Ruqayyah Snyder
Arnott's Group is an Australian producer of biscuits and snack foods, founded in 1865 by Scottish immigrant William Arnott. The company is headquartered in Sydney and employs over 4,000 people across the Asia Pacific region. While Arnott's is known for producing quintessentially Australian biscuits, it is currently not Australian-owned. In 1997, Arnott's was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company, and in 2019, Campbell sold the company to KKR, a private equity firm, for US$2.2 billion. This sale sparked controversy, as many Australians hoped to keep the iconic biscuit maker in local hands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Owner | KKR |
| Previous Owner | Campbell Soup Company |
| Year of Acquisition | 2019 |
| Acquisition Amount | $US2.2 billion |
| Country of Owner | United States |
| Country of Arnott's Group Headquarters | Australia |
| Country of Arnott's Manufacturing Operations | Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia |
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What You'll Learn
- Arnott's Group is headquartered in Sydney, Australia
- Arnott's was founded in 1865 by Scottish immigrant William Arnott
- The company was under the control of the Arnott family until 1975
- In 1997, Arnott's Biscuits was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company of North America
- In 2019, Campbell Soup Company sold Arnott's to KKR, a US private equity firm
Arnott's Group is headquartered in Sydney, Australia
Arnott's Group is well-known for producing quintessentially Australian biscuits, including the iconic Tim Tam, Scotch Finger, Choc Ripple, and Butternut Snap. The company has been delighting consumers for over 157 years and is committed to sustainability and connecting with the communities in which it operates.
Despite its Australian origins and iconic status, Arnott's Group has had several changes in ownership over the years. In 1997, the company was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company of North America, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary. This caused controversy in Australia, as there was a desire for the company to remain in Australian hands.
In 2019, Campbell Soup Company sold Arnott's Group to the private equity firm KKR for $US2.2 billion. This sale sparked discussions about the potential for the Australian government to intervene and buy back the iconic Australian brand. However, as of 2025, Arnott's Group remains owned by KKR and is not listed on the ASX.
While the ownership of Arnott's Group has shifted, the company has maintained its headquarters in Sydney. The group has over 4,000 employees across the Asia Pacific region and has manufacturing operations in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
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Arnott's was founded in 1865 by Scottish immigrant William Arnott
Arnott's Group is an Australian producer of biscuits and snack foods. It was founded in 1865 by Scottish immigrant William Arnott, who opened a bakery in Morpeth, New South Wales, in 1847. In 1865, he moved to a bakery on Hunter Street, Newcastle, providing bread, pies, and biscuits for the townspeople and ships docking at the local port.
Arnott's is Australia's largest biscuit producer, with manufacturing plants in Virginia, Queensland, and Shepparton, Victoria. The company has delighted consumers for over 157 years and is the custodian of some of Australia's most recognized food brands, including Arnott's, Campbell's, V8, Messy Monkeys, Freedom Cereals, and 180degrees.
William Arnott opened the first Arnott's factory in Newcastle, New South Wales, where the Tim Tam was born and quickly became a household staple. The company has since innovated and delighted Australians every day, creating delicious moments and becoming part of people's lives for generations.
Until 1975, the company was under the control of William Arnott's descendants, including Halse Rogers Arnott and Geoffrey H. Arnott, who acted as Chairmen. In 1949, Arnott's merged with Morrows Pty Ltd, a Brisbane biscuit manufacturer, forming William Arnott's, Morrow Pty Ltd. In 1997, the Campbell Soup Company of North America, a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1980s, acquired Arnott's in full.
In 2019, Campbell Arnott's sold the company to the private equity outfit KKR for $US2.2 billion. Despite the sale, the manufacturing of Arnott's biscuits remained in Australia.
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The company was under the control of the Arnott family until 1975
Arnott's Group is an Australian producer of biscuits and snack foods. It was founded in 1865 by Scottish immigrant William Arnott, who opened a bakery in Morpeth, New South Wales, and later moved to Hunter Street, Newcastle, in 1865. Here, he provided bread, pies, and biscuits to the townspeople and ships docking at the local port.
