Meredith and Drew
of High Street, Shadwell, London, E1.
1830 William Meredith established a bakery at Shadwell.
1852 William George Drew, who had been Meredith's principal assistant, left the business to set up his own biscuit business.
By 1856 the business was trading as Meredith and Son
1891 Formed when Meredith and Son and Drew and Sons merged
1896 Factory at Shadwell was extended
1905 Merged with Wright and Son of Shadwell
1922 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturers of High-class Biscuits and Cakes, Specialities: Digestive, Forget-me-not, Ginger Nut, Marie, Rob Roy; Creamona, Normandy and Victory Creams. As supplied to the Royal Household. (Stand No. B.32) [1]
1927 Acquired a factory at Ashby-de-la-Zouch
1939 The company had six factories - London, Oldham, Brighouse, High Wycombe, Halifax and Ashby
WWII The Shadwell factory was destroyed; production was relocated to Oldham, Brighouse and Hugh Wycombe.
1949 Chairman is J. H. Mercer.[2]
1951 Employed 2,500 persons. Geoffrey Anthony Edward Drew Wright was MD.
1950s Closed some factories and concentrated at Halifax, Cinderford and Ashby
1956 Meridith and Drew, Club Lane, Ovenden, (near Halifax).[3]
1962 Closed Cinderford factory with loss of 350 jobs
1961 Acquired a crisp factory in Lanarkshire
1964 Meridith and Drew, Stanwell Road, Horton, near Colnbrook.[4]
1967 Acquired by United Biscuits.
1968 The business of Kenyon, Son and Craven was merged into them
1980s Meridith and Drew brand closed
1989 Halifax site closed by 990 jobs
2004 Ashby biscuit factory closed but retained as distribution centre employing 2,500 persons
1018 Meridith and Drew brand reintroduced as a premium range
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1922 British Industries Fair Page 54
- ↑ Lincolnshire Echo - Thursday 17 November 1949
- ↑ Halifax Evening Courier - Saturday 25 February 1956
- ↑ Surrey Mirror - Friday 18 September 1964