Tayto (Northern Ireland)

Did You Know?

• Most Northern Irish Tayto crisps are vegetarian-friendly.
• Tayto NI scored only 1 point out of 9 on the 2016 Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard.
• The company's plant is beside Tandragee Castle, called 'Tayto Castle' in advertising.

History

Tayto (Northern Ireland) started in 1956, founded by Thomas Hutchinson, Walter Gracey, and Frederick John McKinney. It took its name and recipes under license from the Republic of Ireland’s Tayto Crisps, which had begun two years earlier. The two companies are completely separate but share a similar product lineup. On 13 January 2006, Tayto bought the Corby and Scunthorpe factories from the failed Golden Wonder business, along with the contract to make Mini Pringles for Procter & Gamble.

This move saved 195 of the 350 jobs at risk after Golden Wonder entered administration. In December 2007, it purchased Sirhowy Valley Foods Ltd, which made the Real Crisps range. On 14 March 2008, it acquired Red Mill Snack foods, becoming the UK’s third-largest crisp maker. Most Red Mill brands went under Golden Wonder, but Mr. Porky’s pork scratchings stayed with Tayto, produced at the Westhoughton plant in Bolton.

On 21 January 2009, it bought Jonathan Crisp, the trading name of Natural Crisps Ltd in Staffordshire. The Hutchinson family still privately owns the firm, which is headquartered in County Armagh, has an annual turnover of £150 million, and employs over 1,400 people.