Factory History cont.

The most successful product of early years was Fruit Pastilles; and it was not until the 1930s that the now famous chocolate products of Black Magic, Kit Kat, Smarties and Aero were developed. As the business took off, employment opportunities for women increased, although married women still weren't allowed to become permanent workers and could only get work as seasonal staff.

During the Second World War many women were taken off their work with confectionery to produce munitions. However, the demand for confectionery was high after the war and Rowntrees experienced a shortage of female labour in the 1950s and 60s. To make up the shortfall, married women and women from outside York were actively recruited.

Rowntree merged with Mackintosh to become Rowntree Mackintosh in 1969, although this did not seem to bring major changes according to most women. However, in 1988, the company was the victim of a dramatic take-over by the Swiss firm Nestlé, despite strong local protest.