Tunnock's Getting the Last Laugh

Image Credit: Derek E-Jay via Flickr cc

     At the beginning of this year, I admittedly knew little about Thomas Tunnock Limited – popularly known as Tunnock’s – the family-owned confectionary bakery company based in Uddingston, Scotland. My faintest memory of it up to that time were its famous tea cakes being featured as “dancers” in the opening ceremony for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

     This changed dramatically as those tea cakes and the Tunnock’s company became embroiled in a Nationalist-induced firestorm not long after the new year had begun. Chiefly, there were Nationalists who became incensed that the best-known product of this Scottish company was now being branded as “Tunnock’s Great British Tea Cake’s” - inspired by the BBC's wildly popular and award-winning Great British Bake-Off - and photos of ads featuring this on the London Underground were widely shared on social media. In addition, it was believed (falsely) that the company had removed its iconic Lion Rampant – one of Scotland’s national symbols, featured on the Royal Standard – from the packaging of its products.

     For outraged Nationalists, this amounted to the 126 year old company rejecting its Scottish heritage and the visceral angst was on display to see via the good ole’ cybernats, many of whom voiced their vehement disapproval by calling the company “traitors” and saying that they would never purchase Tunnock’s products again, and indeed some went out of their way to throw out Tunnock’s products they already had and also plastered Nationalist slogans on such products on supermarket shelves.

     All of this would have been amusing enough to witness, but then came Scotland’s blessed freedom fighters, the Scottish Resistance! Led by their fearless leader James Scott, the so-called Resistance called for a national boycott of Tunnock’s and all of their products, and then they marched to Uddingston to take on the mighty company by staging a protest outside their factory and headquarters. The protest was attended by only a small band of the true believers, but that didn’t stop them employing over-the-top theatrics, such as man smashing a box of the marshmellow biscuits with a sledgehammer and speeches over a bull-horn condemning Tunnock’s for its “treachery” toward Scotland.

     Adding to the controversy was the fact that the current managing director Boyd Tunnock CBE – grandson of the founder and the creator of the tea cake – was a prominent supporter of keeping the United Kingdom together during the referendum campaign in 2014 and said in response to the criticism of his company: “The vote said we’re British. We’re Scottish; however, we’re still in Britain.”

     Three months following this stramash, it would seem that Tunnock’s is having the last laugh. The boycott campaign has backfired spectacularly as the Lanarkshire-based company reported that its sales have soared by 10% in the first quarter of this year. First quarters, according to operations director Fergus Loudon, are typically a “quieter time” for the firm, but in contrast, the beginning of 2016 showed a tremendous increase – a “real boost” – and Loudon attributes it to the publicity generated by the furious Nationalists and their failed boycott, further stating:

“It meant the Tunnock's name was being talked about all over the world and people are still talking about it. It prompted a lot of people to go out and buy tea cakes and has been fantastic for us in terms of sales. There was a definite spike.”

     Not only this, but Loudon also said that in fact, the company is struggling to keep up with demand as it sells hundreds of thousands more of its snacks in the UK and throughout the world, with the firms order book “full to overflowing.”

Tunnock's HQ in Lanarkshire. Image Credit: Geograph © Copyright Lairich Rig and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

     This has turned out to be quite well for company that is proud to promote its Scottish and British heritage, and a spokesperson went out of his way to say that the company was not ashamed of its roots in Scotland and further, that the change in branding was not meant to cause offense. He reiterated that the Lion Rampant remained on their packaging, and would always remain there, but also stated that in the end, the fuss raised by the Nationalists “has been good for us.”

     Indeed, it is very good for the family-owned firm, its 500 employees, as well as the local economy, and since January according to the Scotsman, they have:

“released a range of merchandise in the wake of the success of the marketing strategy, including teddy bears, mugs, clothing and key rings, which they hope people will purchase to show solidarity with the company.”

