DID you know that one of the country’s biggest biscuit manufacturers is based right here in Tameside?
Hill Biscuits was founded in 1855 by Sarah and John Hill as a small family-run shop and, as the business expanded, it moved in 1893 into Tudno Mill in Ashton-under-Lyne, where it remains.
Hill has become one of the largest and longest-established manufacturers in the UK, with its two-acre site operating 24 hours a day to produce hundreds of millions of biscuits every year and the firm employs around 370 people.
As demand for its traditional products continues to grow, the biscuit manufacturing powerhouse is preparing for what it describes as ‘a new horizon’ as it approaches its 170th anniversary.
Hill Biscuits – backed by main shareholder LDC Private Equity – has reported a “substantial increase” in sales revenue since 2021 and achieved 50 per cent growth in 2023, with projections set to rise further this year.
It is also under relatively new leadership after Frank Bird became CEO in May 2023 and a newly-appointed senior team consisting of Operations Director Simon Worth, CFO Brendon Ward-Banner and Commercial Director Tracey Meadows.
Looking ahead, the firm plans to announce “substantial investments” in expanding its capacity this year to ensure it “meets the escalating demand for its products and the evolving requirements of its client portfolio”.
But amid challenging times and shifting customer trends, Hill Biscuits says it remains dedicated to traditional, quality biscuits and providing value for money for household favourites such as Custard Creams and Fruit Shorties.
Frank explained: “There has been a lot of movement in the market recently with some manufacturers making the decision to follow the premium trend which in turn has created opportunities for Hill’s to expand on its ability in producing traditional quality biscuits, which is what Hill is all about.
“In 2024 it would be great to explore potential co-manufacturing partnerships where we can relaunch our Sarah Hill brand, named after one of the founders of the company in 1855, a premium product range that includes cookie type products and potentially even coated biscuits.
“This move could also increase Hill’s overall market presence, creating innovative opportunities in new product ranges and for further partnerships.”
Steve Greenhalgh, Executive Chairman, is confident the future investment planned at the factory can be successful.
“We are confident in our strategies and excited about developing the future of the company to meet the demand for our everyday biscuits,” he said.
“We are in a strong position where we can lead on cost and value, with a quality range of products.”
Nothing wrong with hill biscuits. Official supplier of biscuits to HM Prisons!
After working there for 2 years plus I had to leave due to staff incompetence management decisions that didn’t work and were also incompetent, run down factory leaks all over the place , hazards and risks unreported or unforfilled Leading to major health and safety issues , nuts not allowed on site , check out someone’s birthday or a celebration anything goes, risking all , inspection arises miraculously everything is ship shape, loved my job until corners were cut ask any employee ,although most will be quite because its their lively hood
They should also have a Factory shop like Park Cake Bakery so people can benefit buying cheap biscuits that can’t be sold in the market.
Would love to visit it to see how the biscuits are manufactured in the factory, is there any way someone can visit? Once I visited a biscuit factory when I was in secondary school, loved it.
I worked there for a few years before transferring over to Ryecroft foods when we split the maintenance team in two, happy memories with all the old staff, surprised to see the previous comments from “ T “ but that’s his view, the idea of having an “ open day “ is good as we used to do that when I worked at Mather and Platt years ago although I do understand the logistics of doing a tour while the factory is producing, still, something that could push the company out there is worth considering.
I’ve lived next to this factory for over 40 years. The employees are becoming increasingly more rude and inconsiderate. They disturb residents talking loadly in the early hours when finishing/ starting their shifts. Parking in front of disabled residents homes and becoming argumentative when asked politely to move their cars. For years management and staff have ignored complaints from local residents. Hopefully they’ll reinvest in making this factory automated.