Huntley and Palmers biscuits
Huntley and Palmers biscuits
World famous firm who created one of the world’s first global brands and ran what was the World’s largest biscuit factory in Reading, Berkshire in the United Kingdom.
History
Huntley and Palmers was founded in 1822 by Thomas Huntley and George Palmer. They soon outgrew the original shop at 72 London Street, Reading and moved to a factory on King’s Road in 1846, near to the Great Western railway. Mr Huntley died in 1857 but it was George Palmer who was chiefly responsible for making the firm a success. He was succeeded by his brothers, and subsequently his sons, as heads of the company. They became biscuit makers to the Royal Family and sent biscuits all over the world becoming famous for their elaborately, decorated biscuit tins which are highly collectable.
At their height they employed over 5000 people and in 1900 were the World's largest biscuit firm. The Palmers were notable local figures who generously gave money and land to Reading, including Palmer Park and town was often known as biscuittown. The firm was merged with other biscuit makers to become Associated Biscuit Manufacturers Ltd and the Reading factory closed in 1972.