George Bassett and Co
Bassett's Liquorice All-Sorts of Owlerton, Sheffield. Telephone: Sheffield Owlerton 44254. Cables: "Bassett, Sheffield". London Office and Showrooms at Adelaide House, King William Street, London, EC4
1842 The firm was established in Sheffield by George Bassett.[1]
1919 George Bassett and Co Ltd was incorporated
1926 The company was re-registered; the company was owned by William Johnson and Percy Johnson.
1934 The company moved to Owlerton when Bassett's son-in-law, Samuel Meggit Johnson, built a large factory on Beulah Road.
Inter-War. The factory was enlarged as new products such as Jelly Babies, Wine Gums and Liquorice Novelties were added to the range.
1939 In April, a huge fire severely damaged the building, as hundreds of tons of sugar burned with ferocity.
1947 British Industries Fair Advert for Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts and Bertie Bassett. Manufacturers of the Original Liquorice Allsorts, Liquorice Cream Lines, Pontefract Cakes. Bright and Crystallized Gums, Empire Mixture, After Dinner Mints, Menthol and Eucalyptus Gums and Medicated Lozenges. (Foodstuffs Section - Earls Court, 1st Floor, Stand No. 594) [2]
1964 Acquired BV De Faam of the Netherlands
1964 Renamed George Bassett Holdings
1966 Acquired Barratt and Co[3]
1967 The Restrictive Practices Court abolished resale price fixing in chocolate and confectionery[4]
1975 Subsidiaries of George Bassett Holdings included[5]:
- George Bassett and Co (incorporating Wilkinsons)
- Barratt and Co
1977 The Wilkinson Division was at Monkhill, Pontefract.[6]
1982 George Bassett Holdings was renamed as Bassett Foods plc
1984 Bassett Foods PLC acquired Ernest Jackson and Co
1989 Bassetts was purchased by the Cadbury Schweppes group
1990 Acquired C. S. Sugar Confectionery Ltd., The Lion Confectionery Co and Trebor Ltd; Trebor changed its name to Trebor Bassett Ltd; Bassett Foods plc changed its name to Trebor Bassett Holdings Ltd.[7]
2000 Cadbury Ltd, Trebor Bassett Ltd and the Lion Confectionery Co entered a partnership agreement and formed Cadbury Trebor Bassett, all subsidiaries of Cadbury plc[8]