William Arnott's descendants, including Halse Rogers Arnott and Geoffrey H. Arnott, acted as chairmen, and the company remained under the control of the Arnott family until 1975. During this time, Arnott's became the largest producer of biscuits in Australia, operating primarily in its home state of New South Wales, with manufacturing plants in Virginia, Queensland, and Shepparton, Victoria.
In 1949, Arnott's merged with Morrows Pty Ltd, a Brisbane biscuit manufacturer, forming William Arnotts, Morrow Pty Ltd. This merger expanded the company's reach and solidified its position as a leading biscuit manufacturer in Australia.
After the company passed out of the Arnott family's control in 1975, it continued to change hands several times, with the Campbell Soup Company of North America acquiring it in 1997. This acquisition caused controversy in Australia, as there was a desire for the iconic brand to remain in Australian ownership. Despite the sale, the manufacturing of Arnott's biscuits remained in Australia, and the company continued to innovate and expand its facilities.
In 2019, Campbell Arnott's sold Arnott's to the private equity firm KKR for $US2.2 billion. This sale once again sparked discussions about the brand's ownership, with some calling for the Australian government to intervene and bring Arnott's back into Australian hands.
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In 1997, Arnott's Biscuits was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company of North America
Arnott's Biscuits Pty Ltd, an Australian producer of biscuits and snack food, was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company of North America in 1997. This acquisition sparked controversy in Australia, as the public desired for this iconic Australian brand to remain in Australian hands. There was also a fear that Campbell's would Americanise the products. Despite the concerns, the manufacturing of Arnott's biscuits remained in Australia, with facilities in Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane.
The Campbell Soup Company had been a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1980s, and the acquisition in 1997 made Arnott's Biscuits a wholly-owned subsidiary. This marked a significant change for Arnott's, which had been founded in 1865 by William Arnott and remained under the control of his descendants until 1975.
Over the years, Arnott's has become a beloved brand in Australia, with products like Tim Tams, Scotch Fingers, and Shapes becoming household staples. The company has continued to innovate and expand, with manufacturing operations not only in Australia but also in New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
However, in 2019, Campbell Soup Company agreed to sell Arnott's to the private equity firm KKR for US$2.2 billion. This sale once again stirred emotions in Australia, with some calling for the Australian government to intervene and buy Arnott's to keep it from foreign ownership. Despite the concerns, Arnott's remains a beloved brand, and its products continue to be stocked by major retailers and enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.
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In 2019, Campbell Soup Company sold Arnott's to KKR, a US private equity firm
Arnott's Biscuits Pty Ltd, an Australian producer of biscuits and snack food, was founded in 1865 by Scottish immigrant William Arnott. The company remained under the control of the Arnott family until 1975. In 1997, the Campbell Soup Company of North America, a shareholder of Arnott's since the 1980s, acquired Arnott's in full.
In July 2019, the Campbell Soup Company sold Arnott's to KKR, a US private equity firm, for $US2.2 billion. The sale was part of Campbell's plan to sell its entire international operations, of which Arnott's was the single biggest money spinner, accounting for around three-quarters of Campbell's $1.4 billion in offshore sales.
The sale of Arnott's to KKR sparked some controversy in Australia, as many hoped to see the iconic biscuit maker passed back into Australian hands. KKR is not known for being a long-term holder of assets, so there is a possibility that Arnott's could return to Australian ownership in the future. In the meantime, Arnott's remains an Australian producer of biscuits and snack food, with manufacturing plants in Virginia, Queensland, and Shepparton, Victoria, and its products continue to be stocked by all major retailers in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Arnott's is not Australian-owned. It is owned by KKR, an American private equity firm.
Arnott's was previously owned by the Campbell Soup Company, an American company that acquired Arnott's in 1997.
Campbell's sold Arnott's as part of its plan to divest its international operations. The sale to KKR was for $US2.2 billion.
Yes, Arnott's biscuits are still manufactured in Australia, with manufacturing plants in Virginia, Queensland, and Shepparton, Victoria.
There have been concerns and debates about Arnott's being foreign-owned, with some Australians expressing a desire for the company to be owned by an Australian entity. There are fears that American ownership could lead to changes in the products, such as Americanization.
