Our History

1869

French scientist Mege Mouries, invented margarine in response to the need for a more economical product than butter with better keeping qualities.

1871

The invention was sold to Dutch firm Jurgens who combined with another firm, Van den Bergh, to become the first commercial producers of margarine.

1884

Craigmillar’s first factory, producing margarines, was built in the shadow of its namesake Craigmillar Castle near Edinburgh. The factory was valued at £5,000 and later bought by Van den Bergh.

1911

The Ward Baking Co. of New York who owned a chain of bakeries throughout the United States couldn’t understand why the bread they made was different in every town. The Mellon Institute of Industrial Research was sponsored by Ward to identify the reason why. This work revealed that the mineral salt content of the local waters was causing the variation and by creating a mixture of these minerals an improvement and standardisation of the bread could be achieved. The Mellon’s director of research at the time was Dr Robert Kennedy Duncan -RKD - Arkady, and so a name and product was born.

1916

Opening of new factory at Bromborough by William Lever for his Planters Margarine Company. Lever later joined with Van Den Bergh and Jurgen to become Unilever.

1921

In the UK Arkady yeast food began to be manufactured in Willesden, London.

1923

Arkady products had become so successful that an entirely new factory was built at Manchester. Production was doubled in 1929 and again in 1936.

1924

Craigmillar was bought by Van den Bergh & Jurgens.

1925

British Arkady Co. moved to Old Trafford, Manchester, marketing a single product, Arkady.

1927

Planters produces the world’s first vitaminised margarine. A breakthrough which led to margarine being established as a food and today all margarines are vitaminised by law.

1929

Increasing business led to a doubling in size of the Bromborough factory.

1948-1956

Bromborough becomes Europe’s largest oil refinery.

1950

Van den Bergh & Jurgens pioneer the introduction of flour cake mixes.

1955

The company extended its bakery expertise to complete mixes for institutional and industrial canteens.

1960s

The Wirral factory became known locally as the Stork Margarine factory after one of the famous branded products manufactured at the site.

1967

British Arkady acquired a substantial interest in the Tweedy group, famous for its high-speed mixer developed for the Chorleywood Bread Process.

1968

New hydrogenation plant commissioned at Bromborough, processing 2,500 tons of oil per week for production of margarines.

1972-1995

British Arkady, now part of ADM expands its markets across the UK and Ireland and into 21 other countries with a broader range of products including bread mixes, cake, pudding and pastry mixes.

1983

Country Home Bakers, a major player in the cookie market saw an opportunity to sell its product, in the UK and started trading as Readi-Bake, the American cookie brand name.

1985

Readi-Bake develops partnership with Millies, the largest independent retailer of cookies. Initially production was with a UK 3rd party.

1993

Acquisition of Burton, Son and Saunders, whose product range consisted of sugar strands, jellies and custards including the highly regarded “Crème Pâtissière”.

1994

Readi-Bake opened its own small factory in Milton Keynes which was soon at full capacity.

1995

British Arkady sold to Unilever, joining the Bakery Ingredients division to become Arkady Craigmillar in 1996.

1990-1996

Changing customer demand leads to massive investment in the Wirral site (£15m) turning it from a fats company to one producing a wide range of bakery ingredients and frozen products.

1995

Merger of Arkady and Craigmillar. Started cookie production.

1997

Investment in largest doughnut plant in the world (in its day!).

1999

Investment in new tunnel oven for baked muffins, sheet cakes and cookies.

2000

Started scone production in Bromborough. Launched highest performing liquid bread ingredients on the market.

2001

Acquired Simpsons licence for doughnuts, brownies and cookies. Acquired Smarties ® licence for all fresh bakery products (excluding muffins). Acquired by CSM from Unilever.

2003

Integration of cake mix production to internal site; (previously manufactured at Unilever site). Acquisition of Readi-Bake.

2004

Acquisition and integration of Caravan Brill (icings, cake mixes).

2004

Arkady Craigmillar & Readi-Bake are renamed as BakeMark UK but the names Arkady, Craigmillar and Readi-Bake remain alongside Bon Vivant and Caravan Brill as its five key brands. BakeMark UK operates from three sites: Manchester, Wirral & Milton Keynes.

2004-2005

First bakery manufacturer to remove hydrogenated fats from all its internally produced products.*

*(Bromborough site)

2005

Acquired Nestlé licences for Toffee Crisp ®, Rolo ®, Milky Bar ® and Yorkie ® for all fresh bakery products (excluding muffins).

2006

Investment in £2m glazed doughnut plant. Tesco supplier award for outstanding contribution.

2007

Watch this space...