Feldhues Group
{{Short description|German-Irish meat processing company}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Feldhues|Feldhaus}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Feldhues Group
| founded = 1960s
| hq_location = *Nordrhein Westfalen, Germany
- Monaghan, Ireland
| key_people = Mike Hamill
}}
Feldhues Fun Foods GmbH is a German-Irish meat processing company and supplier. They manufacture and sell sandwich meat and holiday meats, and sliced cheese products which contain printed images including Billy Roll and Billy Bear, which became popular characters in the company and pictures of their meats became known on social media due to their potential unsettling nature. Custom images and special products can also be requested by customers.{{Cite web |last=Blazenhoff |first=Rusty |date=2023-03-13 |title=Novelty meat logs, you know, for kids |url=https://boingboing.net/2023/03/13/novelty-meat-logs-you-know-for-kids.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Boing Boing |language=en-US}}
History
They were founded in the 1960s by Bernhard Feldhues who created the machinery. They opened in Metelen in 1978.{{Cite web |title=THE FELDHUES GROUP |url=https://www.feldhues-group.de/en/group.php |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=www.feldhues-group.de}} Billy Roll was introduced in 1986 at IFFA in Frankfurt and Billy Bear was released afterwards.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-18 |title=Uncasing the Mystery of the Cursed Viral 'Meat Clown' |url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/meat-clown-billy-roll-history |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=MEL Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=OUR EXPERIENCE |url=https://www.feldhues-group.de/en/experience.php |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=www.feldhues-group.de}} Happy Tractor and Happy Fox were introduced in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Ellen |date=2017-06-29 |title=Important: The maker of Billy Bear ham also makes 'happy tractor' ham |url=https://metro.co.uk/2017/06/29/important-information-the-maker-of-billy-bear-ham-also-makes-happy-tractor-ham-6742867/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Metro |language=en}} Their products are created at their Monaghan branch in Ireland.{{Cite news |title=What is a Billy Roll? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/what-is-a-billy-roll-1.3938217 |access-date=2023-04-15 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bamford2014-07-24T16:07:00+01:00 |first=Vince |title=Billy Bear launches into cheese slices |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/new-product-development/billy-bear-launches-into-cheese-slices/369745.article |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=The Grocer |language=en}}
In 2005, Dublin-based company, Greencore sold the company and its Irish branch to Dutch private investment group ON Nederland BV.{{Cite news |title=Food group to take €40m hit |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/food-group-to-take-40m-hit-1.501845 |access-date=2023-04-24 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Clerkin |first=David |date=2005-10-06 |title=Greencore writes off pizza business |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/arid-10089845.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Laura |date=2005-10-05 |title=Irish group spends £11m on sandwiches |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2005/oct/06/1 |access-date=2023-04-25 |issn=0261-3077}} The machinery the company uses was later auctioned.{{Cite web |last=maria |date=2018-07-03 |title=Bidding on machinery for the fish, vegetable and meat processing industry |url=https://msp-magazine.com/many-auctions-with-machines-for-the-food-and-beverage-industry-2/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=MSP Magazine |language=en-US}}
Pictures of their products became popular online, especially on the social networking site Reddit. They are referred to as "face meats” and Billy Roll was dubbed "ham clown" and “meat clown".{{Cite web |last=Sergeant |first=Emily |date=2021-10-28 |title=Americans are confused by British 'face meats' and it's hilarious |url=https://themanc.com/trending/americans-on-reddit-are-confused-by-british-face-meats-and-its-hilarious/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=The Manc |language=en-GB}}
External links
- [https://www.feldhues-group.de/en/ Official website]