Lipton Ltd

Notes:

Established in 1871 in Glasgow by (Sir) Thomas Lipton, 1850-1931, when he opened his first grocery shop. Purchased direct from suppliers thereby gaining competitive advantage. Advertised heavily. Other stores opened in rapid succession, beginning in Scotland and reaching London in 1888; by 1890s there were over 200 shops. 1891 head office moved to capital. Established supplies at source including tea plantations at Sri Lanka from 1890 and, later, meat processing factories in USA. Packed tea and manufactured jam. Noted for 'Lipton's Tea' from late 1880s which was also sold wholesale. Incorporated as Lipton Ltd 1898. Also in 1898 started selling wines and spirits, establishing associated bottling plant, etc. In decline by 1920s, when had around 600 shops, and in 1927 Van den Berghs Ltd acquired a substantial interest and placed the business under management of Meadow Dairy Co Ltd. 1927, when Van den Bergh and Jurgens Ltd merged to create Margarine Union, their very substantial food retailing interests were reorganised and Allied Suppliers Ltd was created in 1929 to act as a vehicle for this. Lipton continued as an important trading name adopting the supermarket format. Sometime the tea growing and overseas marketing interests of Lipton were acquired by Unilever, followed later by tea interests elsewhere [2024]