Fox’s Burton’s Companies celebrates strong annual growth results
Fox's Burtons, exhibiting at the last ISM Middle East, is set to launch a newly packaged version of its Party Rings series. Pic: Neill Barston
An enhanced level of innovation has been cited as a key drive for Fox’s Burton’s Companies latest annual revenues, up by 9% to £695 million year-on-year, writes Neill Barston.
The Ferrero-linked business, which is home to major brands including Jammie Dodger biscuits, Wagon Wheels and Maryland Cookies, has enjoyed a notably busy period of operating.
As Confectionery Production has previously covered, the business has continued to make notable appearances at major events in the sector, including at ISM in Cologne within the past few weeks, as well as its sister show in Dubai, ISM Middle East, among many others.
Significantly, the company, which is also home to the Fox’s Chocolatey brand, as well as well-established Burton’s series of biscuits and bars, has seen its operating profit increase to £31,2 million, rising from £11.5 million the prior year.
Furthermore, the business also grew its branded sweet biscuit market share to 13.0%, up from 12.5% in 2024, securing its position as the UK’s second largest, sweet biscuit manufacturer and the only major player to grow both value (+10%) and volume (+6%) in what it acknowledged had challenging year for the category, with supply chain uncertainties dominating headlines.
As the firm noted, Innovation was a key driver of FBC UK’s performance throughout the year, with a strong pipeline of new product development across its branded portfolio.
Highlights include the debut of Maryland S’wich, the UK’s first chocolate chip cookie sandwich, as well as a major relaunch of Fox’s Chocolatey, supported by a high-profile campaign, featuring Strictly Come Dancing Judge, Craig Revel Horwood. Innovation continued across the portfolio with Fox’s Chocolatey brand tapping into global flavour trends, with the launch of a Dubai-style variant of the biscuit, becoming the first brand globally to translate the trending flavour into a biscuit format.
Chief Executive Officer, Simon Browne, commented: “This financial year has been a positive year of growth across all key financial metrics, delivered through maximising the opportunities of consolidating the legacy businesses and a strong new product development pipeline.
“Despite a challenging operating environment, we have successfully outperformed the market and increased our branded sweet biscuit market share. This is testament to the dedication of our teams at FBC UK who continue to show up every day with a shared commitment to creating great products that people enjoy and delivering a high standard of consumer experience.”
In addition, the business has also made progress on its sustainability goals, furthering a long-term to commitment to align its growth with reducing its environmental impact.
Linked to this, the company, which employs 3,800 people in the UK, completed its first company wide carbon footprint and received validation of its climate targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Among its key developments in the past year, it has launched Jammie Dodgers in Australia and an increased presence in the Middle East, as well as becoming a distribution agent for US key brands Nerds Gummy Clusters. On its biscuit interests, it is also representing distribution for Royal Dansk, and managing US business Nonni’s Bakery, underlining potential for wider global growth.
