Heritage
Click on the timeline below to see how it all began
1985
On 25 March, the name, Whitworths Limited, was registered. The company's early success in packing speciality sugars led to a co-venture with Napier Brown.
1986
The centenary saw the unveiling of Peter Newcombe’s painting of the Whitworth Bros. site at Wellingborough as part of the celebrations. The original still hangs in the offices at Whitworth Bros. in Wellingborough.
A Corporate Review was also released.
1988
On 15 January, two of Britain’s largest privately-owned food companies, Whitworths and Napier Brown, merged, bringing a comprehensive range of white and brown sugars under joint ownership.
Programmes of innovation and re-investment helped the business build on its worldwide reputation for retail products of consistently high quality. Export activity extended to many new countries, including the Third World, where adaptations to packing material were employed to meet local food regulations.
Milling expertise also brought the company into new sectors:
- High volume bread production
- Part-cooked items
- Don Miller’s Hot Bread Kitchens and a chain of neighbourhood Hot Bread shops.
- The Agricultural Division, a major supplier of seed and feed products, began working with the business on local and international ventures.
1991
At the annual Management Conference, held at Northampton Moat House, it was announced to a delighted audience that the company had turned round a £2.5m loss in 1989, to make a £2m profit the following year.
Whitworths Ltd Social Club opened its doors alongside the Sparks & Spanners Club, Irthlingborough.
1992
Napier Brown Produce was formed at Wellingborough through the merger of Whitworth Ingredients Ltd and the Napier Brown Produce team.
1993
Whitworths is honoured by being selected to provide a supply of dried fruit for the British Everest 40th Anniversary expedition.
It took five weeks to construct a new rusk drier, costing £400k, at Irthlingborough. This enormous piece of equipment had to be delivered in pieces over four days, with no less than five 40ft lorries transporting the stainless steel sections from their Holland-based manufacturers, Ventilux.
1994
Launch of our new logo.
1997
Scotia Haven acquired Whitworths Ltd from Napier Brown, taking on dried fruit, nuts and other associated businesses, to form the Whitworths Group.
The logo was adapted to reflect the, now familiar, ‘food from the heart’ product positioning.