Fox's Confectionery

Fox's Confectionery Ltd is an English confectionery company founded in Leicester in 1880 by Walter Richard Fox. The business began as a wholesale grocery and confectionery operation in a Victorian warehouse and developed into a manufacturer of a broad range of sweets. By 1897, it was producing more than 100 confectionery lines, establishing the manufacturing breadth that became a continuing feature of the company. The company is particularly associated with Fox's Glacier Mints and the wider Glacier range. The products are recognized for their clear or translucent appearance, mint and fruit flavors, and distinctive polar-bear branding. Peppy, the polar bear used in connection with Glacier Mints, was created by Leicester-based artist C. Reginald Dalby, who was also known for illustrating The Railway Series books. The character helped give the brand a recognizable identity within the British sugar-confectionery market. Fox's corporate ownership changed several times during the consolidation of the British confectionery industry. Mackintosh's acquired the company in 1969, shortly before the formation of Rowntree Mackintosh through the merger of Mackintosh's and Rowntree's of York. Nestlé later acquired Rowntree Mackintosh. In 2001, Nestlé sold the Fox's brand and its Leicester site to Northern Foods. The business was sold again in 2003 to Big Bear Ltd, whose confectionery activities included sites in Blackburn, Leicester, and Nimbus. Valeo Foods acquired Fox's Confectionery in 2015, making it part of a larger European food group. The brand's portfolio has included the Fox's Glacier range, Paynes Poppets, XXX Mints, Just Mints, and several varieties of Just Brazils, including milk-chocolate and dark-chocolate versions. Some historical products, such as Le Bar, have been discontinued. Fox's therefore combines a long-established company identity with a portfolio centered on traditional boiled sweets, mints, chocolate-covered confectionery, and other impulse or sharing products. Fox's also has a distinct ownership and manufacturing history in Indonesia. Fox's candies in that market are owned, manufactured, and exported to international markets by Savoria, a subsidiary of the Djarum Group. Djarum acquired the Indonesian Fox's business from Nestlé in 2018. This Indonesian operation should be distinguished from the British Fox's Confectionery business owned by Valeo Foods. In the United Kingdom, Fox's remains principally identified with heritage confectionery manufacturing and the Glacier brand family.

Fox's Confectionery originated in Leicester in 1880, when Walter Richard Fox established a wholesale grocery and confectionery business. The enterprise operated from a Victorian warehouse and gradually moved beyond distribution into manufacturing. Its early expansion was substantial: by 1897, Fox was making more than 100 confectionery lines. This product diversity provided the foundation for the company's later identity as a broad British sweets manufacturer rather than a single-product maker. One of the company's most enduring associations is the Glacier range, particularly Fox's Glacier Mints. The range's polar-bear symbol, Peppy, was designed by Leicester artist C. Reginald Dalby. Dalby was also known for his illustration work on The Railway Series, and his character design gave the mint brand a distinctive visual asset. Glacier Mints became the best-known expression of Fox's heritage in the British confectionery market, while other products extended the portfolio into fruit sweets, chocolate confectionery, and additional mint lines. Ownership changed during the restructuring of the British confectionery sector. Mackintosh's acquired Fox's in 1969. One year later, Mackintosh's merged with Rowntree's of York to create Rowntree Mackintosh. Nestlé subsequently acquired Rowntree Mackintosh, bringing Fox's under Nestlé ownership. In 2001, Nestlé sold both the Fox's brand and the Leicester site to Northern Foods. Northern Foods later sold the operation to Big Bear Ltd in 2003. Big Bear's confectionery activities included facilities in Blackburn, Leicester, and Nimbus. During the Big Bear period, Fox's continued to be associated with established lines such as Glacier Mints, Glacier Fruits, Glacier Dark, XXX Mints, Just Mints, and Just Brazils. Paynes Poppets was also part of the portfolio. The product history includes discontinued items, including Le Bar, which was no longer being produced by approximately the mid-1990s. Valeo Foods acquired Fox's Confectionery in 2015. Under Valeo, the brand became part of a broader food and beverage group while retaining its connection to traditional confectionery. The business is based in Braunstone, Leicester, preserving the brand's geographic link with the city where it began. Fox's has a separate Indonesian business history. In Indonesia, the Fox's candy operation was acquired by Djarum from Nestlé in 2018. The business operates through Savoria, a Djarum subsidiary, and manufactures Fox's candies for Indonesia and export to other international markets. This ownership arrangement is distinct from the British company, which is owned by Valeo Foods. As a result, the Fox's name has continued in more than one regional corporate structure, while the British brand remains centered on its historic mint and sugar-confectionery lines.

