Through a number of acquisitions, the brand in Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland is now owned by Nomad Foods.

[3] The origins of the Findus brand date back to the founding of Skånska Frukt- vin- & Likörfabriken (Scanian Fruit, Wine and Liqueur Factory) in Bjuv, Sweden, in 1905.

Findus products were exported to an increasing number of European countries in the late 1950s,[4] including the United Kingdom in 1958.

[5] In the 1970s, famed film director Orson Welles provided narration for a series of Findus television commercials that aired in the UK.

[4] Unilever acquired Nestle's stake in the joint venture in 1985, giving it full ownership of the Findus brand in Italy.

[7] The plan was dropped when Swedish firm EQT AB purchased the Findus brand in Scandinavia, France, Spain and the UK from Nestlé in 1999.

[8][9] Geir Frantzen, a former senior manager at Findus AB, bought out the UK company in April 2005 from EQT.

In July 2008 FoodVest, including Findus, was purchased by the British private equity firm, Lion Capital LLP.

[19] Findus' UK operations remained alongside Young's under the ownership of investors led by Lion Capital.

The chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall re-created Findus Crispy Pancakes on his television show River Cottage in November 2009.

[29] On 8 February 2013, Findus UK published a public apology on their website, also announcing that, following DNA testing, 3 of its products were found to contain horse tissue.

[30] In Sweden, Findus Sverige AB also announced a recall of its 375 gram packs of ready-made single portion lasagne (code 63957) and published a contact number for customers who had already purchased the products.

[35] Public health scientists suspect the horse meat may contain traces of bute which is harmful to humans in large amounts.

[41] Findus was not the only perpetrator, as Compass Group, the world's biggest catering firm, Sodexo the French contract caterer to hospitals, schools and defence sites and Whitbread, Britain's biggest hotel and hospitality group, were both indicted for illegally selling concealed horse meat in food products.