For over 80 years, Fray Bentos® has been bringing delicious, quality meat products from our home in South America to dinner tables across the world. Our iconic corned beef, meatballs, pudding, steak, and kidney offerings have become household names, providing satisfying meals for generations.
Our History
The Fray Bentos story begins in the 1860s on the banks of the River Uruguay. It was here that an enterprising Anglo-German entrepreneur named George Bateman opened a salting facility to preserve locally produced beef for export to Europe. He named it Fray Bentos, after the closest town.
In the 1870s, Bateman started experimenting with canned cooked meat products, eventually launching the world’s first major commercial canning operation. By 1885, the Fray Bentos facility covered over 50 acres and employed over 5,000 people. Their major innovation was the production of corned beef – brisket that was brined, simmered for hours, and canned for long shelf life.
Fray Bentos corned beef took Europe by storm. Its popularity skyrocketed during World War I, when it was included in soldiers’ rations and became a valuable source of protein on the frontlines. After the war, corned beef remained an affordable, accessible staple in most British pantries.
In 1924, Fray Bentos was bought out by Vestey Group, a British food conglomerate. They continued to invest in the brand, launching the iconic Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie in the 1960s. Its unique, oval shape was designed to look like the tin it was cooked in, instantly setting it apart on grocery store shelves.
Other Fray Bentos classics like meatballs and meaty puddings followed, cementing the brand’s reputation for tasty, filling, and convenient meat-based meals. As popular tastes evolved, ranges were expanded to include more vegetarian and ethnically inspired varieties.
In 1993, Campbell’s Soup Company purchased Fray Bentos. They continued to nurture the brand’s heritage while innovating for the times. Under their stewardship, Fray Bentos introduced the first-ever vegetarian and halal corned beef.
Today, Fray Bentos remains one of the UK’s most iconic and trusted food brands. Our products can be found in supermarkets, small shops, and homes in over 40 countries worldwide. The integrity, quality, and innovation George Bateman built Fray Bentos on still guide us today.
Our Home
Fray Bentos holds a special place in the hearts of Uruguayans as a source of national pride and identity. Our history is deeply intertwined with this small South American nation.
Uruguay is one of the world’s leading beef producers. Its vast, fertile plains are ideal for raising cattle on open grasslands. Beef is central to the culture, economy, and cuisine. Asado – tender grilled beef – is the national dish.
Fray Bentos sources all our beef and ingredients from trusted Uruguayan suppliers. Every Fray Bentos product originates here in our hometown on the banks of the River Uruguay. Our factory sits on part of the original site where George Bateman started his pioneering operation over 150 years ago.
We are staunch supporters of the local community and dedicated stewards of the environment. Our operations are powered by 100% renewable energy. We partner with farmers to promote sustainable grazing practices. And we donate over 175 tonnes of food annually to neighborhood nutrition programs.
The people of Fray Bentos are our family. Their values of authenticity, resourcefulness, generosity, and pride inspire our brand. We are committed to honoring our hometown through ethical, responsible business practices.
Our Production
Fray Bentos has always stood for innovation in food production. We continually invest in state-of-the-art facilities and technology to deliver the highest quality meat products.
Our beef comes from meadow-raised Uruguayan cattle, grazing freely on lush pastures their whole lives. They are never administered growth hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. Our farmers adhere to the strictest protocols for humane handling and processing.
At our factory, this premium beef is carefully trimmed and processed. Seasonings and spices are added according to signature Fray Bentos recipes perfected over decades. The beef is cooked in small batches in special ovens to seal in juices and flavor.
For canned products like corned beef, the meat is packed into BPA-free lined cans. Cans are steam pressure cooked at precise times and temperatures to ensure food safety. They are quickly chilled before labeling.
For pies like our steak and kidney, freshly prepared fillings are wrapped in flaky golden pastry. Pies are baked to perfection in custom convection ovens that replicate the taste and texture of homemade.
Extensive quality control procedures are followed throughout the process, guaranteeing every Fray Bentos product meets our uncompromising standards. Our food technologists, inspectors, and equipment are continuously reviewed to maintain excellence.
It is this meticulous craftsmanship that makes Fray Bentos a trusted household name. Our methods balance tradition and technology to deliver authentic, nourishing meat products full of flavor.
