Lyons, J, & Co Ltd

Sectors:

  • Mechanical engineering Armaments & ammunition production exc warships, aircraft, cannon, hand guns and cartridges, swords, etc
  • Food & tobacco processing Baking inc baking of cakes
  • Food & tobacco processing Biscuit & snacks production
  • Hotel, lodgings & catering services Catering services inc restaurants, public houses, alehouses, etc
  • Information processing equipment production Computer hardware equipment production
  • Food & tobacco processing Dairy products production
  • Hotel, lodgings & catering services Hotel, lodgings, etc, services
  • Food & tobacco processing Meat processing
  • Transport equipment production Motor vehicle bodies production inc trailers, caravans, etc
  • Agriculture & fishing Plantation management, tea

Notes:

Traced origins to 1880s when established by the Gluckstein family, Barnett Salmon and (Sir) Joseph Lyons, 1847-1917, as a mass catering business / catering contractors. It grew out of the retail tobacco business of Salmon & Gluckstein. Incorporated 1894 as J Lyons & Co Ltd. From 1890s developed a chain of tea shops and restaurants, notably the Trocadero Restaurant at Piccadilly which opened in 1896, and later a chain of Corner Houses. Later diversified into food processing, notably biscuits / cake / tea / ice cream / [Lyons Maid] / meats including sausages. Operated tea plantations. Also developed extensive hotel interests in London - Strand Palace, Regent's Palace, etc - via Strand Hotels Ltd. Managed armaments factories at Elstow, 1939-45. Developed early computer installation known as LEO which it subsequently attempted to market via Leo Computers Ltd. Acquired by Allied Breweries Ltd in 1978 which was renamed Allied Lyons Plc in 1981 [2024]

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