Oldest Family Firms In The North West

Family Business United has teamed up with CN Strategic Advisors to identify some of the oldest family firms in the North West of England, as part of the programme to compile a record of the oldest family firms in the UK today.

Key Findings:

• Morning Foods is the oldest family business in the North West

• The oldest family business in the North West dates back to 1675

• The ten oldest family firms in the North West have collectively traded for 2,112 years

As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, "We have been compiling lists of the oldest family firms in the UK for a number of years now and wanted to dig deeper into the North West to determine the depth and diversity of long-standing family businesses in the region."

"The results speak for themselves and we have uncovered some incredible family firms that have stood the test of time with the oldest dating back to 1675, Morning Foods, a family firm that has a long tradition of providing healthy and nutritious wholegrain oats to the food ingredient and manufacturing sectors in a wide variety of finished product and packaging formats."

"Collectively ten of the oldest family firms in the North West that we have identified have been trading for 2,112 years which is an incredible achievement given the events in history that have taken place over the years that they have been in operation. It is also encouraging to see the mix of businesses that include breweries, retailers, supermarkets, transport and food producers, all of whom have stood the test of time."

The oldest family firms in the North West:

1. Morning Foods - Founded in 1675

2. RS Clare & Co - Founded in 1748

3. Bibby Line Group - Founded in 1807

4. JW Lees Brewery - Founded in 1828

5. Peter Marsh & Sons Ltd - Founded in 1837

6. Frederic Robinson Brewery - Founded in 1838

7. James Cropper PLC - Founded in 1845

8. E.H. Booth & Co. Ltd - Founded in 1847

9. Joseph Holt Brewery - Founded in 1849

10. Arighi Bianchi - Founded in 1854

You can see how these family firms sit within the oldest family businesses across the UK here

In compiling the listings, we have used various means to make it as comprehensive and accurate as possible. However, due to the fact that there is no legal requirement to disclose the status of the underlying ownership in business it is not an easy process. We used our networks, connections at trade bodies and extensive desktop research to determine the oldest family businesses but are not able to say unequivocally that there are not a few other hidden gems out there. From time to time another long-standing family firm is brought to our attention and after the necessary research and confirmations have been obtained, the business is added and the list updated. If you are aware of a family business that needs to be considered for inclusion then please do not hesitate to get in touch so that we can update the list accordingly.

As David Baggott, Partner at CN Strategic Advisors adds, "The North West is a extremely important region for the UK economy, employing many millions in its rich and diverse economy."

"Family businesses are the backbone of this, with strong values and resilience enabling many multi-generational family businesses to have survived and flourished over many years. We are pleased to support family businesses in their key milestones within their business journey.”

“Family businesses across the North West have an extremely strong heritage and are significant contributors to the local economy on many levels, and also being a staple within the growth of the northern powerhouse. It is fantastic to see the resilience of many of the family businesses across the North West and see them grow and flourish over many years and several family generations and to see some great names in the list too."