Griffins Foods

Griffin's Foods Limited is a New Zealand biscuit, snack food and confectionary manufacturer. The company has sales of approximately $NZ300 million. Earnings are not disclosed as the company is privately owned by Pacific Equity Partners [ https://www.pep.com.au/pages/content.asp?pid=3#14 ] an Australasian private equity fund.

History

The company was founded by John Griffin in Nelson, New Zealand in 1864 [ http://www.griffins.co.nz/about-griffins ] as a flour and cocoa miller. In 1890 he expanded to incorporate using the flour and cocoa to produce biscuits and sweets.

The company went public (as Griffin & Sons) to fund expansion and the replacement of a factory destroyed by fire. It expanded, making army ration biscuits during World War 2 [ http://www.griffins.co.nz/about-griffins ] until in 1962 it was purchased by Nabisco [ http://www.eta.co.nz/Corporate/CompanyInformation/History/1962.aspx ] . When Nabisco was effectively broken up, Griffin's was acquired by Danone [ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=1127 ] in 1990. In 2006 Danone divested Griffin's to Pacific Equity Partners [ http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Pacific-Equity-buys-Griffins-Foods/2006/04/01/1143441365530.html ] .

The Company Today

Griffin's has 3 factories, one in Lower Hutt and two in Auckland. The Lower Hutt plant is to close in 2008 with the loss of 200 jobs [ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10476364 ] with all production transferred to the Auckland sites.

The company's food range comprises:

* Biscuits mainly under the "Griffin's" brand
* Salty snacks (mainly potato chips and peanuts) under the Eta brand
* Wrapped snacks under the Nice & Natural brand [ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10426763 ] .

The company currently employs approxiumately 900 people.

References