TUC crackers

TUC is a renowned brand of crackers that traces its roots to 1958 in Belgium, founded by Mr. Parein, who had a vision to introduce a unique salty biscuit to the market. After traveling to the United States to learn about cracker production, he returned to Belgium with the knowledge and inspiration needed to create his own version of this savory snack. The name TUC is believed to be derived from the initials he noted after seeing 'Trade Union Corporation' mentioned in a newspaper, a serendipitous moment that ultimately defined the brand's identity.

The philosophy behind TUC centers around quality and accessibility. The brand strives to provide consumers with light, crispy crackers baked to perfection. With a commitment to using rich grains in their recipes, TUC crackers distinguish themselves through their unique taste and texture, appealing to a wide range of consumers across over 50 countries. TUC embodies a sense of timelessness and innovation, continuously evolving while remaining true to its foundational principles of quality and enjoyment in snacking.

Over the decades, through a series of acquisitions, the brand eventually came under the umbrella of what is now Mondelez International, one of the largest snack companies in the world. Mondelez International is a multinational confectionery, food, and beverage company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It owns a diverse portfolio of brands, including TUC crackers. The manufacturing process of TUC crackers begins with the preparation of dough through a batch mixing stage, where wheat flour is combined with fats, water, salt, and leavening agents such as sodium bicarbonate or yeast to form a high-hydration dough. This mixture undergoes a controlled fermentation or resting period to develop gluten structure and flavor, ensuring the dough's elasticity for subsequent forming. The rested dough is then sheeted and laminated into multiple layers to achieve the desired flaky texture, reduced to a uniform thickness using gauging rollers. It is cut into the brand's signature octagonal shapes via rotary cutters on automated lines, which ensure precise dimensions and minimize waste. The shaped pieces are transferred to baking ovens, where they are baked at temperatures ranging from 200-220°C for 5-7 minutes in a humid environment to promote initial lift and blistering, resulting in the characteristic golden color, crispness, and low final moisture content. Post-baking, the crackers undergo cooling on conveyor belts to stabilize structure and prevent moisture reabsorption, followed by quality control checks on automated lines that verify uniform shape, weight, and salt distribution through optical sensors and metal detectors. For flavored variants, a light oil spray and seasoning dusting occur after cooling to apply even coatings. The process concludes with packaging into airtight packs to maintain freshness. TUC crackers are produced in high-volume facilities operated by Mondelez International, primarily in Belgium, with a new production line in Herentals becoming operational in early 2024 and adding capacity for over 6,500 metric tons annually—equivalent to tens of millions of packs—to support global demand exceeding hundreds of millions of units yearly. Ownership by Mondelez has influenced facility expansions in Europe to optimize regional production efficiency.

TUC crackers are available in over 50 countries, with a particularly strong foothold in Europe—where it originated in Belgium and holds significant market positions in France and the UK—and growing availability in emerging Asian markets such as Pakistan via local manufacturing partnerships. Distribution of TUC occurs primarily through supermarkets and convenience stores worldwide, leveraging Mondelez International's extensive retail networks. The brand has engaged in co-promotions with cheese brands to emphasize complementary pairings, including cheese-filled sandwich variants that align with snacking trends. These efforts, such as limited-edition cheese-flavored packs, boost visibility in dairy aisles and holiday displays. TUC contributes to Mondelez's biscuits and baked snacks division, which generated approximately $17.6 billion in net revenues in 2023, with seasonal peaks during holidays driven by promotional bundles and gift sets.