Arnott’s is one of Australia’s most recognised food brands and a significant biscuit and snack manufacturer in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1865 by Scottish-born baker William Arnott in Newcastle, New South Wales, the company has operated for over 160 years. It is best known for products such as Tim Tam, Shapes, Jatz, SAO, Scotch Finger, Tiny Teddy, Vita-Weat and Iced Vovo.[1]

Today, Arnott’s operates under The Arnott’s Group, an Australian-headquartered food company based in Sydney. The group employs more than 3,800 people across the Asia-Pacific region and maintains manufacturing operations in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Indonesia.[1]

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The history of Arnott’s began with William Arnott, a Scottish immigrant and baker who settled in Australia. In 1865, he opened his first factory in Newcastle, New South Wales. Initially operating as a small bakery and biscuit manufacturer, the business expanded as packaged biscuits became integral to Australian food culture. Corporate records identify 1865 as the year the first Arnott’s factory commenced operations in Newcastle.[1] Over time, the enterprise grew from a family-run operation into one of Australia’s largest and most recognisable food manufacturers.

Arnott’s longevity is attributed to its association with Australian everyday life rather than solely its role as a biscuit manufacturer. Products have traditionally been positioned around ordinary social occasions, including having biscuits with tea or coffee, sharing snacks with family, bringing crackers to gatherings, or eating biscuits while watching sport. The company describes products such as Shapes, Scotch Finger and Tim Tam as embedded in Australian social and family moments.[1]

This positioning gives Arnott’s a distinct status in the market as both a commercial food company and a cultural institution. Individual products have become part of the national cultural vocabulary:

• Tim Tam: Chocolate, indulgence and Australian identity
• Shapes: Parties, sport and casual snacking
• Jatz: Entertaining and toppings
• Scotch Finger: Tea and coffee
• Tiny Teddy: Children’s snacks
• SAO: Classic Australian savoury biscuit

The company emphasises that its products have been part of Australian life for generations.[1]

The parrot logo

A key visual element of the brand is its colourful parrot, which is strongly associated with Arnott’s Australian identity. When The Arnott’s Group introduced its corporate identity following its separation from Campbell, it stated that the new identity drew on its history, including the recognisable parrot symbol.[4] The bird functions as part of the brand’s visual heritage rather than merely a corporate logo.

Tim Tam

Introduced in 1964, Tim Tam is described by Arnott’s as Australia’s most loved and iconic chocolate biscuit.[1] The original product consists of two layers of chocolate biscuit, a creamy filling and a chocolate coating. This combination made it distinctive within the portfolio, and it subsequently became one of Australia’s most famous exported snack products.

The Tim Tam Slam

Tim Tam gained further fame through the “Tim Tam Slam” (or “Tim Tam Bomb”) drinking ritual, where consumers bite off opposite corners of the biscuit and use it as a straw to drink a hot beverage. This practice helped transform the product from a standard packaged biscuit into a cultural phenomenon. Arnott’s has continually expanded the range with varieties including Dark, Double Coat, Mint and gluten-free options.[1]

Shapes

Shapes are small, oven-baked savoury biscuits characterised by geometric forms and strong seasoning. Unlike Tim Tam, Shapes are associated with snacking, parties, sport and casual social occasions. Arnott’s emphasises that they are oven-baked rather than fried, with visible flavour coating.[1] Well-known varieties include:

• Original
• Barbecue
• Chicken Crimpy
• Pizza
• Light & Crispy
• Fully Loaded
• Gluten Free

Jatz

Jatz is a lightly salted, crunchy cracker traditionally eaten plain or with toppings and dips. Arnott’s describes Jatz as Australia’s favourite cracker, made using 100% Australian-sourced wheat.[1] It demonstrates the breadth of the portfolio, which encompasses both sweet biscuits and savoury crackers intended for different consumption occasions.

Other products

Arnott’s maintains an extensive portfolio beyond its flagship lines.

