The History of Huntley & Palmers - The Crackers that Conquered the World

It was 1822 in Reading, Berkshire where a Quaker named Joseph Huntley and his son Thomas opened a simple biscuit and confectionery shop named J. Huntley & Son. Little did they know that bumpy roads would eventually help propel them to become “The Most Famous Biscuit Company in the World.”

A bumpy road to success

A high-traffic carriage route linking London to the western cities of Bristol and Bath sliced through Reading. Their shop was situated along this route directly across from the Crown Inn, which housed many a traveller. These travellers proved the perfect customer base, buying many items to enjoy for the rest of their trip.

Both a blessing and a curse, the bumpy road that brought customers to the store’s doorstep also rattled the carriages fiercely, causing many of the biscuits to break along the way. To remedy this, Joseph began selling the biscuits in tins, which would not only become a lasting company symbol, but also helped open doors to opportunities far and wide.

New partner - new frontiers

The year was now 1841 and Joseph Huntley decided to leave the business to tend to his health. A cousin of the family, George Palmer, was brought on to help Thomas. Their growth exploded. The quality of the products and the recognition of the tins eventually landed them as the official biscuit provider to the British Royal Family as well as other royalty such as Napoleon III and Leopold II of Belgium.

As the British Empire conquered the world, so did Huntley & Palmers. More and more English were living in the British Colonies and their desire for “a taste of home” helped spur demand. Those famous decorative tins not only served as a reminder of England, but also proved to be vital protection when exporting overseas.

Traditions honoured today

Huntley & Palmers eventually allowed companies in places such as India, France, New Zealand and Australia to make their biscuits under licence. In 1985 Huntley & Palmers joined the Griffin's family of products in New Zealand, bringing with it the traditional cracker recipes and basic ingredients used since the company's founding.