• 2018

  Djarum acquires Indonesian Fox's operation

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  Djarum acquired the Indonesian Fox's business from Nestlé; the operation is conducted through Savoria.

• 2015

  Acquisition by Valeo Foods

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  Valeo Foods acquired Fox's Confectionery, bringing it into the Valeo Foods group.

• 2003

  Acquisition by Big Bear

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  Big Bear Ltd acquired the confectionery business from Northern Foods.

• 2001

  Sale from Nestlé to Northern Foods

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  Nestlé sold the Fox's brand and Leicester site to Northern Foods.

• 1969

  Acquisition by Mackintosh's

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  Fox's was acquired by Mackintosh's before the creation of Rowntree Mackintosh.

• 1897

  Manufacturing expands to more than 100 lines

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  The company was reported to be manufacturing more than 100 different confectionery lines.

• 1880

  Fox's confectionery business founded in Leicester

  [1]Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org

  Walter Richard Fox established a wholesale grocery and confectionery business in a Victorian warehouse in Leicester.

A heritage British confectionery brand built around traditional mints, boiled sweets, fruit drops, and chocolate confectionery, with Glacier Mints serving as its signature range.

• Mint confectionery

  Fox's Glacier Mints

  The signature Fox's mint product and the core of the Glacier range. Glacier Mints are associated with a clear, crystalline appearance, a strong mint profile, and the Peppy polar-bear trademark character created by C. Reginald Dalby. The product is one of the main sources of Fox's recognition in the British confectionery market.

• Fruit-flavored boiled sweets

  Fox's Glacier Fruits

  A fruit-oriented extension of the Glacier range. It applies the range's hard-candy format and visual identity to fruit flavors rather than the mint profile associated with the original Glacier Mints.

• Dark mint confectionery

  Fox's Glacier Dark

  A darker variant within the Glacier family, listed among Fox's principal products. It extends the Glacier name beyond the standard mint formulation and forms part of the brand's established mint portfolio.

• Chocolate confectionery

  Paynes Poppets

  A chocolate confectionery line associated with the wider Fox's portfolio. Its inclusion demonstrates the company's reach beyond boiled sweets and mints into chocolate-covered or chocolate-based impulse confectionery.

• Mint confectionery

  XXX Mints

  A separate Fox's mint line positioned within the company's traditional sugar-confectionery portfolio. The product forms part of the brand's broader collection of everyday mint offerings.

• Mint confectionery

  Just Mints

  A straightforward mint product in the Fox's range, reflecting the company's long-standing emphasis on familiar, traditional mint confectionery.

• Chocolate-covered confectionery

  Just Brazils

  A Fox's confectionery line based on Brazil nuts or Brazil-themed chocolate confectionery. The portfolio has included both milk-chocolate and dark-chocolate versions, giving the range differentiated chocolate variants.

• Chocolate confectionery bar

  Le Bar

  A historical Fox's confectionery bar that had been discontinued by approximately 1994. It represents an earlier product line outside the company's continuing core range.

• 2018

  Djarum acquisition of the Indonesian operationM&A

  Background

  The Indonesian Fox's business was separated from the British ownership history.

  Action taken

  Djarum acquired the Indonesian Fox's business from Nestlé and operates it through Savoria.

  Aftermath

  Savoria manufactures Fox's candies in Indonesia and exports them to numerous international markets.

  Source

• 2015

  Valeo Foods acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Fox's was sold again after its period under Big Bear.

  Action taken

  Valeo Foods acquired Fox's Confectionery.

  Aftermath

  Fox's became part of Valeo Foods and retained its association with confectionery manufacturing in Leicester.

  Source

• 2003

  Sale to Big BearM&A

  Background

  Northern Foods subsequently sold the confectionery business.

  Action taken

  Big Bear Ltd acquired Fox's Confectionery.

  Aftermath

  The business operated within Big Bear's confectionery network, which included sites in Blackburn, Leicester, and Nimbus.

  Source

• 2001

  Sale of Fox's to Northern FoodsM&A

  Background

  After Nestlé's ownership of Rowntree Mackintosh, the Fox's brand and its Leicester site were divested.

  Action taken

  Nestlé sold the Fox's brand and Leicester manufacturing site to Northern Foods.

  Aftermath

  Fox's left Nestlé ownership and continued as part of an independent food and confectionery operation.

  Source

• 1969

  Mackintosh's acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Fox's entered the Mackintosh's confectionery group during a period of industry consolidation.

  Action taken

  Mackintosh's acquired Fox's Confectionery.

  Aftermath

  The company subsequently became part of the corporate lineage leading to Rowntree Mackintosh and later Nestlé ownership.

  Source

1. 1Fox's Confectioneryen.wikipedia.org