Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Johnson Cleaners UK Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Arnold, William
  • Johnson, William
  • Johnson Brothers (Dyers) Ltd
  • Smith, Jas, & Sons Ltd
  • Flinn & Son Ltd
  • Lush & Cook Ltd
  • Bollom Ltd
  • Harris, Joseph
  • Bird Group
  • Harton Cleaners & Dyers Ltd
  • Johnson Group Cleaners Ltd

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, North West, England

Sectors:

  • Business services Laundry, dry cleaning, etc, services
  • Textile production Textile finishing

Notes:

Established 1817 at Liverpool by William Arnold as silk dyers. 1829 acquired by William Johnson. Incorporated 1898. By 1850s had four shops plus central factory. Incorporated 1898 when had c50 branches. For long known as Johnson Brothers (Dyers) Ltd. By 1908 had 250 branches and 350 by 1914. 1920 merged with Jas Smith & Sons Ltd of Dewsbury and Flinn & Son Ltd of Brighton. 1928 acquired Lush & Cook Ltd of London. 1954 acquired Bollom Ltd of Brighton followed by Joseph Harris of Birmingham in 1957, Bird Group of Newcastle upon Tyne and Harton Cleaners & Dyers Ltd in 1959. 1960 holding company of Johnson Group Cleaners Ltd formed. 1995 the 12 operating businesses were reorganised as Johnson Cleaners UK Ltd. Continues as UK's largest dry cleaning business

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