Griffin's Foods
Griffin's Foods is a New Zealand food company and snack brand known for biscuits, crackers, confectionery, cereal bars and other snack foods.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
Griffin's Foods is a New Zealand food company whose consumer portfolio is centered on biscuits, crackers, chocolate confectionery, cereal bars and snack foods. The business traces its origins to 1864, when English-born entrepreneur John Griffin established a flour and cocoa milling operation in Nelson. Griffin had arrived in Nelson in 1854 and entered the local bakery trade soon afterward. Although an earthquake damaged his original premises in 1855 and prompted a move to Christchurch, he later returned to Nelson as business conditions improved. The company gradually expanded beyond milling and baking. Newspaper records indicate that biscuits were being produced by the 1880s, while the confectionery side of the operation began in 1886. By the 1890s, the business was making candied peels, and it later added drinking cocoa and a broader range of manufactured foods. After John Griffin died in 1893, his sons J.H. Griffin and G.R. Griffin continued the enterprise. A major fire in February 1895 led to the creation of a public company to secure additional capital, and the business acquired a chocolate factory in 1897. Manufacturing became more geographically specialized during the twentieth century. In 1938, Griffin's opened a factory in Lower Hutt and transferred biscuit production there, while the Nelson site was devoted primarily to confectionery. During the Second World War, the company produced army ration biscuits, helping it expand its production base and national importance. In 1959, Griffin's acquired the Southern Cross Biscuit Factory in Whanganui, strengthening its position in the New Zealand biscuit market. Ownership changed repeatedly from the 1960s onward. Nabisco acquired Griffin's in 1962. Under Nabisco, the company purchased Sweetacres in 1971, added Huntley & Palmers crackers to its portfolio, and acquired Eta Foods in 1973, bringing snack and potato-chip brands into the wider business. Nabisco closed the Nelson factory in 1988, resulting in 137 job losses, and Griffin's acquired Hudson's in 1989, including the rights associated with the Hudson's Cookie Bear character. Following the effective break-up of Nabisco, Griffin's passed to Britannia Foods in 1990 and then to Danone later that year. Danone sold Griffin's to Pacific Equity Partners in 2006. In 2007, Griffin's acquired Nice & Natural Wrapped Snacks, expanding its presence in packaged snack foods. The Lower Hutt plant closed in 2008, with production transferred to Auckland facilities; the move eliminated approximately 200 jobs. In 2009, production of the company's cream-filled biscuits was shifted to Fiji. Pacific Equity Partners sold Griffin's to Universal Robina in July 2014 for approximately NZ$700 million. Universal Robina subsequently announced plans to introduce the Griffin's brand to Southeast Asia, beginning with the Philippines, in 2015. In December 2019, Universal Robina and Germany-based Intersnack created Unisnack ANZ, combining Griffin's with Snack Brands Australia. Intersnack initially held 40 percent of the joint venture. In August 2021, Universal Robina sold its remaining 60 percent stake to Intersnack, making Griffin's wholly owned by Intersnack. The company remains an active New Zealand food business with a portfolio spanning traditional biscuits, sweet and savory snacks, crackers, chocolate-coated products and cereal-based snack items.
History
Griffin's Foods began in Nelson in 1864, when John Griffin established a flour and cocoa milling business. Griffin had entered the bakery trade in Nelson after arriving in New Zealand, but an earthquake damaged his original premises in 1855. He later moved to Christchurch before returning to Nelson. The enterprise expanded from milling into manufactured food: biscuits were being made by the 1880s, confectionery was introduced in 1886, and the company later produced candied peel and drinking cocoa. Following Griffin's death in 1893, his sons J.H. Griffin and G.R. Griffin continued the business. A serious fire in February 1895 encouraged the formation of a public company with new capital, and the business acquired a chocolate factory in 1897. Manufacturing was subsequently developed across several New Zealand locations. A new Lower Hutt factory opened in 1938, taking over biscuit production, while the Nelson factory became focused on confectionery. During the Second World War, Griffin's produced army ration biscuits, supporting production growth and broadening its industrial role. The company acquired the Southern Cross Biscuit Factory in Whanganui in 1959. Nabisco purchased Griffin's in 1962. During the Nabisco period, Griffin's expanded through the acquisition of Sweetacres in 1971, the addition of Huntley & Palmers crackers, and the acquisition of Eta Foods in 1973, which brought snack and potato-chip products into the portfolio. Nabisco closed the Nelson factory in 1988, removing 137 jobs. Griffin's bought Hudson's in 1989 and obtained the rights associated with the Hudson's Cookie Bear character. In 1990, following the restructuring of Nabisco, Griffin's was sold to Britannia Foods and then acquired by Danone later the same year. Danone divested Griffin's to Pacific Equity Partners in 2006. The company purchased Nice & Natural Wrapped Snacks in 2007, reinforcing its position in the New Zealand snack category. The Lower Hutt factory closed in 2008 and production moved to Auckland, with approximately 200 jobs lost. In 2009, manufacture of cream-filled biscuits was transferred to Fiji. Pacific Equity Partners sold Griffin's to Universal Robina in July 2014. Universal Robina later pursued international growth for the brand, announcing a Southeast Asian launch beginning in the Philippines in 2015. In 2019, Universal Robina and Intersnack established Unisnack ANZ, combining Griffin's with Snack Brands Australia. Intersnack initially held 40 percent. Universal Robina sold its remaining interest in August 2021, leaving Intersnack as the sole owner. Griffin's is therefore part of Intersnack's wider international snack-food group while retaining its identity as a New Zealand food business.
