Coloroll

Wallpaper manufacturer, of Nelson, Lancs

1923 Company founded by the Gatward family

1981 Supplied about 20 percent of UK wallcoverings market

By 1982 the family was no longer involved in the management of the company

1982 Charterhouse Group led a consortium which acquired 90 percent of the company

1984 Management buyout of 9 industrial companies, including Coloroll, from Charterhouse; the companies were put together in a new company called Paragon

1985 Coloroll was floated on the Stock Exchange

1985 Acquired wallpaper manufacturer Worley

1986 Acquired Biltons Tableware and Staffordshire Potteries of Stoke-on-Trent. Opened a home furnishings store in Regent Street, London

1987 Acquired Fogarty, a family-controlled textile company in Lincolnshire, which made duvets and bed pillows; acquired Crown House, particularly for its tableware activities but planned to sell George Butler and Co, makers of silverware, and the engineering division which was sold to its management. Sold the packaging division

1988 Bid for carpeting maker John Crowther which was won after a contest, making Coloroll the second largest carpet maker in the country. Subsequently sold the Crowther clothing operations to its management (which became Response Group)

1989 Sold 70 percent of MCD Group, carpet distributors, because of perceived conflict of interest with Coloroll's carpet brands

1990 After a profit warning, due to problems with loans to the Response Group, Coloroll sold Alexander Drew to its management. After changing chairman, Coloroll went into receivership because of the size of its debts. The receivers sold Kosset Carpets, Denby Tableware and Staffordshire Potteries to their respective managements

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