The bar was launched in 1936[1] by Gray Dunn, one of Scotland's major biscuit producers and a subsidiary of confectionery giant Rowntree's, as a real milk chocolate wafer – a crisp wafer biscuit covered in a very thin layer of milk chocolate.

The Gray Dunn factory in Glasgow continued to produce Blue Riband until 1994 when Nestlé closed it down and moved production to Newcastle.

It is now packed in a sealed sleeve, whereas it used to have a cellophane wrapper with a large blue bow on it, twist closed at each end.

Gray Dunn itself did continue in business after its management team bought it from Nestle in 1997.

The modern version is not as crisp as the original, and the chocolate layer is sweeter and thicker.