozen pastry products, including puff, shortcrust and wholemeal. [41]
  • Botanical Brewery (T Brumpton), temperance drinks including stone ginger beer, herb beer, hop ale, lemonade, sarsaparilla and dandelion and burdock stout.[5]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This is the official date from the current manufacturer, KP Snacks, however as per evidence in the talk page, Wheat Crunchies seemed to exist in the 1970s

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Curators Choice – Riley's Crisp Factory". North Lincolnshire Museum. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Scunthorpe snack factory had 1,750 on payroll in mid 1980s". Grimsby Live. 21 October 2018.
  3. ^ Kelly's Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers and Shippers. Kelly's Directories Limited. 1963. p. 1020.
  4. ^ "Looking back at North Lincolnshire's rich brewing heritage". Scunthorpe Telegraph. 2 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Botanical Brewery Dray and Horse, containing Dandelion and Burdock stout, Sasparilla, Scunthorpe c.1913". Europeana. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Rileys Crisps". Museum of Crisps. 19 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Crisps". Food Processing Industry. Vol. 45. IPC Consumer Industries Press. 1976. p. 59.
  8. ^ a b c "SOONER SNACKS LIMITED Company number 00565565". Companies House. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  9. ^ Barwell, M (1990). The alternative book of records. Peter Haddock. pp. 65–66.
  10. ^ Pagano, Margareta (29 June 1982). "Rowntree Mackintosh buys no.5 in snacks league". The Guardian. London, England. p. 18. Retrieved 5 August 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Summary of Company News". Financial Times. 3 July 1982.
  12. ^ a b "Scunthorpe factory manager who helped to launch Nik Naks celebrates 40 years with Golden Wonder". Grimsby Live. 8 August 2020.
  13. ^ "U.S. operations boost Rowntree to £75m". Financial Times. 15 March 1985. p. 22.
  14. ^ "Rowntree's strong second half". Financial Times. 14 March 1986. p. 30.
  15. ^ "Something for everyone". KP Snacks. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Rowntree has sweeter taste". The Times. 11 September 1987. p. 24.
  17. ^ "Rowntree to pull out of snacks". Financial Times. 26 January 1988.
  18. ^ "Borden buys three snack foods makers". UPI. 7 April 1988.
  19. ^ "EXPORT BRIEFS". Journal of Commerce. 7 April 1988.
  20. ^ "T&N in £12m deal with Borden". Financial Times. 16 April 1988. p. 8.
  21. ^ "Borden completes three snack acquisitions". MC. The Manufacturing Confectioner. Vol. 68. Manufacturing Confectioner. 1988. p. 18.
  22. ^ Orem, Elizabeth (1987). Business writing and interactions. Copley Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-87411-443-0.
  23. ^ Borden Inc. (1990). Annual Report. p. 15.
  24. ^ a b c d Borden Inc. (1990). The Borden Company and Borden, Inc. Annual Reports: 1919–1993.
  25. ^ a b c d "Dalgety snaps up Sooner Snacks". Financial Times. 8 February 1992. p. 8.
  26. ^ "Autumn Statement Volume 185". Hansard. 13 February 1991.
  27. ^ "News in brief | Dalgety eats Sooner". The Guardian. London, England. 8 February 1992. p. 10. Retrieved 5 August 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Bond, Matthew (15 September 1992). "Snacks add weight to Dalgety's results". The Times. No. 64438. p. 17. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  29. ^ "Crisp Venture". Investors Chronicle. Vol. 99. Financial Times Business Pub. 1992. p. 31.
  30. ^ "Dalgety lacks the overwhelming brand strength of others". The Times. 1992.
  31. ^ "East Yorkshire and the Humber". BBC News. 21 October 2016.
  32. ^ "Why work for Tayto". Staff Force. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Crazy bout crisps". Facebook. 8 June 2018.
  34. ^ a b Binsted's directory of food trade marks and brand names. Food Trade Press. 1986. p. 125. ISBN 9780900379390.
  35. ^ "Cruncy Frys". Flickr. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Jaws". Europeana. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  37. ^ "Crazy bout crisps". Facebook. 22 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Thundercats Org". X. 16 June 2018.
  39. ^ "Crazy bout crisps". Facebook. 31 October 2024.
  40. ^ "Old food labels and packets". Derelict Places. 2011.
  41. ^ Marshall, J (1987). Shopping for health. Penguin. p. 337. ISBN 9780140097764.