TUC

TUC is a brand of salted, octagonal, golden-yellow crackers that originated in Belgium. Today it is a snack line sold across several continents, with a wide range of flavours.

History

The brand began in Belgium and once belonged to the French company LU. A Belgian man called Mr. Parein is often said to have travelled to the United States to learn how to make crackers, although the sources do not give details of that trip.

The brand later passed to Mondelēz International, which sells it in mainland India. Production elsewhere is shared among several companies: Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, part of Valeo Foods, makes the crackers for Europe, Asia, North America and North Africa, while Saiwa, also owned by Mondelēz, produces them in Italy. In Pakistan the brand is made and sold by LU (Continental Biscuits), and in the United Kingdom United Biscuits is involved.

Culture

TUC is a savoury snack cracker, usually eaten with drinks or spread with cheese and cold cuts rather than served at breakfast. Its wide distribution has made it a familiar name in the cracker category in very different countries.

The range includes many varieties. The best-known are the original, the cheese sandwich (with a filling), flavoured cheese, barbecue, sour cream and onion, bacon, and garlic and herbs. There are also "Break" packs, small packages designed to fit in a lunch box, and "Mini" crackers, which are smaller in size. The offer has grown with flavours such as paprika, salt and pepper, sweet chilli, roast chicken, pizza or smoked sausage, depending on the market.