     My personal solidarity with the company began within days of the controversy coming to the fore and while the reaction on social media continued to play out for several days. As I was shopping at one of the supermarkets here in Savannah, I decided to take a look at the British section of the International products aisle to see if I could find the tea cakes at the root of the brouhaha across the Pond. They were not there for sale, but I did find the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Biscuits and purchased them.

     I must admit that I have a low appetite for sweets and candies, but I felt a need to lend my support for this company which had come under fire for its branding choice and for its owner – nicknamed the Willy Wonka of Tannochside by the Times – supporting the pro-Union campaign. So at home, I tried one out, and it was quite good; it was not too sweet and had refreshing taste.

     On Twitter early the next morning (early for me, anyway), I tweeted out this message:

“Couldn’t find #TunnockTeaCakes, but did find these tasty wafer biscuits from this great British company in Scotland.”

     The tweet contained pictures featuring the front and back of the wrapping. Sure enough, there was the famous Tunnock’s logo proudly featuring the Lion Rampant and the Tunnock’s Boy on the front, while the back prominently featured this for the home location:

PRODUCT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. MADE BY THOMAS TUNNOCK LTD.

34 OLD MILL ROAD, UDDINGSTON, GLASGOW G71 7HH, SCOTLAND

     This support for Tunnock’s was much-appreciated, and received positive attention from many people, and among them was a Twitter follower who offered to send some tea cakes my way.

     It took a while for them to get here as my friend was busy with things going on at home in Scotland, but they did finally get here in late February in a beautiful box which made me think it was my birthday. Indeed, the it really felt that way because the package contained a panoply of Tunnock’s products: Snowballs, Caramel Logs, Caramel Wafers, and of course, the “Great British Tea Cakes” – all of them with the Lion Rampant prominently featured on the packaging.  There was also a nice card with a tartan cloth and wooden thistle ornament. Inside card was a heart-felt and meaningful message which read:

Hi Wesley,

Sorry for the delay, life is quite hectic these days. Added a few more to help you get over the wait.

Enjoy

The special Tunnock's Treat I received from a friend in Scotland. Image Credit: Wesley Hutchins

     This was totally unexpected but greatly appreciated for the way that he went out of his way to do all this, for he did not have do, and I shall remember this token of friendship from across the Pond at an individual level, as well as part of the greater relationship between the US and the UK.

     As for the sweet treats themselves, I was very pleased to try out the tea cakes at last, and they did not fail to impress. The milk chocolate combined with the mallow on the inside and the biscuit base made for a delectable taste which cannot be compared to anything I recall having in the States, but which is popular and well-known in the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Snowballs – which are much like the tea cakes, but with marshmallows covered in frosted coconuts – were pleasant despite my lukewarm taste for coconut. The same was true for the Caramel Logs, which are like Caramel Wafers with the addition of the coconut bits coating the outside, though still a nice treat.

     So thanks to the howl of the Nationalists, Tunnock’s is doing better, it has greater international exposure, and I have become a loyal patron of this great British company from Scotland, of which every Briton throughout the United Kingdom can be proud.

Overcoming and Bridging Divide's

Image Credit: Handshake via Flickr cc

     So last Thursday, I had a rough time of it at work. A customer came in with a laptop that had been purchased two years ago and didn’t seem to know how to operate it – pretty much asking us for a free tutorial on the spot. An external mouse that was purchased back then was unopened, and when we opened it to use with the device, we discovered that the batteries were leaking; the person further wanted a printer and expressed shock and horror at the idea that it – and all other printers – had to be installed with software from a CD or from the manufacturer’s website. Then there was the issue of the price and why it was more expensive relative to another store. This went on and on for like 2-3 hours, but I managed to go on my lunch break as a manager continued dealing with the customer.

     At lunch, I couldn’t get that rough experience out of my head – doing all I could to maintain my patience with a person who on one level was not technically savvy, but on another level seemed unable or unwilling to grasp what we were saying.

