KP Snacks
KP Snacks Limited is a British producer of branded and own-label maize-, potato-, and nut-based snacks. Originating in 1853 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, the KP stands for "Kenyon Produce". KP Snacks has been owned by German company Intersnack since 2012 and is now based in Slough.
KP Snacks is currently the second largest maker of snack foods in Britain. It owns and produces various brands including KP Nuts, Hula Hoops, McCoy's crisps and Tyrrells crisps, and also distributes other brands under license in the country such as Pom-Bear. The company's largest factory is located in Teesside.
History
The company was founded in Rotherham in 1853 as Kenyon & Son as a producer of confectionery, jam and pickles. By 1891 the company had become Kenyon & Son and Craven Limited. The company switched to producing roasted and salted hazelnuts in 1948, expanding to peanuts later. These were originally produced for sale in cinemas. In 1952 the company introduced Hercules Nuts and in 1953 the No.1 KP Nuts peanut brand.The company became part of United Biscuits in 1968. The KP Snacks subsidiary produces a range of packet snack brands including Hula Hoops, Skips, McCoy's, Frisps, Brannigan's, Royster's, Space Raiders, Nik Naks, Wheat Crunchies, Discos, and Phileas Fogg. The snacks part is based on Teesside and in Rotherham, near the UB distribution warehouse.
The Ashby-de-la-Zouch site won a Best Factory Award in 2004.
UB sold the company to the German company Intersnack in December 2012 for £500 million. The company moved its headquarters to Slough in 2015.
In February 2022, it was reported that the KP Snacks supply chain was affected by a ransomware attack.
In July 2023, workers threatened to strike because of low wages despite KP Snacks registering profits of £54 million. Unite union reported that the average pay at KP Snacks had fallen by 14% in real terms since 2018.
Sourcing
As a group, they are the largest buyer of nuts in the world, sourcing from Asia, Africa, South America and Central America.They have various local aid and sustainability projects.
Brands
This is a list of snack brands distributed by KP Snacks including some that are not owned by it.Products
Butterkist (Popcorn)
Sharing Bags
Microwave Popcorn
Multipacks
Choc Dips
Discos
Frisps
Hula Hoops
Big Hoops
Puft (Light and Puffed Hula Hoops)
Flavours
KP Nuts
McCoy's
Ridged
Muchos
Nik Naks
Penn State
Popchips
Ridges
Pom-Bear
Flavours
Roysters
- T-Bone Steak
Skips
- Prawn Cocktail
Space Raiders