History
The creation of Kendal Mint Cake is usually attributed to Joseph Wiper, who started production in a tiny factory on Ferney Green in Kendal in 1869. The tale goes that while making glacier mints, a short period of inattention of the cooking pan led to the mixture starting to 'grain' and become cloudy, instead of clear. When poured out, the result was Mint Cake.
In 1910 Mr. Wiper retired to live in Victoria, British Columbia where one of his sons opened a shop selling Wiper's Mint Cake.
The Kendal Mint Cake business was left to his great nephew Mr. Robert Wiper. He realised the potential of Kendal Mint Cake as a high energy source and who supplied the 1914-1917 Trans-arctic Expedition under the command of Sir Ernest Shackleton.
George Romney Limited was founded by Sam T. Clarke, who owned a wholesale confectioners in Kendal. He found it difficult to obtain Mint Cake so in 1919 he decided to buy an old Mint Cake recipe, and started a factory in Leightons Yard, Highgate. This was later moved to Waterside Works and then to a purpose built factory on the Mintsfeet Industrial Estate. The name George Romney came from the well known 18th century portrait painter who lived in Kendal, and the family home happened to be in Romney Road.
Romney eventually bought the Wiper firm and still use the Wipers name and method of production alongside their own.
To the top of the world!
After advertising in a climbing magazine Mr. Clarke was approached by the 1953 expedition to Everest, to see whether he could supply mint cake to them within 7 days. This had to be packed into high altitude packs for inclusion in the supplies to be sent on ahead, hence the need for hast.
Fortunately he had sufficient stock to meet their needs, and his staff willingly gave up their sweet ration coupons to comply with the law. These coupons were later refunded by the ministry of food. Sir Edmund Hilary and Sirdar Tensing ate this mint cake on top of Everest. Tensing also left some to appease the gods.
This association with such a famous event forever linked Kendal Mint Cake with success in the great outdoors. It became the tradition for hikers and climbers in the Lake District to take some mint cake in their packs.
Today
Kendal Mint Cake is still made by Romney's in Kendal on the Mintsfeet estate - named after the River Mint, but maybe the river was named after the mint cake of the town! Romney's is still a family run business and successfully selling its products around the country and abroad.
Two other manufacturers make Kendal Mint Cake in Kendal - Wilsons and Quiggins. There has been some dispute and competition between the companies over claims to be the oldest or the original, and certainly who is the best! Romney's have a strong claim with their connection with Wipers. Supplying Shackleton's Trans-arctic Expedition started the link with exploration and the outdoors, which was sealed when their mint cake was the first to the top of Everest. The others have since followed but Romney's was the first.
The three companies keep a beady eye on each other and changes in the size of bars or packs are often quickly followed. The introduction of chocolate covered mint cake is the main innovation which has occurred over the years to a product still the same as that made by Joseph Wiper in 1869.
Some links:
Romney's George Romney
An article on making mint cake from BBC Cumbria: BBC
Looking back during the Everest anniversary, newspaper article: Westmorland Gazette