- 2021
Intersnack became sole owner
[1]Intersnack acquired Universal Robina's remaining interest in Unisnack ANZ.
- 2019
Unisnack ANZ joint venture formed
[1]Universal Robina and Intersnack combined Griffin's and Snack Brands Australia in a new joint venture.
- 2014
Universal Robina acquired Griffin's
[1]Pacific Equity Partners sold Griffin's Foods to Universal Robina.
- 2008
Lower Hutt factory closed
[1]Production was transferred to Auckland sites and approximately 200 jobs were lost.
- 2007
Nice & Natural Wrapped Snacks acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Griffin's presence in packaged and wrapped snacks.
- 1989
Hudson's acquired
[1]Griffin's acquired Hudson's and took on the copyright associated with the Cookie Bear icon.
- 1988
Nelson factory closed
[1]Nabisco closed the historic Nelson factory, with 137 jobs lost.
- 1973
Eta Foods acquired
[1]The acquisition added snack foods and potato-chip brands to Griffin's portfolio.
- 1971
Sweetacres acquired
[1]Griffin's acquired confectionery manufacturer Sweetacres.
- 1962
Nabisco acquired Griffin's
[1]Ownership passed from the Griffin family business to Nabisco.
Products and positioning
A mainstream New Zealand packaged-food company built around familiar biscuits, sweet treats, crackers and convenient snack foods, with a heritage extending from nineteenth-century milling and baking to modern branded snack manufacturing.
sandwich biscuit
Cameo Creme
A Griffin's cream-filled sandwich biscuit in the company's traditional sweet biscuit range.
sweet biscuit
Chit Chat
A branded Griffin's biscuit product within the company's everyday packaged biscuit portfolio.
chocolate biscuit
Chocolate Fingers
A biscuit product associated with Griffin's chocolate-coated and chocolate-flavored offering.
plain biscuit
Digestive
Griffin's version of the digestive biscuit style, part of its established biscuit range.
spiced biscuit
Gingernuts
A ginger-flavored biscuit product reflecting Griffin's heritage in familiar New Zealand tea-time biscuits.
sweet biscuit
Krispie
A Griffin's branded biscuit product included in the company's packaged sweet-snack range.
chocolate biscuit
Squiggles
A distinctive Griffin's biscuit product within its chocolate and indulgent snack portfolio.
caramel and chocolate biscuit
Toffee Pops
A Griffin's indulgent biscuit combining a toffee-oriented profile with chocolate confectionery elements.
decorated sweet biscuit
Cookie Bear Hundreds & Thousands
A Cookie Bear-branded biscuit product using the character rights associated with Griffin's acquisition of Hudson's in 1989.
Brand decisions
2021
Universal Robina exited Unisnack ANZM&ABackground
Universal Robina announced an exit from the Australian and New Zealand market after forming the joint venture with Intersnack.
Action taken
Universal Robina sold its remaining 60 percent interest in Unisnack ANZ to Intersnack.
Aftermath
Intersnack became the sole owner of Griffin's Foods.
2019
Formation of Unisnack ANZM&ABackground
Universal Robina owned Griffin's while Intersnack owned Snack Brands Australia, creating a rationale for combining their Australia and New Zealand snack operations.
Action taken
The companies formed Unisnack ANZ, incorporating Griffin's and Snack Brands Australia; Intersnack initially held 40 percent.
Aftermath
Griffin's became part of a consolidated Australia-New Zealand snack business.
2015
Southeast Asian brand expansionStrategyBackground
After acquiring Griffin's, Universal Robina sought to use its regional distribution network to develop the brand outside New Zealand.
Action taken
Universal Robina announced an expansion of Griffin's into Southeast Asia, beginning with the Philippines.
Aftermath
The announcement established international growth as a stated direction for the Griffin's brand.
2014
Sale to Universal RobinaM&ABackground
Pacific Equity Partners chose to divest Griffin's Foods after owning the business since 2006.
Action taken
Universal Robina acquired Griffin's Foods in July 2014.
Aftermath
Griffin's became part of Universal Robina's regional food portfolio and was subsequently positioned for expansion beyond New Zealand.
Transaction value. NZ$700 million (July 2014)
2009
Cream-filled biscuit production moved to FijiStrategyBackground
Griffin's reviewed the manufacturing footprint for its cream-filled biscuit products.
Action taken
Production of the cream-filled biscuit range was transferred to Fiji.
Aftermath
The move affected products representing approximately 2.5 percent of company production at the time.
2008
Consolidation of biscuit manufacturing in AucklandStrategyBackground
Griffin's operated manufacturing facilities in Lower Hutt and Auckland, while the Lower Hutt site remained an important biscuit-production location.
Action taken
The Lower Hutt plant was closed and production was transferred to Auckland facilities.
Aftermath
The consolidation resulted in approximately 200 job losses and concentrated production at Auckland sites.
Sources1 sources
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