Chocolate is to York what mustard is to Norwich or marmalade to Oxford. While many Yorkshire towns and cities made their fortune out of textiles in the wake of the industrial revolution, York went its own sweet way - and even today the chocolate business remains an employer in the city.

ROWNTREE AND TERRY - FAMOUS SONS OF YORK

Rowntree
One of York's most famous sons is Joseph Rowntree, a Quaker remembered and revered both for his outstanding work towards improving the lot of working people (including his own employees) and for his founding of the famous Rowntree confectionery name. In 1827 he set up a grocer's shop in Pavement, which in time expanded into a chocolate factory on Haxby Road. His son, also named Joseph, inherited the chocolate business and also shared his father's philanthropic tendencies. He set up three influential Trusts which still bears his name today, and which continue his legacy in the fields of poverty, housing, international peace, social justice and democratic reform.

Rowntree later merged with Mackintosh, and the joint company became part of Nestlé in 1988. Many sweets and chocolate bars that are a much-loved part of British life are manufactured in the York factory, like Kit Kat and Yorkie.

Terry's
York's other great chocolate name is Terry's. The firm began in 1767 and was founded by Mr Bayldon and Mr Berry. The Terry's name first appeared when Joseph Terry became a partner in 1823. The site in Bishopthorpe Road remained the hub of Terry's confectionery production in Britain until sadly it closed in 2005. At peak seasons over 700 people were employed at the plant to produce world-renowned delights such as Terry's All Gold.

The Terry family has been involved in the highly successful business for generations, and the present-day representative, Peter Terry, is honorary president of what is now a £140 million business. Terry's has operated under the ownership of Kraft Jacobs Suchard since 1993.

Did you know...?

• The successful chocolate industry brought economic stability to 19th century York.
• York's superior railway connections were vital to the success of its chocolate industry.
• Nestlé's Chunky Kit Kat has been one of the retailing sensations of the past decade.
• You can still see what was a very sumptuous Terry's chocolate shop and restaurant in St Helen's Square. Today it is a gift shop.
• The first Terry's chocolate ‘fruit' to be made in York wasn't the famous Orange, but a Terry's Chocolate Apple.
• Surveys reveal that a Terry's Chocolate Orange finds its way into one in ten Christmas stockings.
• Strict hygiene rules mean that it is impossible to allow visitors into York's chocolate factories. But the end product is readily available!

For any further information and your free guide to York, please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org.

Press contact:  Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org, website: www.visityork.org.