Vicky ParryKit Kat chocolate bar and Fruit Pastilles are the nation’s favourite Rowntree’s treats according to a survey done recently by York visitor attraction, York’s Chocolate Story.
The survey which was carried out to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Rowntree’s in York sought to find which of the brands products still tickled people’s tastebuds today. The survey found that 56% of people said Fruit Pastilles were their favourite Rowntree’s sweet and 28% of people said that Kit Kat’s are their favourite chocolate bar. 14.8% cited Aero as their favourite.
The poll also asked what sweets and chocolates originally created by Rowntree’s they thought would be around in 150 years time. 52% of people said that they thought Kit Kat would still be around with only 24% saying that Smarties would still be produced and 45% said that Polos would still be available in 150 years’ time.
York’s newest visitor attraction, York’s Chocolate Story, which tells the story of chocolate in York has spent the month of July celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Rowntree’s factory in York. The empire which started off as a small drinking cocoa business and grew to making much-loved chocolates and sweets, was also renowned for its pioneering work on poverty in York over 100 years ago. As well as Kit Kat, Polo, Fruit Pastilles and Aero, Rowntree’s created favourites such as Fruit Gums, Smarties, Black Magic, Dairy Box, After Eight, Jellytots, Matchmakers, Breakaway, Lion, Yorkie and Drifter. Nestlé acquired Rowntree’s in 1988 and the original factory in York is now the head office for Nestlé Confectionery, where one billion Kit Kat’s are still made every year
Michael Constantine, general manager of York’s Chocolate Story said: “The Rowntree family made such an impact on the lives of so many people in York and we are pleased to be able to tell the story of this celebrated family and of the role that the chocolate industry played in York at York’s Chocolate Story. It therefore comes as no surprise that Kit Kat and Fruit Pastilles are the nation’s favourite.”
Key findings:
56% said that Fruit Pastilles were their favourite sweet
28.5% said that Kit Kat was their favourite chocolate and 52% said that it would still be around in 150 years time
45% of people thought that Polos would still be around in 150 years
Tasty facts:
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles were first made in York in 1881 and were so popular that Rowntree’s had to move to a new factory in 1890 to accommodate the manufacturing facilities
Kit Kat was first launched in 1935 as Chocolate Crisp and became Kit Kat in 1937. In 1941 shortages of milk saw a smaller, plain chocolate Kit Kat sold in a blue wrapper – the familiar red wrapper and milk chocolate returned in 1949. One billion Kit Kat’s are still made at the York factory every year
Polos were first created in York in 1948 having had the launch postponed because of the war. Polos are still made in York and the employees in that department claim to catch fewer colds than other employees and take fewer sick days because of the mint oil that they breathe in through the manufacturing process
