Tavener, Rutledge and Co
of Liverpool, maker of humbugs, boiled sweets
1889 William Henry Tavener branched out from pickles and sauces into producing boiled sweets at his shop in Scotland Road.
Post-WWI His son Herbert persuaded his father to sell him the sweet making and wholesaling side of the business; this was the basis for development of a confectionery empire.
1920s Tavener's Buttered Assortment was one of the best known confections in the country, made by hand-dipping brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts and coconut macaroons in a crisp buttered toffee.
1931 Henry Tavener, who managed the factory and was responsible for developing new products, used the same process to cover chocolate pieces in a rich creamy toffee and created Chocolate Éclairs. This was the first time anyone had managed to cover chocolate in caramel and was the forerunner of many imitations through the years. Such was the success of the Chocolate Éclairs, that up to 1960 there were still 100 toffee dippers employed by the Company.
The expense of carrying out the process manually soon became prohibitive and, after three years of extensive trials, a prototype machine was developed.
c.1960 Continued to be run by descendants of the founder until around c.1963 when a business associate of the family headed the company.
Became a Public company
1973 The company recognised it needed modern management systems and up-to-date financial information. The company intended to grow and made 2 acquisitions - H. W. Stewart, to broaden the product range and sales outlets, and Parkes Classic Confectionery, to protect access to machinery used to make toffees. The company was one of c.45 in the confectionery business in Britain.[1]
1975 Went to court to defend its Kojakpops lolly brand.
c.1989 Name shortened to Taveners
1992 Bought by Toms Confectionery of Denmark.
2006 Blackpool-based Tangerine took the firm over.[2]