The Prince of Wales Warrant was granted. Tom Smith still proudly hold the honour of producing special crackers each year for the Royal Household although designs and contents are a closely guarded secret. Tom Smith Group Limited now employs more than 150 people at their head office and factory in Rickmansworth. Crackers are exported worldwide to 34 countries including the USA, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong and Japan. Although most of the work in making crackers today is automated, the principle largely remains the same.
Every single cracker has the snap carefully placed by hand and each one is filled and closed.
The more elaborated designs are then individually hand finished, and some crackers are made entirely by hand. It would be hard to imagine a Christmas without crackers as they have become part of the nation's festive celebrations. However almost like the fashion over a hundred years ago, there is a move towards highlighting other events and days when it is appropriate to enjoy crackers. Tom Smith offer specially designed crackers for all of these occasions and celebrations and demand is increasing. This brings us to the end of the remarkable story of how the Cracker was invented.