I'd just finished a pot of Peanut Butter, and was cursing their design department for the crazy shape of the jar (which makes it almost impossible to get to the last few remaining scraps which become caught inside the bulge at the bottom) when I noticed it says on the label 'The UK's Best Tasting.....'.
Not believing that any Peanut Butter could hail from the UK, I looked-up Sun-Pat on Wiki. Yes, there it was; Sun-Pat was a UK company. I had always automatically thought that is was American.
In fact since 2012 it IS now owned by an American company called 'Hain Celestial Group', who also own Frank Copper's Oxford Marmalade, and Scottish rival 'Keiller's Marmalade', as well as Linda McCartney Foods. Previously Sun-Pat was UK owned since 1946.... Nothing is sacred.
Frank Cooper's Marmalade (other than Lady M's) is probably the best Marmalade around. Much as Sun-Pat Peanut butter is also amongst the best. Hain's are obviously discerning buyers.
I find is sad that so many UK companies are now owned by foreigners. But, ever since Kit Kat was bought by Nestlé; I've stopped caring.
I know what you mean about the design of those peanut butter jars. Ridiculous. You just can't reach that last 'drop'.
ReplyDeleteEven Greece makes its own peanut butter now. Pure peanuts it says. Before that Calve made one of the better ones , no sugar and salt if I remember rightly.
Once upon a time peanut butter was very expensive and largely unavailable here but suddenly we have in our little mini market 3 brands and the Greek one in the supermarket.
It's a huge temptation. Love the stuff.
I wonder if Marmite will ever become popular here
You have to be brought-up with Marmite, it's not something people take to in later life.
DeleteKraft who make our delicious and superior to Marmite spread, Vegemite became American owned but is now back in Australian hands. South Africa seems to like to own Australian companies. It is not just those jars that cause product to be left behind.
ReplyDeletePS You like 'smooth'. I prefer crunchy. Nothing wrong with a few nuts to munch on.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I don't expect the American buyers of Vegestuff had tasted it. They probably thought it was like Marmite! When they realised their mistake.... the rest is history.
DeleteI am not a marmalade connoisseur as I don’t eat it but my husband loves it. I always buy Wilkin and sons Tiptree marmalade but will get a jar of Coopers next time. We have had Coopers but I had forgotten about that brand. I bought a jar of M&S peanut butter yesterday. The jar has straight sides !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI'll remember about the M&S jars. Little things become so important.
DeleteLots of peanut (and other nut) butters are made in UK. This household likes the Whole Earth peanut butter (and not just because you can buy it in 1kg tubs with straight sides - like an oversized Bonne Maman jar).
ReplyDeleteI think we used to buy that too; it rings a bell.
DeleteThere are quite a few Israeli food companies that the Chinese own today. Thank you Cro for remembering Passover, your proficiency in our holidays always delights and amazes me.
ReplyDeleteI fear that the Chinese are buying far too much around the world, they will soon dominate!
DeleteIt amazes me at the number of large American farms being bought out by the Chinese. Is it happening there as well?
DeleteThe worst continent is Africa... they buy everything that comes up for sale. Soon, the whole place will be Chinese.
DeleteI suppose that the jar is deliberate so that you actually have to leave more to buy more often. I suffer the same with plastic bottles of mustard, salad cream, and other sauces that are stood on their tops. My favourite bar of soap doesn't come it 'bath' size anymore so again the last bit gets discarded more often.
ReplyDeleteGrumpy old Woman.
Does it really benefit them, if we are forced to leave some PB in the jar? I would have thought it more in their interest if we were 'satisfied'. Grumpy old Man.
DeleteOur favourite brand of peanut butter is Whole Earth. No bulge!
ReplyDeleteI used to buy Waitrose marmalade but can no longer get it over here so we buy a local home made version which is admittedly more expensive but very good.
Tigger mentioned it above, I'm sure we used to buy it. I have made my own PB, but it's preferable to buy it. My wife's Marmalade is very good; she doses it liberally with Armagnac.
DeleteOur local one often has whisky added.
DeleteI shall try Frank Coopers - I always have Tiptree and love that - but shall go on your recommenation for a change.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the dark 'thick cut' one. It really hits the mark.
DeleteOh my goodness, those funny shaped jars are a real pain aren't they - they must have been designed by a man.... I love peanut butter, but I'm also a chocolate spread freak and last week the supermarket were out of my usual treat, so I ordered a jar of Gu instead (it's got umlauts over the u), chocolate and salted caramel spread. Palm oil free and yummy (if you like that sort of thing). But here's the thing, it comes in a nice clear glass half tumbler with straight sides, no awkward corners. When you've eaten it all you can keep the tumbler which is quite heavy with a thick bottom to it. It's also got one of those flexible lids that can be used again, I was well pleased. And no, I'm not being paid by them! (but I wouldn't turn down a few jars if they'd like to send them....).
ReplyDeleteI'm not keen on Nutella... if that's the one you mean. I buy my 'ordinary' mustard in reusable glass tumblers; it seems such a sensible idea. Of course, one does end-up with an awful lot of tumblers!
DeleteThe commercial world is so international now. It is another reason why, in my incredibly humble opinion, Brexit was such a dumb idea.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Brexit will make the UK re-think selling businesses to foreigners. It should promote a new 'Made in Britain' movement.
DeleteGive the empty jar to your hound. It will provide hours of business. All dogs seem to love peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteI'd not thought of that. He always has my finished yoghurt pots, and can lick them for hours!
DeleteThat jar is ridiculous! It needs its own special spoon, like St. Dalfour jam used to give away. Another ridiculous jar shape.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to see that I'm not the only one who finds it ridiculous.
DeleteGetting peanut butter out of a jar, getting tooth paste out of a tube, squeezing the last drops of Ketchup out of its container give me something to do. It has been a really boring year.
ReplyDeleteKetchup and Mayo I can cope with; Toothpaste I simply chuck! Peanut Butter is another matter altogether.
DeleteIt disgusts me that so few have such a monopoly on our food supply. It's just as bad here in Canada. It's my understanding that four companies own virtually everything we pour down our neck.
ReplyDeleteI hate those shouldered jars!
ReplyDeleteWe buy peanut butter in a kilo tub and decant it into straight glass jars.
We have just found some small silicon scrapers with wooden handles...sold by Gala but I am sure others do them . Invaluable for getting that last bit 😄
I love Peanut Butter! Creamy for me, crunchy for DH. And I've yet to not like it on almost anything... including bananas, apples, ice-cream and in African Chicken peanut soup! I have tried many brands and I liked them all... but Jiff's natural is my favorite. And the jars have straight sides.
ReplyDelete