J. A. and P. Holland
1927 Business commenced
1953 Public company incorporated[1] J. A. and P. Holland trading as Arthur Holland the Southport toffee and caramel manufacturers. Directors are John Arthur Holland (senior), John Arthur Holland (junior) and Peter Holland[2]
1960 Started to diversify, acquiring:
- Fillerys Toffees
- Walter's "Palm" Toffee
- Ewbanks
- S. Parkinson (Doncaster)
- Coq d'Or Chocolates
- Casket Confectionery Co
1961 Acquired Harper Paper Group; Granada Theatres invested in the new group as part of a strategy of diversification into confectionery[3]
1961 October: had made 23 acquisitions during the preceding 3 months[4]
1961 November: Made 8 acquisitions
1962 January: Acquired Visual Container Co of London, Wholesale Supplies Ltd of Buxton, and Ellis and Carter of Liverpool.[5]
1965 Carr and Co (owned by Cavenham) bid for the family holding in the company but did not intend to make a full take-over; Holland's expansion plans since 1960 had not been fully successful and shareholders had not had a dividend since 1963[6]
1965 Cavenham Foods acquired the remaining shares that it did not already own[7]
1966 'The final Southport link with the giant toffee manufacturing firm of Hollands has ended with Mr. Jack Holland and Mr. Peter Holland, sons of founder Arthur Holland. leaving the firm. Last night Mr. Jack Holland, whose home is at 13 Argyle Road. Southport, confirmed that he as chairman, and his brother, the managing director, who home is at 11 Hartley Road, Birkdale, are leaving Arthur Holland Confectionery Ltd.. which has been taken over by Cavenham Foods Ltd.'[8]
c1967 Became part of Cavenham Confectionery