McVitie's Penguin crackers

Penguin is a well-known brand of chocolate-covered biscuit bars, often referred to as crackers or biscuits, that first debuted in the United Kingdom. The product was originally introduced by William McDonald in Glasgow in 1932 and later became a staple of the McVitie's portfolio. It is famous for its distinctive penguin mascot and the jokes printed on the wrappers.

Over the decades, the ownership of the brand transitioned as the British biscuit industry consolidated. For many years, it was part of United Biscuits, one of the largest snack manufacturers in Europe. Today, the manufacturing remains primarily focused in the United Kingdom to maintain its traditional recipe and quality.

As of the current market landscape leading into 2026, the brand is owned by pladis Global, a multinational confectionery company headquartered in London. pladis was formed by the Turkish conglomerate Yıldız Holding, which integrated several global iconic brands including Godiva and Ulker. Consequently, while the brand maintains its British heritage, its ultimate ownership resides with a Turkish-owned global entity.