Chudleigh's Limited
 | |
| Company type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food industry |
| Founded | 1955 in Milton, Ontario, Canada |
| Founders | Eric and Marion Chudleigh |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Tom and Carol Chudleigh, Dean and Scott Chudleigh |
| Products | Caramel Apple Blossoms, Crumble Crunch Apple Blossoms, Chudleigh's Hard Apple Cider |
| Website | chudleighs.com |
Chudleigh's Limited is a privately owned Canadian company, based in Milton, Ontario, Canada. Its primary business is frozen baked desserts, which it prepares both for private label customers, and for marketing under its own Chudleigh's brand. Chudleigh's also operates Chudleigh's Farm, an entertainment farm in Milton, Ontario, located on the apple farm where the company was founded.
History
[edit]Eric and Marion Chudleigh established a commercial apple orchard in Milton, Ontario, Canada, in 1955, and began propagating an experimental compact apple tree that would make harvesting more efficient. Their son, Tom, took over Chudleigh's Farm in 1963 after completing his BSc (Agr) at the Ontario Agricultural College.[1]
In 1967, Chudleigh's opened its farm to the public during apple season, allowing visitors to pick their own apples. In 1973, Tom's wife Carol began offering visitors slices of homemade apple pie,[2] and by the 1980s, the farm was selling fresh baked whole pies to both farm visitors and restaurants in nearby Toronto.[3]
In 1990, a fire destroyed most of the Chudleigh's Farm facility,[4] leaving only the family home. In the aftermath and rebuilding, the commercial bakery was relocated to a separate facility nearby. Since then, it has remained in dedicated facilities as it has grown, occupying its current 120,000 sq. ft. Milton location in 2007.[5] The Chudleigh's Farm continues to operate as a popular destination for families, as well as an event space between July 1 - October 31 every year. The farm activities include pick-your-own apples, a hay maze, farm animals, various swings, slides and play areas, as well as a retail and restaurant area.[6]
Tom and Carol's sons Dean and Scott both joined the business (in 1986 and 1990 respectively), and have led the growth of the commercial bakery.[7] Today, all four Chudleighs, along with other family members, actively manage the bakery and farm operations of Chudleigh's Limited.[8]
The bakery products are sold in major Canadian grocery store chains,[9][10] supermarkets and restaurants in North America, Europe, Mexico, Japan and Australia.[11]
In summer 2018, Chudleigh's added Summer Cider Nights, featuring live local music and serving the new hard apple cider, to their pick-your-own apples family entertainment lineup.[12][13]
Products
[edit]- Crumble Crunch Apple Blossoms
- Caramel Apple Blossoms
- Apple Berry Blossoms
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Butter Toffee Sticky Cakes
- Mac N Cheese Blossoms
- Chudleigh's Orchard Cider
In 2017, Brick Brewing Company partnered with Chudleigh's to produce a Chudleigh's branded hard apple cider beginning with the 2018 summer season.[14][15]
References
[edit]- ^ Craig, Stephanie. "An Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree". Ontario Agriculture College. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Osorno, Camila. "Chudleigh's Apple Farm Ltd. Building an Empire of Apples". CA Business Executive. TrueLine Publishing LLC. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Craig, Stephanie. "An Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree". Ontario Agriculture College. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Mackie, Alan. "Blaze causes $775,000 damage to Chudleigh's" (PDF). OurOntario. OurDigitalWorld. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Osorno, Camila. "Chudleigh's Apple Farm Ltd. Building an Empire of Apples". CA Business Executive. TrueLine Publishing LLC. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "As weather warms, Ontario's apple blossoms fade". National Post. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
- ^ "Special Focus: Chudleigh's". Food & Drink International. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ Craig, Stephanie. "An Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree". Ontario Agriculture College. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "Chudleigh's branching out to frozen baked goods". Baker's Journal. 14 August 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ "Signature baked goods now available in freezercases". Refrigerated and Frozen Foods. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Beverley (11 October 2012). "As Canadian as selling apple pie to Americans". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ "49 things to do in Toronto with kids this summer". Today's Parent. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ Gutfreund, Jamie (9 August 2018). "Broadcast". CP24. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ "Brick Brewing partners with Chudleigh's for a new cider". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
- ^ "Brick Brewing Announces Brand Licensing Agreement for Chudleigh's Orchard Cider". Globe Newswire (Press release). 17 May 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.