Jordans (company)

W. Jordan (Cereals) Ltd
Partnership (privately owned)
Industry Food manufacturing
Founded 1855
Founder William Herbert Jordan
Headquarters Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England, UK
Area served
 UK
Key people
 Bill Jordan
Chairman
David Jordan
Vice-chairman
Products Breakfast cereals
Number of employees
 400
Website Jordans Cereals

Jordans is a company that makes brands of crunchy oat and nut cereal (similar to muesli) based in Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.

History

Holme Mills centre

Holme Mills on Langford Road in Biggleswade, situated next to the River Ivel, was bought by local farmer William Herbert Jordan in 1855. The mill caught fire in 1894 and burnt down again in 1899. It produced flour until 1972, when W. Jordan (Cereals) Ltd, the present-day company, was formed. It is run by Bill and David Jordan, who are brothers and partners of the company. There is a factory shop in Langford, Bedfordshire. Its main product it started with, and still produces, is called Crunchy Oats, which is based on granola. A mill was recorded on the site in 1086, as noted in the Domesday Book.

In 1981, Waitrose began to stock their products. Also in 1981, Jordans began production of a breakfast/cereal bar called Original Crunchy. It now produces four different cereal bars including Frusli which contains 25% fruit, Breakfast Bars, Luxury Absolute Nut Bar and Original Crunchy Bars.[1] Luxury Bars were introduced in 2004.

Country Crisp was introduced in 1991.

In 2002, they formed the joint venture 'the Organic and Natural Food Company' with Yeo Valley Organic. It produced vending machines for schools filled with healthy food.

In April, 2003, it won[2] a Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

In 2005, Bill Jordan was made a MBE.

In September, 2007, it sold 20% of its company to Associated British Foods (ABF), who make Ryvita.

As of 2015, Jordans' packaging is made by Excelsior Technologies Ltd which is based in Deeside, North Wales.

Conservation efforts

Jordans use oats which are grown by Conservation Grade farmers around Britain who are paid a premium to create nature-friendly habitats on 10% of their farmed land.

Bill Jordan owns the Nature Reserve at Pensthorpe in Norfolk which is taking part in high profile projects to bring back the rare Eurasian Crane and safeguard British natives such as the red squirrel.

Similar to The Co-operative Group, the company is concerned about the rapid decline in the bee population. It started the Big Buzz campaign in May 2009, with the help of the British Beekeepers' Association and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Holme Mill itself became a museum in 2015, with the opening of a visitor centre on the site after production transferred to a new facility in Biggleswade's Saxon Gate development area.

Market share

It is the UK's fourth largest cereals manufacturer after Kelloggs, Nestlé and Weetabix. 25% of their produce is exported, with France being an important market; half their exports go there, and it is the country's best-selling muesli cereal. The brand leader of crunchy muesli in the UK is their Luxury Crunchy.

They belong to the Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers, which is a member of the European Breakfast Cereal Association.

Food contents

Types of nut used in the food products include hazelnut, pecan, Brazil nut and almond.

Product range

Cereals

Cereal bars

References

  1. ↑ https://www.jordanscereals.co.uk/products/cereal-bars/bars
  2. ↑

News items

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