On November 15, 2001, Jacob’s celebrates its 150th birthday with the launch of a commemorative book, Jacob’s Bakery – Limited Twiglets, marking the milestone in the company’s long history.
Jacob’s traces its origins to 1851, when William Beale Jacob and his brother Robert found a small biscuit bakery on Bridge Street in Waterford, County Waterford. The company later expands into Dublin, where its Bishop Street premises become a major employer. In the 1850s, women in Dublin’s inner city, displaced from weaving jobs, turn to making “fancy” biscuits, contributing to Jacob’s early success.
By the late 19th century, Jacob’s offers 200 different fancy biscuits at one time, employing up to 3,000 people, mostly women from the south inner city. The factory survives major events such as the 1880 fire, the 1913 Dublin lock-out, and the Easter Rising of 1916, when it is briefly commandeered by Irish republicans.
The 150th anniversary is marked by a public event in which Gay Byrne, a well‑known Irish broadcaster, launches the book. Byrne, who grew up in Rialto Street surrounded by Jacob’s employees, recalls childhood memories of workers returning home with broken biscuits sold for a halfpenny.
The book, authored by local historian Dr. Séamas Ó Maitiú, details Jacob’s history, from its origins to its role in Irish industrial heritage. It is part of a broader celebration of the brand’s legacy, including its iconic products such as Twiglets — a signature savoury biscuit with a distinctive knobbly shape and zingy taste.
Jacob’s continues to operate, evolving its range while retaining its heritage. Today, Jacob’s is owned in the Irish market by Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, part of Valeo Foods; in the UK market by United Biscuits, part of Pladis; and in the Asian market by Mondelez International., still producing its famous cream crackers, Cheddars, and Twiglets. The 2001 book remains a key historical record of the company’s 150 years in the biscuit industry.
In summary, on November 15, 2001, Jacob’s marks its 150th anniversary with the launch of Jacob’s Bakery – Limited Twiglets, a book chronicling its history, written by Dr. Séamas Ó Maitiú and unveiled by Gay Byrne, celebrating a century and a half of Irish biscuit-making.
