W. and R. Jacob and Co
Makers of Jacob's Cream Crackers, of Dublin.
Established 1885
Pre-1839: Established in Waterford, Ireland, making Ship's Biscuits. Later moved to Bishop Street, Dublin.
1851 W. and R. Jacob and Co, sweet biscuit-making began.
1850-60s The company grew to be Dublin's second-largest employer, after Guinness.
1883 W. and R. Jacob and Co Ltd.
Jacob's Cream Crackers was introduced to the UK market.
1913 Despite being well looked after, the workers at the company joined the Great Strike and Lock Out, being the last to return to work.
Jacob's Biscuits became famous across the UK and world.
1914 Liverpool Factory opened.
1922 A separate English company was formed. The Dublin branch retained the W. and R. Jacob name, while the Liverpool branch was renamed Jacob's Bakery Ltd.
1951 The Dublin company issued shares[1]
1952 W and R Jacob (Liverpool) Ltd doubled its issued share capital[2]
1959 Opened a new depot in Plympton to cope with demand from Devon and Cornwall[3]
1960 Jacob's Bakery Ltd acquired by Associated Biscuit Manufacturers.
1970s W. and R. Jacob in Dublin merged with Boland's Biscuits to form Irish Biscuits, and moved to Tallaght, Ireland.
1991 BSN, the French Danone Group, which already owned Jacob's and had a significant interest in W and R Jacob made a recommended offer for the company[4]
2004 United Biscuits acquired the UK and Irish biscuit businesses of Danone including Jacob's[5]