Union Cold Storage Co
of 2-5 West Smithfield, London; facilities at Alexandra Dock, Liverpool, and Miller Street, Manchester.
1897 The company was registered on 27 August, as the Union Cold Storage and Ice Co of Liverpool. Founded by Lord Vestey and Sir Edmund Vestey..
1903 In connection with the absorption of some other similar companies the name was changed as above, and the capital largely increased. [1]
1903 New cold storage building completed on Miller Street, Manchester.[2]
1919 Acquired the Blue Star Line[3]
1924 Sold the Blue Star Line of refrigerated ships.[4]
By 1925 the company also had a range of retail businesses:[5]
- British and Argentine Meat Co Ltd
- Eastmans Ltd
- W. and R. Fletcher Ltd
- J. H. Dewhurst Ltd
who together owned 2356 retail shops.
1949 In the face of government plans to nationalise the cold storage and meat wholesaling and importing industry, the company changed its name to Union International Company as part of a range of measures[6]
1958 photo of Miller Street/Dantzic Street works in Manchester here.
1963 Merger of frozen food interests: Fropax, Frood and Eskimo. Associated Fisheries acquired a 20 percent interest in Glacier Foods and held 20 percent of the equity in Fropax; Union International Co continued to control Fropax; J Lyons continued to control Glacier Foods; Fropax acquired Eskimo Foods[7]
1984 Acquired the Baxters butchers' chain and merged it with the more profitable J. H. Dewhurst chain.[8]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908
- ↑ https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/buildings/union-cold-storage-building-miller-street-manchester
- ↑ The Times Oct. 31, 1919
- ↑ The Times Jan. 22, 1925
- ↑ The Times Jan. 22, 1925
- ↑ The Times July 21, 1949
- ↑ The Times Oct. 25, 1963
- ↑ The Times Dec. 29, 1984