Inside the factory which produces the 'world's first energy bar'

June 13, 2023

A few weeks ago Filipa from the Westmorland Gazette visited the Romney's Factory where we discussed all things Kendal Mint Cake, Everest & our latest product - The Everest Crate!

It was a pleasure to speak with Filipa about the in-depth history Kendal Mint Cake and show off our production process.

The article said the following:

"George Romney Ltd, the fourth-generation confectionery business located at the Mintsfeet Industrial Estate in Kendal, has been making mint cake since 1918.

Founded by Mr. Sam T. Clarke, the origins of Kendal mint cake can be traced back to Joseph Wiper, who produced the first batch of mint cake by mistake in 1869.

Wiper's continued to produce mint cake until 1987 when the company was bought by George Romney Ltd, who still make it using the original recipe to this day.

The recipe is only made with four ingredients - sugar, glucose, water and peppermint oil.

The process goes by mixing the sugar, glucose and water together and boiling it to 115 degrees.

The mixture is then poured out evenly into copper pans.

They then add peppermint oil and the graining process begins - a process kept as a family secret which ensures that the mixture sets hard in the signature way.

John Barron, Romney’s Managing Director, said they make brown mint cake once a week and white mint cake four days a week.

He said: "We start producing it at eight in the morning.

"We export mint cake around the country and to some of the big stores.

"We also have an exporter that takes our mint cake to Disneyland in America so it is quite a world travel sweet."

Kendal Mint Cake rose to popularity in the early 20th century as an energy source that could withstand extreme conditions.

On May 29 1953, it was carried on the first successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the expedition, Romney's Kendal Mint Cake collaborated with the Everest 70 team who have set up a number of special events across Nepal, India and the UK.

This collaboration saw the launch of a new Romney's Kendal Mint Cake product, The Everest Crate.

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Inside the factory which produces the 'world's first energy bar'

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Inside the factory which produces the 'world's first energy bar'

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