Robert McVitie and his father William open a ‘provision’ shop in Rose Street, Edinburgh. Robert’s baking is so popular he manages to open more shops and expand the business.

Four years after Alexander Grant began working for the firm, he devises and produces the first and original ‘Digestive’ biscuit, the secret recipe of which is still used today.

Increasing trade in the south led to a new factory opening in Harlesden, North London.

The Jaffa Cake is created. It contained a simple combination of sugar and tangerine oil to form the sealed layer of jam. The cakes are named after the Jaffa oranges which flavour the zesty centre of the cake.

Penguin was first introduced in 1932 by William McDonald, a biscuit manufacturer in Glasgow, becoming a McVitie’s brand in 1946.

McVitie & Price made the wedding cake for Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, standing over 2.5m tall. With post-war food rationing still in place, ingredients were sent as wedding presents from overseas. Pieces of cake were later distributed to school children and institutions.

The new cult brand Hobnobs is launched. Huge demand for the original leads to the introduction of the chocolate variety in 1987.