Robert McVitie
Robert McVitie (1854–1910).
1854 Born in Edinburgh, younger son of Robert McVitie (1809-1883)
Apprenticed in the family bakery, Robert McVitie's.
His experience, gained on the continent and elsewhere, convinced him that there was a considerable untapped market for fancy biscuits and similar snack items. He occupied larger premises in Merchant Street, where he made shortbread and oatcakes as well as biscuits.
Leaving the production side to his manager, Alexander Ross, McVitie opened up distribution centres in England.
1887 he engaged Alexander Grant, who was soon made foreman. That year he visited plants in the United States to learn about the latest biscuit-making technology.
1888 Charles Edward Price (d. 1934), a former traveller for Cadburys, became a partner of what was renamed McVitie and Price; he concentrated on the marketing side.
The bread and catering activities were now carried out by a separate firm, which in 1898 was named McVitties Guest and Co., the other partner being Edward Graham Guest, McVitie's brother-in-law.
1899 Made a further visit to the USA.
1902 The firm opened a modern, air-conditioned building in Princes Street.
When Price left the firm, Grant was appointed general manager, and he and McVitie worked hard for much of the decade on starting up a branch factory in London. With the dependable Grant in charge of the Edinburgh activities, McVitie came to spend most of his time in London, and he also built a residence at Northchurch, near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, where he lived with his wife, Louisa Elizabeth, daughter of William Thompson; they had no children.
1910 Died at his home, Woodcock Hill, Northchurch, near Berkhamsted.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Robert McVitie, ODNB