Jakemans is one of those brands that's been part of British corner shops and chemists for so long it barely registers as a "brand" — it's just what a lot of people picture when they think "cough sweet". The company behind it has a genuinely long, independent history.
Over 125 years in Leicester
Jakemans was founded in Leicester, England, in 1895 by John Jakeman, and the company has remained closely tied to the city ever since. It grew into one of the UK's most recognised names in medicated confectionery, best known for its Throat & Chest lozenges — a strong menthol, eucalyptus and blackcurrant-flavoured sweet designed to soothe rather than simply taste nice, positioned closer to a chemist-counter remedy than a traditional sweet.
A specialist in a category most big confectioners left alone
While most major sweet brands focused on sugar confectionery, Jakemans stayed specialised in medicated and menthol lozenges, expanding into flavours like honey and lemon alongside the original blackcurrant menthol blend. That narrow focus, combined with over a century of consistent branding, is a large part of why the name is still instantly recognisable on a chemist shelf even though it's a relatively small, independent manufacturer compared to the big confectionery groups.
What we actually stock right now
We don't currently stock Jakemans directly. If it's a traditional cough sweet you're after, we do carry Bonds Cough Candy Jar 1.7kg and Dobsons Cough Candy Jar 2.72kg, both in stock now and both classic old-fashioned cough candy in the same general style. Worth noting: our Fisherman's Friend Original Menthol & Eucalyptus Lozenges are currently out of stock, so if that specific brand was the alternative you had in mind, it isn't available right now either.
FAQ
Where does Jakemans come from?
Jakemans was founded in Leicester, England, in 1895 by John Jakeman, and the company remains associated with the city. It's best known for its Throat & Chest menthol lozenges.
What flavour is a classic Jakemans lozenge?
The original and most recognised is a blackcurrant and menthol/eucalyptus blend, though the brand has also produced honey and lemon and other variants over the years.
Does Supreme Sweets stock Jakemans?
Not currently. We stock Bonds Cough Candy Jar and Dobsons Cough Candy Jar instead, both in stock, as traditional cough candy alternatives.
Do you stock Fisherman's Friend lozenges as an alternative?
We list Fisherman's Friend Original Menthol & Eucalyptus Lozenges, but they're currently out of stock, so right now Bonds and Dobsons cough candy are the available options in this category.