Burton's Biscuit Company

What does Burton's Biscuit Company own?
Burton's Biscuit Company operates within FBC UK, which owns Maryland Cookies, Fox's Chocolatey, Jammie Dodgers, Wagon Wheels, Party Rings, and Viennese Whirls. The group also manages Nonni's Bakery, a US-based biscotti business, and serves as the UK distribution agent for Royal Dansk butter cookies and NERDS Gummy Clusters. The combined brand portfolio makes FBC UK the second-largest sweet biscuit manufacturer in the UK.

Is Burton's Biscuit Company publicly traded?
No, Burton's Biscuit Company is not publicly traded. It operates as part of FBC UK, a private company owned by the Ferrero family through Belgian holding company CTH Invest. Ferrero SpA is a privately held, family-owned Italian company based in Alba, Piedmont, and does not trade on any stock exchange.

Who founded Burton's Biscuit Company?
Burton's Biscuit Company was founded in 1935 by Joseph Burton, continuing the biscuit-making tradition started by his grandfather George Burton in Blackpool, Lancashire, in the 19th century. The company has changed ownership multiple times, passing through Associated British Foods, Hicks Muse Tate & Furst, Duke Street Capital, Apollo Global Management, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan before being acquired by Ferrero in 2021.

Where is Burton's Biscuit Company headquartered?
FBC UK is headquartered in the United Kingdom. The group operates seven production sites across the UK: Batley, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Livingston, Llantarnam, and Uttoxeter. These facilities employ over 3,800 people in manufacturing, engineering, technical, and commercial roles.

What is Burton's Biscuit Company's revenue?
FBC UK reported consolidated revenue of £695 million for the year ending August 31, 2025, up 9% from £638 million the prior year. Operating profit rose to £31.2 million from £11.5 million, and pre-tax profit reached £14.3 million after a £6.4 million loss in the prior year. European sales grew 57.3% to £68 million.

Who owns Burton's Biscuit Company?
Burton's Biscuit Company is owned by the Ferrero family through CTH Invest, a Belgian holding company. Giovanni Ferrero, head of the Ferrero group, controls the ownership. Ferrero acquired Burton's in June 2021 and merged it with Fox's Biscuits, which it had acquired in 2020, to form FBC UK in early 2022.

What sustainability initiatives does Burton's Biscuit Company have?
FBC UK completed its first company-wide carbon footprint assessment in FY2025 and received validation of its climate targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The group is investigating replacing gas-fired ovens with electric alternatives, which could reduce emissions by up to 12,000 tons CO2e annually. FBC UK is also working on packaging waste reduction and increased recyclability across its product lines.

What is FBC UK's market share?
FBC UK holds a 13.0% share of the UK branded sweet biscuit market as of FY2025, up from 12.5% the prior year. This makes it the second-largest sweet biscuit manufacturer in the UK. The group was the only major player to grow both value (up 10%) and volume (up 6%) in a market that saw overall volume decline of 6%.

The Burton's biscuit tradition began with George Burton, born in 1829 in Leek, Staffordshire, who started production on Corporation Street in Blackpool, Lancashire. The formal company was founded by George's grandson, Joseph Burton, in 1935. The business initially operated from a factory in Blackpool and later expanded to additional manufacturing sites across the UK.

In 2000, Associated British Foods sold Burton's to the American private equity firm Hicks Muse Tate & Furst. The company changed hands again in March 2007 when Duke Street Capital acquired it. In September 2009, ownership transferred to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Apollo Global Management, with Duke Street retaining a minority stake.

In November 2013, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan purchased Burton's for approximately £350 million. Under this ownership, Burton's sold its license to manufacture Cadbury-branded biscuits to Mondelez International in 2016, though production continued at Burton's factories.

Ferrero acquired Fox's Biscuits in 2020 and Burton's Biscuit Company in June 2021. The two companies were merged under the FBC UK umbrella in early 2022, creating one of the largest biscuit groups in the UK. The merger was executed through CTH Invest, a Belgian holding company controlled by Ferrero group head Giovanni Ferrero.

In FY2025 (year ending August 31, 2025), FBC UK reported its strongest performance since formation. Revenue grew 9% to £695 million, operating profit nearly tripled to £31.2 million from £11.5 million, and the group returned to pre-tax profit of £14.3 million after a £6.4 million loss the prior year. European sales surged 57.3%, jumping £24.7 million to £68 million, while UK revenues grew 5.5%.

FBC UK completed its first company-wide carbon footprint assessment in FY2025 and received validation of its climate targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This is an independently verifiable certification, not a self-reported claim.

The group is pursuing carbon reduction through manufacturing process improvements, including investigations into replacing gas-fired ovens with electric alternatives. Studies indicate that transitioning to electric ovens could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12,000 tons CO2e annually. Energy efficiency programs include collaboration with technology partners to develop high-efficiency electric baking solutions.

In packaging sustainability, FBC UK is working to reduce packaging waste and increase recyclability across its product lines in line with UK packaging regulations. The group operates under standard UK food manufacturing regulations and health and safety requirements, with all seven production sites subject to regular inspections by UK food safety authorities and environmental agencies.

FBC UK has not obtained B Corp certification. Its sustainability efforts are focused on SBTi-validated emissions targets, energy efficiency, and packaging reduction rather than broader certifications.

FBC UK's FY2025 performance garnered significant industry coverage:

• SBTi climate target validation (2025): The group received independent validation of its climate targets from the Science Based Targets initiative, confirming its emissions reduction commitments align with climate science
• UK's second-largest sweet biscuit manufacturer: Confirmed market position with 13.0% branded sweet biscuit market share in FY2025, up from 12.5%
• Innovation recognition: The launch of Maryland S'wich (the UK's first chocolate chip cookie sandwich) and the Dubai-style Fox's Chocolatey variant received coverage in British Baker, The Grocer, and Food and Drink Technology
• Market outperformance: FBC UK was the only major sweet biscuit manufacturer to grow both value and volume in the UK market in FY2025, against a broader market volume decline of 6%
• Profitability turnaround: The group returned to pre-tax profit of £14.3 million in FY2025 after a £6.4 million loss the prior year, with operating profit nearly tripling

FBC UK has maintained a relatively low public controversy profile. The group has not been implicated in major food safety incidents, product recalls, or regulatory enforcement actions since its formation in 2022.

The company faces the same industry-wide challenges affecting all UK food manufacturers, including regulatory pressure from HFSS legislation, wage inflation, and cost headwinds from key ingredients. CEO Simon Browne cited these factors in the FY2025 results announcement, noting the "challenging operating environment" and "uncertainty over HFSS legislation."

As part of the Ferrero group, FBC UK is subject to scrutiny of Ferrero's broader supply chain practices. Ferrero has faced public attention over palm oil sourcing and cocoa supply chain ethics in its confectionery products, though these issues relate to the parent company's chocolate brands rather than FBC UK's biscuit operations specifically.

The group's seven UK production sites operate under standard UK food manufacturing regulations. No public records of significant environmental violations, labor disputes, or health and safety enforcement actions at FBC UK facilities have been reported.