I something sad to report this week, the mighty Falcon range cooker, which is a British brand built in Falkirk in Scotland and a brand I have loyally supported for many a year, is no longer British owned.
No longer built in Scotland and no longer a true Falcon cooker. The parts are all made in a factory in the Midlands.
Falcon joins the ever growing list of Good British brands that have fallen to being bought by foreign owners. You are no doubt familiar with the brands I've listed below who have met the same fate !
HP is the famous brown sauce of the Houses of Parliament (hence the name). Nevertheless, it is owned by Americans: Heinz purchased it in 2005House of Fraser is owned by the Sanpower Group, a Chinese corporation that bought it this year for £450 million ($716 million)
Branston Pickle was also acquired by Mizkan, last year for £92.5 million ($147 million).
Weetabix, the famous breakfast cereal, has been in Chinese hands for two years.
Hartley's Jam was bought by American corporation Hain Celestial in 2012
The car manufacturer Jaguar was bought by India's Tata in 2008. Before that it was owned by Ford
A third of the milk drunk in Britain is owned by foreign companies: Wiseman Milk is now part of the German group Müller
Tetley has traded on its English heritage for decades. However, it is owned by India's Tata Global Beverages.
Boots UK is the latest British brand to defect: Walgreens, the biggest pharmacy company in the world, bought it this August for £5.65 billion ($9 billion). It was previously owned by Stefano Pessina, an Italian entrepreneur.
And so the list goes on, to list them all I'd be here all day !!
Falcon is now part of the group AGA / Rangemaster / Falcon / Fired Earth which in turn is owned by Americans: The Middleby Corporation.
The Falcon cooker itself is now basically a Rangemaster clad with "Falcon looking" panels. The Falcon typically costs £3500 and the Rangemaster £1600.
So it is with much sadness that I would suggest when looking for your new range cooker, save yourselves a load of money and buy a Rangemaster ..... they're essentially the same machine.
My faith has been shattered ..... Now, don't get me wrong, I feel that the Rangemaster cooker itself is a well made, competent cooker and good value for it's money but a Falcon it ain't !!!
The Falcon is dead, long live the Falcon ! ...... Jules.
Hartley's Jam was bought by American corporation Hain Celestial in 2012
The car manufacturer Jaguar was bought by India's Tata in 2008. Before that it was owned by Ford
A third of the milk drunk in Britain is owned by foreign companies: Wiseman Milk is now part of the German group Müller
Tetley has traded on its English heritage for decades. However, it is owned by India's Tata Global Beverages.
Boots UK is the latest British brand to defect: Walgreens, the biggest pharmacy company in the world, bought it this August for £5.65 billion ($9 billion). It was previously owned by Stefano Pessina, an Italian entrepreneur.
And so the list goes on, to list them all I'd be here all day !!
Falcon is now part of the group AGA / Rangemaster / Falcon / Fired Earth which in turn is owned by Americans: The Middleby Corporation.
The Falcon cooker itself is now basically a Rangemaster clad with "Falcon looking" panels. The Falcon typically costs £3500 and the Rangemaster £1600.
So it is with much sadness that I would suggest when looking for your new range cooker, save yourselves a load of money and buy a Rangemaster ..... they're essentially the same machine.
My faith has been shattered ..... Now, don't get me wrong, I feel that the Rangemaster cooker itself is a well made, competent cooker and good value for it's money but a Falcon it ain't !!!
The Falcon is dead, long live the Falcon ! ...... Jules.
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