Bendicks
Encyclopedia
Bendicks is a chocolate
brand of Storck UK Ltd
. The British confectionery manufacturer was founded in 1930. In 2009, Bendicks (Mayfair) Ltd. changed its name to Storck UK Ltd., keeping Bendicks as a brand name for its chocolate
products.
, London
, with the fine chocolates made in a tiny basement below the shop. They used the first syllable of each of their surnames to come up with the name Bendicks.
In 1931 Benson's sister-in-law, Lucia Benson, came up with a dark chocolate so bitter that it was virtually inedible on its own, and combined it with a mint fondant that was so strongly flavoured with mint oil that it was difficult to eat on its own. When the two parts were combined they produced a very palatable chocolate that they named Bendicks Bittermints. The chocolate coating contains 95% cocoa solids.
By 1933, Bendicks was developing a reputation for quality and a new store was opened in the heart of London's exclusive Mayfair. The rich, the beautiful and the fashionable visited the shop, prominent among them was the Duke of Kent, son of King George V, who regularly visited for the famous Bittermints. The company soon became known by the name that was to become famous for its high-quality chocolate confectionery: Bendicks of Mayfair.
In 1946 the business was sold to a Mr. Edgar Lawley (he of the potteries). By 1952 Bendicks had moved to a building which bridged St. Thomas Street and Little Minster Street in Winchester, Hampshire. This building, which has now been demolished and replaced by residential properties and garages, had been constructed in around 1890 and been used for many years as The Winchester Temperance Billiards Hall. It had already acquired the business of William Cox & Son, manufacturers of Royal Winchester Chocolates (a name which has sadly long been discontinued), which had been located in St. George's Street, Winchester (now occupied by MacDonalds).
The reputation of the company and its products was further enhanced in 1962 when it was awarded the coveted Royal Warrant: "By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen".
The confectionery products were expensive but were all made with the finest quality ingredients. The main part of the business was chocolate coated confectionery and these were all hand dipped, giving a much thicker layer of chocolate, and the availability of female 'dippers' was a constraint on the growth of the business. They also produced other confectionery products such as nougat and chocolate bars. Of course all the chocolate products were high cocoa plain chocolate, no connoisseur of chocolate confectionery would ever contemplate eating milk chocolate. A feature of Bittermints was that they could be purchased in 9 inch, 18 inch and 36 inch boxes (by the yard).
In 1967 the business was moved to a purpose built factory in Moorside Road, Winchester. During the 1960s it had been acquired by Wood Hall Trust Ltd (itself subsequently being acquired by Elders IXL, the Australian conglomerate, in 1982). In later years enrobing equipment was introduced allowing an increase in production but of course at the expense of high quality thick layer of chocolate coating.
In the 1960s the business also owned a number of retail outlets in prestigious parts of London. Two were located in Wigmore Street and Sloane Street, both of which were also restaurants. The remaining shops were located in Bond Street, Throgmorton Street and Curzon Street (the latter trading under its own name of Supex Ltd.). Many of the products sold in these shops were chocolate confectionery packed in fine china (Wedgwood, Doulton etc.) so that the remaining 'container' became a useful quality object and customers could bring in quality china containers to have filled with confectionery to be given as gifts.
Since 1988 Bendicks is a subsidiary of the German sweet producer, Storck
.
In 2002, Bendicks introduced a selection box of chocolates called Mingles
.
In April 2009 Storck confirmed it was shutting the factory in Winchester at the end of July and relocating production to Ohrdruff, its Eastern German plant. This would result in a loss of more than 80 jobs although it would continue to employ over 30 staff in Winchester to support marketing and sales of its brands in the UK.
Production at the Winchester plant finally ended on Friday July 29, 2011.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
brand of Storck UK Ltd
August Storck KG
August Storck KG is a German sweets producer with headquarters in Berlin. Its subsidiary in the UK is since 1988 the Bendicks company in Winchester...
. The British confectionery manufacturer was founded in 1930. In 2009, Bendicks (Mayfair) Ltd. changed its name to Storck UK Ltd., keeping Bendicks as a brand name for its chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
products.