Sweet biscuits:
* Scotch Finger
* Monte Carlo
* Iced Vovo
* Nice
* Marie
* Ginger Nut
* Tiny Teddy
* Tim Tam

Savoury biscuits and crackers:
* Jatz
* SAO
* Salada
* Vita-Weat
* Cruskits
* TeeVee Snacks
* Savoy
* Clix

The current brand portfolio also includes Snack Right, Premium and other product families.[1]

Campbell Soup Company era

In 1997, Arnott’s was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company as part of Campbell’s international expansion.[3] For over two decades, Arnott’s operated under American multinational ownership while retaining its Australian brand identity.

Acquisition by KKR

In 2019, Campbell divested its international operations to focus on its North American business. Arnott’s and certain other international assets were sold to global investment firm KKR for approximately US$2.2 billion, with the transaction completed in December 2019.[3] This marked the transition to a standalone, Australian-centred food group backed by private equity.

The Arnott’s Group

Following the acquisition, The Arnott’s Group was established as the corporate identity in 2020. The entity aims to operate as a broader regional food company based in Australia. Today, the group acts as custodian for a portfolio including:[1]

• Arnott’s
• Campbell’s
• V8
• Messy Monkeys
• Freedom Cereals
• 180 Degrees
• Good Food Partners brands

It is important to distinguish between Arnott’s, the consumer-facing biscuit and snack brand, and The Arnott’s Group, the wider corporate organisation managing multiple food businesses.[1]

Although deeply associated with Australia, Arnott’s has a significant regional footprint. Principal markets include Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific nations. Manufacturing facilities are located in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Indonesia.[1]

According to the FY2025 sustainability report, the manufacturing network comprises five facilities in Australia, one in New Zealand and two in Asia (Malaysia and Indonesia).[4] Australian biscuit manufacturing sites include Huntingwood (New South Wales), Marleston (South Australia) and Virginia (Queensland). The group emphasises local production and sourcing as core to its brand philosophy.[4]

Arnott’s has expanded beyond traditional biscuits into categories including crackers, cereals, snacks, soups, stocks, meal bases, pasta sauces and beverages. The FY2025 sustainability report states the group produces more than 1,000 products.[4]

Recent innovations include:
* New Tim Tam flavours and gluten-free variants
* Gluten-free Jatz and Gluten Free Barbecue Shapes (launched in 2025)[1]
* Limited-edition collaborations

Notable experimental products include Tim Tam Inspired by Jatz, which combined Tim Tam’s chocolate profile with salty cracker notes. Originally conceived as an April Fool’s concept, consumer demand led to its actual development.[1]

The corporate mission centres on “Creating Delicious Moments,” reflecting the view that biscuits and snacks are connected to family, friendship, celebrations, relaxation, sport and everyday rituals.[1]

Sustainability initiatives outlined by The Arnott’s Group include responsible sourcing, reducing environmental impact, sustainable manufacturing, packaging improvements, community engagement and addressing modern slavery risks in the supply chain. The group states it aims to operate within the “natural boundaries of the planet.”[1] Detailed environmental and social initiatives are documented in the FY2025 sustainability report.[4]

Several factors explain the brand’s enduring relevance:

• Heritage: A history dating to 1865 provides exceptional brand recognition.
• Iconic products: Multiple household names reduce reliance on any single item.
• Australian identity: Consistent presentation as an Australian brand despite periods of international ownership.
• Product diversification: Expansion across sweet, savoury, cereal and snack categories.
• Innovation: Continuous release of new flavours, limited editions and gluten-free options.
• Distribution: Wide availability through major retailers ensures high visibility.

Historical dates regarding the 1865 founding and 1964 creation of Tim Tam are confirmed by company records, while Campbell confirms the 2019 acquisition by KKR.[1]

1. The Arnott’s Group: About Us
2. Arnott’s Group
3. Campbell Completes Sale of Arnott’s and Certain of Campbell’s International Operations to KKR for Approximately $2.2 Billion – Mon, 12/23/2019 – 08:00
4. The Arnott’s Group FY25 Sustainability Report