G. F. Lovell and Co
Lovell's of Newport, Mon. and Manchester
Lovell's (Manchester)
1884 Foundation of Lovell's confectionery works at Newport
1892 Partnership change. '... the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, George Frederick Lovell and Philip Noble, carrying on business as Manufacturing Confectioners, at 125, Commercial-street, Newport, Mon., under the style or firm of G. F. Lovell and Co., has been dissolved, by mutual consent, as and from the 29th day of September, 1892. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said George Frederick Lovell...'[1]
WWI: Largely turned over to war production due to the shortage of sugar and other raw materials. Manufactured mine sinkers, tank track links, and repaired over 6000 ammunition boxes per week. The company acquired the site of the recently vacated Newport Taxi Company. The firm became the subject of an official report as an exemplar of good wartime labour relations.
Post-WWI: Lovells reverted to confectionery manufacture.
1922 Became a private company
1954 With sweets coming off rationing, some of the shares were offered on the Stock Exchange[2]
1969 Sterling Industrial Securities acquired a controlling stake in the company[3]
1972 Acquired Johnsons (Cardiff) and Rascal Confectionery with funds from Dalton Barton[4]
1973 Sterling Industrial Securities acquired further shares in the company as part of its move into the food industry[5]
1975 The bread and cake-making division was making losses and was closed; Hills London Shops acquired Sterling's stake in the company and planned to bid for the rest[6]
1982 A controlling interest was acquired by Kirby and West, a wholesale and retail dairying business[7]
1989 Kirby and West sold its stake in the company to the Albrighton investor group headed by Peter Woodham and sold the confectionery part and focussed on building products.[8]
1989 The company supplied products both under its own brand and as own-label for retailers. Acquired Transplastix, Natural Stone Products, Triad Timber Components and Insuwall.
1990 The name of G. F. Lovell plc was changed to Albrighton plc[9]
1991 The company had exited confectionery and was concentrating on building products.[10]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:21 October 1892 Issue:26336 Page:5892
- ↑ The Times June 11, 1954
- ↑ The Times Mar. 8, 1969
- ↑ The Times July 1, 1972
- ↑ The Times Dec. 7, 1973
- ↑ The Times June 26, 1975
- ↑ The Times Nov. 10, 1982
- ↑ GBirmingham Daily Post - Tuesday 15 February 1994
- ↑ Companies House filings
- ↑ The Times June 25, 1991
- GGAT 130: The Sinews of War: South East Wales Industry and The First World War, 2015, by Johnny Crawford