History
In 1930 Oscar Benson and Colonel 'Bertie' Dickson purchased a small confectionery business at 164 Church street in KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with the fine chocolates made in a tiny basement below the shop. They used the first syllable of each of their surnames to come up with the name Bendicks.
By 1933, Bendicks was developing a reputation for quality and a new store was opened in the heart of London's exclusive Mayfair. The rich, the beautiful and the fashionable visited the shop, prominent among them was the Duke of Kent, son of King George V, who regularly visited for the famous Bittermints. The company soon became known by the name that was to become famous for its high-quality chocolate confectionery: Bendicks of Mayfair.
In 1946 the business was sold to a Mr. Edgar Lawley (he of the potteries). By 1952 Bendicks had moved to a building which bridged St. Thomas Street and Little Minster Street in Winchester, Hampshire. This building, which has now been demolished and replaced by residential properties and garages, had been constructed in around 1890 and been used for many years as The Winchester Temperance Billiards Hall. It had already acquired the business of William Cox & Son, manufacturers of Royal Winchester Chocolates (a name which has sadly long been discontinued), which had been located in St. George's Street, Winchester (now occupied by MacDonalds).
The reputation of the company and its products was further enhanced in 1962 when it was awarded the coveted Royal Warrant: "By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen".
The confectionery products were expensive but were all made with the finest quality ingredients. The main part of the business was chocolate coated confectionery and these were all hand dipped, giving a much thicker layer of chocolate, and the availability of female 'dippers' was a constraint on the growth of the business. They also produced other confectionery products such as nougat and chocolate bars. Of course all the chocolate products were high cocoa plain chocolate, no connoisseur of chocolate confectionery would ever contemplate eating milk chocolate. A feature of Bittermints was that they could be purchased in 9 inch, 18 inch and 36 inch boxes (by the yard).
In 1967 the business was moved to a purpose built factory in Moorside Road, Winchester. During the 1960s it had been acquired by Wood Hall Trust Ltd (itself subsequently being acquired by Elders IXL, the Australian conglomerate, in 1982). In later years enrobing equipment was introduced allowing an increase in production but of course at the expense of high quality thick layer of chocolate coating.
In the 1960s the business also owned a number of retail outlets in prestigious parts of London. Two were located in Wigmore Street and Sloane Street, both of which were also restaurants. The remaining shops were located in Bond Street, Throgmorton Street and Curzon Street (the latter trading under its own name of Supex Ltd.). Many of the products sold in these shops were chocolate confectionery packed in fine china (Wedgwood, Doulton etc.) so that the remaining 'container' became a useful quality object and customers could bring in quality china containers to have filled with confectionery to be given as gifts.
Since 1988 Bendicks is a subsidiary of the German sweet producer, Storck
August Storck KG
August Storck KG is a German sweets producer with headquarters in Berlin. Its subsidiary in the UK is since 1988 the Bendicks company in Winchester...
.
In 2002, Bendicks introduced a selection box of chocolates called Mingles
Mingles
Mingles are a type of mint chocolates made by Bendicks and sold in the UK.-Varieties:There are 5 different varieties of Mingles, which are packaged together in one box:* Red - Marbled dark and white chocolate with light mint truffle centre....
.
In April 2009 Storck confirmed it was shutting the factory in Winchester at the end of July and relocating production to Ohrdruff, its Eastern German plant. This would result in a loss of more than 80 jobs although it would continue to employ over 30 staff in Winchester to support marketing and sales of its brands in the UK.
Production at the Winchester plant finally ended on Friday July 29, 2011.
Range
- Bendicks' Bittermints
- Bendicks' Bittergingers
- Bendicks' Bitteroranges
- Bendicks' Chocolate Classics
- Bendicks' Chocolate Ginger
- Bendicks' Chocolate Mint Crisps
- Bendicks' Mint Collection
- Bendicks' Victorian Mints
- Bendicks' White Chocolate Mints
- MinglesMinglesMingles are a type of mint chocolates made by Bendicks and sold in the UK.-Varieties:There are 5 different varieties of Mingles, which are packaged together in one box:* Red - Marbled dark and white chocolate with light mint truffle centre....