Sweet smell of success for family firms
QUITE OFTEN, when York is mentioned, ‘chocolate’ springs to mind. After that, fond recollections of Terry’s and Rowntree’s world-renowned products set the taste buds tingling. Both businesses were made highly successful by prominent family members.
Until the dawn of the 19th century sweets were usually handmade and largely enjoyed by the upper classes. This changed when great strides in sweet and chocolate manufacture were made by the introduction of new machines and equipment.
The first dark or plain chocolate bar was produced in 1847 though it took nearly another 30 years before the milk chocolate bar appeared. Marshmallows were created around 1850; Kendal mint cake in 1869; fudge in the USA during the 1880s. The 19th century saw peanut brittle and jelly beans appear and the first wine gums were sold in 1893.
Known for the delights of the ‘tap it unwrap it’ Terry’s Chocolate Orange and Terry’s Allgold box of chocolates, the Terry’s story can trace its roots back 1767 and a shop near Bootham Bar, York. The business moved to St Helen’s Square, York, and was run by Robert Berry and William Blaydon.
Born in Pocklington during 1793, Joseph Terry became a chemist in Walmgate before establishing himself as sole proprietor of the confectionary business in 1830. Using his knowledge of chemistry, he created new lines of confectionary including candied eringo, pomfrets, gum balls. Joseph
Terry was a member of the committee of the Association for the Protection of Public and Trade of Confectioners and Lozenge Makers though died at the relatively early age of 55 in 1848.
Joseph Terry Jr took over the company reins and strides were made. Additional premises were acquired and new lines added, with chocolate production well advanced by 1867. Joseph Terry Jr was Lord Mayor of York four times and was knighted for services to industry in 1887. In 1895, Terry’s became a limited liability company and styled Joseph Terry and Sons Ltd. After Joseph Jr died in 1898 he was succeeded by his sons Thomas and Frank.
Before the close of the 19th century, Terry’s launched their celebrated Neopolitans brand and in early in the 20th century amongst their products were the first assortments, Britannia, York Milk Chocolates and Empire Mixture. A large, purpose-built chocolate works designed by J. E. Wade in an art deco style, and with a distinctive clock tower, was erected in Bishopthorpe Road by 1927. Developed and produced on the site were the Chocolate Apple (1926), Chocolate Orange (1931), and Terry’s All Gold. Terry’s staff near the end of the decade totalled around 2,500 with women making up 60 per cent.
During the Second World War, Terry’s was taken over by F. Hills & Sons to manufacture and repair aircraft propeller blades. Chocolate production resumed on a smaller scale after the war, mostly because of the rationing and limited imports of raw cocoa.
A highlight was early in June 1961 when Terry’s chief baker and confectioner, Peter Gee took 168 hours to decorate a fivetier cake intended for the Duke and Duchess of Kent’s wedding reception at Hovingham Hall.
From 1963 Terry’s underwent a number of takeovers and the companies involved included: Trust House Forte, ColgatePalmolive, United Biscuit Holdings, Kraft Foods, Mondelez International, and Eurazeo (part of Carambar & Co).
Terry’s York factory was closed by Kraft in September 2005 with the loss of 316 jobs, though the chocolate factory building has since been converted into apartments. Another Terry’s site along the river was cleared earlier.
The good news for chocolate lovers is that items from the Terry range are still being produced today under a Carambar & Co subsidiary, Terry’s Chocolate Co.
Offering competition in York to the Terry organisation from the early 1860s was Henry Isaac Rowntree, born in 1837 to a family of Quakers. After working in his father’s grocery store at the Pavement, York, Henry eventually bought the Tuke family’s chocolate and cocoamaking business in Walmgate in 1862. He was assisted by around 12 staff. After establishing a new factory at Tanners Moat, he ran into difficulties and was joined by older brother Joseph, the business becoming H.I. Rowntree & Co. Joseph injected muchneeded capital and largely dealt with financial and sales matters.
In 1879, a sales rep, August Claude Gaget, helped with a recipe that eventually produced Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles from 1881. Two years later Henry Rowntree died. Before the turn of the century heavy investment was made in equipment, particularly in the acquisition of a Van Outen press to produce chocolate with the cocoa butter removed. Joseph’s son Seebohm, a qualified chemist, established the company’s first research and testing laboratory.
By 1890 a large factory had been built at Haxby Road and three years later Rowntree’s Fruit Gums were launched. Rowntree & Co Ltd was formed in 1897 and shortly afterwards the new organisation bought cocoa plantations in the West Indies. The company’s first milk
chocolate block appeared in 1899. Sales by 1900 amounted to over £465,000.
In the early years of the 20th century, Joseph Rowntree exercised his own Quaker philanthropic ideals by developing New Earswick model village with the help of architect/ town planner Raymond Unwin
and architect/urban planner Barry Parker. Houses were available not only for all grades of Rowntree’s employees but for any other workers too.
Twenty-acre Rowntree Park was opened in July 1921 by Joseph Rowntree in memory of employees of Rowntree’s who died or suffered in the First World War.
Fierce market competition from Terry’s, Nestlé and Cadbury heaped financial worries on Seebohm Rowntree when he took over as company chairman in 1923. Joseph died two years later. During his lifetime he had been made a Honorary Freeman of the city of York. He had also helped to provide Rowntree employees with a number of facilities and benefits including a library, a works magazine, a social welfare officer, a doctor, a dentist and a pension fund.
The 1930s saw an upturn in fortunes. Rowntree’s Black Magic assorted box of chocolates hit the market in 1930s, along with Dairy Box, the Aero, Kit Kat, Smarties, and Polos (relaunched in 1948).
During the post-war years production facilities were established at home and abroad and some products sold under licence in the US. After Eight Thin Mints were introduced in 1962, Jelly Tots three years later, and Matchmakers in 1968.
In 1969, Rowntree’s merged with John Mackintosh & Co, becoming Rowntree Mackintosh. Over the next few decades the Yorkie and Lion chocolate bars were launched and other companies were acquired. In the 1980s, Rowntree was the fourth largest chocolate manufacturer in the world, employing around 33,000 in 25 factories around the globe, with an estimated turnover of £1.4bn.
A takeover by Nestlé occurred in the late 1980s and, after some rationalisation, massive investment took place at the York site. It is still one of the world’s largest confectionery operations.
Terry’s staff near the end of the 1930s totalled 2,500 with women making up 60 per cent.