Nation’s favourite

School holidays were spent with my grandparents in Manchester. Afternoon tea was served, usually with Mr Kipling’s cakes. A bite into the history of the ‘Nation’s Favourite’ revealed another creation altogether.

“Mr Kipling himself never actually existed, he was an invention by marketing men who wanted to give a traditional family feel for something that is actually industrially produced.” 

“In 1967 At a time when cakes were more often bought from local bakers, the Rank Hovis McDougall company introduced cakes of a local baker's standard to supermarkets under the brand Name Mr Kipling.” 

“Mr Kipling is a brand of cakes, pies and baked goods widely marketed in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The trademark is owned by Premier Foods, after its acquisition of Ranks Hovis. The group owns many well-known brands, including Mr Kipling, Ambrosia, Bird's Custard, Angel Delight, Homepride cooking sauces, Lyons, Sharwood's, Loyd Grossman sauces, Oxo, Bisto, Batchelors and Plantastic.” 

But if you would like to keep the illusion going you can, even today, just ask Mr Kipling