| Formerly | W. & R. Jacob Biscuit Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1851 in Waterford, Ireland |
| Founder | Robert and William Beale Jacob |
Areas served | United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland |
| Owner | Valeo Foods |
The Jacob Fruitfield Food Group is a company that once produced food products in Ireland, but is now mainly a brand for imported foods targeted at the Irish market. It was formed by Fruitfield Foods' acquisition of the Republic of Ireland portion of Jacob's Biscuit Group in 2004 from Groupe Danone. The CEO and part-owner is Michael Carey. Other major shareholders include Lioncourt with a 36% stake.[1][2]
The company is now part of brands owned by Valeo Foods.[3]
It is the owner of many iconic brands that project an Irish identity - despite now being made elsewhere, with the factories in Tallaght and Ringsend all closed. Brands such as Jacob's, Bolands and Chef were all once made in Ireland, but are now imported. Products such as "Old Time Irish" marmalade continue to be sold on the Irish market despite no longer being produced in Ireland.
In 2009, Bolands was re-launched in new packaging with a much broader range as a budget alternative to Jacobs. In 2007, Jacobs took McVities to court for infringement of copyright. McVities launched Cream Crackers and Fig Rolls in the Irish market in similar packaging. It was revealed that McVities were also making the same products under contract for Jacobs and had even designed Jacobs labels for them.[4]
In May 2009, Jacobs ceased production of biscuits at its home in Tallaght, Dublin.[5] Production was moved to Portugal, Poland, the UK, France and Malta for cost reasons.[6] Some minor production remains in Ireland with Wafer biscuits made in County Donegal, Real Irish products in Drogheda and premium oat biscuits in Cork.[7] 220 people lost their jobs as a result of the closure in 2009.[8]