Brown and Polson
of Royal Starch Works, Paisley, Renfrewshire.
Brown and Polson commenced producing starch and cornflour in Paisley in the 1860s.
1854 John Polson invented the process of making very pure starch from maize.
John Polson and William Brown founded a business to make starch for shawl makers, though it was the edible starch that made their company successful.
1881 Employing 89 men, 14 women, 86 boys and 88 girls.[1]
1901 'The names of the partners were Mr. William Brown and Mr. John Brown, his son, Mr. William Polson and Mr. John Polson, jun., Mr. William Brown died in 1851, sincerely beloved and honoured; Mr. William Polson seceded from the firm in 1857, and died some years ago; Mr. John Brown died in 1890, aged eighty-three years, having been a worthy public servant for a long period, and much respected as a praiseworthy gentleman; his two sons, Mr. William Brown and Mr. John Armour Brown, joined the firm in 1861; Mr. William Brown died in 1877; Mr. John Polson, jun., ended his long and useful life on Friday, 10th August, 1900, aged seventy-five years; Mr. John A. Brown still survives, the head of the firm.'[2]
1920 Private company formed Brown and Polson Ltd.
1923 Acquired the starch manufacturers William Wotherspoon, and William Mackean.
1936 Corn Products Co acquired Brown and Polson.
Corn Products Co later became Bestfoods.
2000 Bestfoods was taken over by Unilever , becoming CPC Foods Ltd.
2002 The company ceased production in Paisley.
2003 Brand name was sold to Premier Ambient Products.