History of George Harker & Co Ltd

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George Harker 1778 -1863

George Harker Ltd has provided services to the dried-food industry for over 150 years George Harker and Company Limited, founded in 1826 by George Harker at 27 Martin Lane in London, was originally a drysalters and stationers operating in dried fish, oil and spices. Later the company extended their interests, becoming specialists in rice, pulses, dried fruit, canned goods, spices, nuts and foreign produce generally. By the time Mr. Harker died in 1863, at the age of 65 it had become what his bank described as a "a good and extensive business".

A fresh approach to dried fruit and natural dried foods

George Harker & Co Ltd Park Drive Industrial Estate Braintree Essex CM7 1AW Tel 01376 321 272 Fax 01376 552 160

               

A grocery exhibition in the 1950s

Demos Ciclitira Head Office - London Capitol House, 60 - 62 Leman Street London E1 8EU TEL 020 7626 1121 FAX 020 7702 0560

Since then the company has remained remarkably resilient due to dedicated teams of staff. It has survived the Boer War and two World Wars, continuing to do business through the reign of eight monarchs. During WWII the factory was destroyed when bombed, but thanks to contingency plans, work continued the next day at another location.

       

Buildings bombed in the Blitz

                                                                   

After the Second World War there was a considerable change in food trading. Self-service grew extensively so goods such as dried fruit, nuts and pulses had to be sold individually packaged for the consumer. George Harker Ltd was able to take advantage of this growth in pre-packaged food as they were already established as packers for customers’ own registered brands. The company grew into the new self-service market.

The George Harker factory

George Harker, Demos's packing subsidiary in Braintree, Essex, has an exemplary reputation within the packaging and food industry. The merger of Demos and George Harker in 1998 has created a single organisation, capable of supplying top quality packaged dried fruits, cereals and pulses for sale to leading UK retailers and manufacturers.