McVitie's Penguin chocolate sandwich biscuit

Penguin biscuits are a cultural icon in the United Kingdom, first introduced in 1932 by William Macdonald of Macdonald Biscuits in Glasgow, Scotland. Inspired by chocolate-covered sandwich biscuits found in Belgium, Macdonald created the Penguin, which later became part of the McVitie's portfolio after a series of acquisitions involving United Biscuits in the 1960s. The brand is famous for its distinctive red wrapper and the inclusion of jokes or funny facts on the inside of the packaging, a tradition that has endured for decades.

Today, Penguin biscuits are primarily manufactured in the United Kingdom, with a major production hub located at the Stockport factory in Greater Manchester. As of late 2025, the brand underwent a notable recipe adjustment, where the coating was reclassified as 'chocolate flavour' due to changes in cocoa content. The brand is currently managed by pladis, a global snacking powerhouse formed in 2016. pladis is a subsidiary of the Turkish conglomerate Yıldız Holding, which remains the ultimate owner. This ownership structure places the British heritage brand under a global umbrella that connects it with other famous labels like Godiva and Ülker.