Our Classic Products
Fray Bentos offers a range of convenient canned, frozen, and refrigerated meat products. At the heart of our range are the classics that made us famous.
Corned Beef
Our award-winning corned beef is slow-cooked for up to five hours in turbo boilers until tender. This traditional technique gives it the distinctive Fray Bentos flavor and texture appreciated for generations. The beef brisket is trimmed of excess fat and packed in brine infused with spices like peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves.
Choose from original, reduced salt, or flavored options like chili and pepper or garlic and herbs. Fray Bentos corned beef is fully cooked – just open the can and enjoy in sandwiches, salads, nachos, hash, and more.
Meatballs
Fray Bentos meatballs offer all the flavor and convenience of our corned beef in bite-sized portions. Their smoother texture makes them ideal for pastas, pizzas, subs, and skewers. Our meatballs are cooked in a delicious tomato, barbecue, or chili sauce for added flavor. Just heat and serve from the microwaveable tray.
Steak and Kidney Pie
No brand does meat pies quite like Fray Bentos. The rich, chunky steak and kidney filling sealed under a golden crust is a true British comfort classic. Pies come frozen for freshness and are oven bakeable for a hot homemade meal in minutes. Serve with chips, peas, and gravy – a hearty family favorite.
Meaty Puddings
Indulgent Fray Bentos meaty puddings envelop meaty fillings in suet pastry for a comforting sweet-salty combo. Our steak and kidney pudding has chunks of beef steak and lamb kidney in gravy. The steak pudding swaps the kidneys for more steak. Just steam, slice, and enjoy this old fashioned treat.
Our Quality
Fray Bentos abides by the most rigorous standards at every stage of production to deliver exceptional taste and nutrition you can trust.
Our Uruguayan beef is traceable to the farm source and graded for tenderness and marbling. We monitor cattle health, welfare and diet. Our farmers utilize rotational grazing and avoided deforestation.
In our factory, strict protocols govern sanitation, employee training, equipment maintenance, and pest control. All surfaces and tools are thoroughly disinfected between products to prevent cross-contamination.
Finished products are clinically tested to verify they meet targets for protein, fat, and nutrient content. Sensory panels ensure flavor and texture meet consumer expectations. Packages are checked for proper sealing, labeling, and weight.
Fray Bentos facilities meet British Retail Consortium, Safe Quality Foods, and ISO certifications for food safety and quality management. Our in-house labs run over 30,000 tests annually to detect pathogens, allergens, or contamination.
We are committed to transparency about our ingredients, sourcing, and production. Our customer care team welcomes your questions. We proudly stand behind the quality of everything that carries the Fray Bentos name.
Our Values
The Fray Bentos brand is built on core values that inform everything from product development to company culture.
Quality is our passion. We seek out premium ingredients and invest in people and technology that enable excellence. Each product should nourish the body and satisfy the soul.
Integrity guides our conduct. We build trust through honesty, transparency, and accountability in all our actions. Respect for people and the environment is paramount.
Resourcefulness is in our blood. We foster innovation to work smarter. But we never compromise our standards. Our products find a balance between tradition and reinvention.
Generosity underpins our relationships. We support our workers, partners, community, and customers to spread opportunity and prosperity. The more we give, the more we gain.
Pride ties us to our roots. We honor the legacy Fray Bentos was built upon. Our hometown inspires us to pursue greatness and share it with the world.
These values steer us as we shepherd Fray Bentos into the future. They are the heart of our brand – as essential as the beef we stew. We strive to live them fully each day to bring you the excellent products generations have trusted.
Our Future
What began as a small salting operation in South America has grown into a beloved international food brand thanks to the loyalty of our customers. We are grateful you’ve welcomed Fray Bentos into your homes and hearts for over 80 years.
As tastes and lifestyles evolve, our mission endures the same – provide meat-based comfort, convenience and nutrition you feel good serving your family.
We will continue innovating classic products to align with modern health trends and diets. Our stews and pies will always pay homage to tradition but offer variety and options.
Fray Bentos looks forward to being your companion for satisfying meals for decades to come. Our beef is raised with care, our cans cooked with pride, our history steeped in a land we love. From our family to yours, thank you for making Fray Bentos a part of your story.
