The Tunnock's Factory, Uddingston
Tunnock’s dominate the town of Uddingston, 7 miles south-east of Glasgow. For over 100 years the family firm has been pumping out their trademark Tea Cakes, Caramel Wafers and other delights for the pleasure of Scotland’s rotten-toothed populace. Tunnock’s products are such a part of Scottish heritage that they’ve followed ex-patriots round the world, winning them the sort of global following that most brands would kill for.
Established in 1890 by Thomas Tunnock, their products haven't changed much over the years, with their distinctive sunburst packaging and slightly wonky lettering. In a world that's constantly changing, there's something very reassuring about that. Traditionally, they’re a bit of an old-person’s snack, but that association with a trip to your granny's means that from an early age each bite of Tunnock’s is imbued with more than just sugary satisfaction. Thanks to this they have a loyal, almost cult following.
In Uddingston, their “Daylight” bakeries loom large on one side of the main street, while the Tunnock’s Tea Rooms nestle among a row of shops on the other. The Tea Rooms are a delight for any Tunnock’s lover, or indeed anyone with a sweet tooth. As well as a range of rare Tunnock’s biscuits (Wafer Crème, Coconut Meringue, Florida Wafer – all delicious) there are spectacular cakes, pies and loaves. At the back there is a café, not the most attractive of places, but still a cheap and cheerful place to refuel.
While you eat/shop, there are constant reminders of the glory of Tunnock’s. The staff have a caramel wafer shaped patch sewn onto their aprons, the counter is covered in miniature Tunnock’s vans, the walls lined with old adverts and then there are the window displays – oh boy, the window displays. Inhabiting the windows is a family of anthropomorphic creatures with bodies made from Caramel Logs, Tea Cakes and other Tunnock's paraphernalia. They are fantastically bizarre - a sign of genius, or madness. It's hard to tell which.
Across the road the factory is impossible to miss. There's a giant illuminated Caramel Wafer on the front, and a Tea Cake clock. Understatement really isn’t their bag. Outside, the air smells of roasted coconut; the experience is pure Willy Wonka. Getting inside is just as difficult, but it is possible.
Like everything else, the factory has a slightly surreal air. The tour starts in the Snowball Department where mallow is piped down from the floor above and everything is manufactured, wrapped, boxed and made ready for shipping. Their wonderful packaging sits on huge rollers in a variety of languages, with Arabic the most prevalent. Strangely the Middle East is their biggest export market, possibly due to the number of Scots who go to work in the oil industry there. They also have friends in high places - the Sultan of Brunei's wife is such a fan that she came over with her entourage to take the tour.
It’s awe inspiring to see the huge drums of chocolate (they get through 100 tons per week) and heart-warming to see the Caramel Wafers still being made by hand. One person lays down a slab of wafer which goes under a caramel coating machine, then someone else adds another slab of wafer, under the machine again and so on until there's 5 layers of wafer and 4 of caramel. Upstairs it's poetry in motion as the teacakes, delicate little things that they are, twirl round the conveyor belt to meet their chocolatey end.
Whether you go for the full factory tour, visit the Tea Rooms or merely eat a Tea Cake in the comfort of your own home, every experience is a feast for the senses. As their slogan says "You can't top Tunnock's". Truly, one of Scotland's national treasures.
Tunnock's at night photo by dickyhart. Used with thanks.
How to get there
Thomas Tunnock Limted, 34 Old Mill Road, Uddingston, Glasgow G71 7HH.
Uddingston is easy to reach by car or public transport. By train: From Uddingston station come out onto the main road and turn right. By car: Uddingston is signposted from the M74. The factory and Tea Rooms are on Uddingston Main Street near the junction with Bellshill Road.
For information on factory tours contact Tunnock's.
Comments
Ooh, I could just scoff a teacake now. Must resist lure of Costcutter's Tunnocks stock....
What are those silver and blue teacakes though?
Posted by: Mags | January 23, 2008 06:55 PM
They're the rare plain chocolate Tea Cake. They do plain chocolate Caramel Wafers too. Hard to find but very, very delicious.
Posted by: Anne | January 23, 2008 07:07 PM
Since reading your posts, I really want to go to Glasgow. Never felt that urge before :-)
You really should be paid by the Glasgow tourist board...
Posted by: Fruitcake | January 23, 2008 08:01 PM
I can eat an entire ten-pack of Tunnocks Tea Cakes in a single sitting - and do at least once a week. I always smooth out those lovely foil wrappers to get them prefectly even and square. If any foil tears or creases I get very, very upset. Who cares exactly where Brunei is? It's not as if anyone would ever choose to go there.
Posted by: David P | January 27, 2008 10:25 PM
Breaking news! Recent London sighting of the dark wafers in Sainsburys on Dog Kennel Hill SE22.
Posted by: Spud | February 1, 2008 09:02 AM
how difficult is it to get on the tour? I really want to take my son for his birthday.
Posted by: Fiona | April 24, 2009 08:58 PM
I remember well the Tunnocks Tea Rooms in the late sixties and early seventies. The rooms were upstairs and catered for functions as well as the regular customers. Does anyone remember characters such as Dr Flett (the first female dr. in Uddingston) and Mr Douglas Wylie ? They were both regulars and always had amazing stories to tell. I was only young at the time and was totally enthralled. Also in the tea-room was a caged bird called Jackie who would ocassionally talk when prompted. I remember well the three waitresses who served us - there was Margaret, small in height but with ample curves and always with a generous application of make-up, May of the same build but taller and Sadie who was smaller and very slightly built. They always had a smile on their faces and welcomed us all by name as we came in.
Posted by: anne keddilty | July 24, 2009 01:11 AM