     So it was a ray of sunshine to spend some of my break time reading a fascinating and heart-warming story concerning a young man named Ronan Foley from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, who has faced adversity in the form of autism and learning disabilities, but was noticed for having stellar swimming abilities by a PE coach. Since that time, he became a member of the Clyde Valley Beavers Swimming Club, which provides an outlet for kids with disabilities like Ronan to engage in social activities and gain confidence in and amongst themselves while overcoming obstacles and enjoying the swimming that they love.

     After going through several processes, Ronan was selected to represent Scotland West at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in August 2017. This was good news indeed, but it costs £500 to send participants to the event, and Ronan – like so many others – needed to raise that money in order to make his Special Olympics dreams come true.

     In stepped members of the County Flute Band, who within 24 hours of Ronan and his mother Katie receiving notice of Ronan’s selection, turned up at their house to offer to sponsor Ronan and raise money on his behalf for the Games. This was good enough in and of itself, but even more so because the Flute Band is associated with the Protestant Orange Order and practices at the Orange Halls in the town, while Ronan is Catholic and a supporter of Celtic FC – whose archrivals are the (mainly) Protestant-backed Rangers.

     For this reason, Ronan’s mother Katie said that they were “absolutely delighted and overwhelmed” with the sponsorship offer from the Flute Band – noting that £500 is a substantial amount of money – and added that Ronan’s religion and choice of football (soccer) team did not matter to the members of the band, who presented her with £100 after their usual band practice.

     A dinner dance with entertainment will be held by the band in order to raise the bulk of the money, and for their part, they said doing this was a “no-brainer” because they all know Ronan as a fellow neighbor in the council estate – a “good laddie [who] gets on with everyone.” Band spokesman Jim Scott further noted that at the end of the day, it was about helping a local boy in the community, and in this spirit, the band wished to have Ronan at the Orange Halls for the presentation of more money while he wore his Celtic shirt and they wore their uniforms in support of a good cause in the hope he “comes back from the Games with medals” and they can say had a helpful role in it.

     For her part, Katie has said that she will write a letter to the leaders of the Orange Order to thank them – saying that it is “only right and proper that the Orange Order know what their members here have done” to help her son.

     Indeed, reading this story just took away the nasty thoughts I was having regarding that customer at the store, and made me feel positive about humanity and humanity’s ability to overcome certain hurdles. For Ronan, it was about the obstacle of overcoming his disabilities to find himself in a position to participate in a high level of athletic competition, thanks to his hard work and perseverance combined with the support he has had from his family, friends, teachers, coaches, and the wider community.

     This leads to the greater significance of the story: that an band associated with the Orange Order would sponsor a Catholic and Celtic supporter in his journey to the Special Olympics and provide much-need financial assistance – including for athletic supplies, gear and apparel, travel costs, hotel fees, and a host of other expenditures that will be required for him all the way.

     It shows how far people have come on both sides of the divide as sectarianism has lessened and barriers between communities have been broken down. The picture of Ronan together with the Flute Band members sends a powerful message that regardless of your religion or where you come from, at the end of the day, we are all human beings and therefore worthy of support from fellow humans. Above all, the bad baggage and legacies of the past need not get in the way of being a good neighbor.

     We need more positive and uplifting stories such as this to hold up as a model for communities with diverse populations to work together for good causes that can provide the path to greater understanding and cohesion over the long-term. This is true throughout the United Kingdom, but especially in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, where religious, ethnic, and cultural divisions are deeply-rooted and need to be overcome in order for everyone to move forward together in peace (with good-natured banter) and prosperity.

     Indeed, if the United Kingdom is to survive, such old divides must be bridged so that the Union may have more allies on its side, and so that the UK - already a great country - can be greater still by living up to its ideals of being a multicultural and inclusive society.

     For now, I tip my cap to Ronan Foley by wishing him all the best success at the Special Olympics and his future endeavors, as well as to the County Flute Band for stepping up to the plate. Here’s to Ronan making his community – all of his community – proud and happy.