Cavaghan & Gray
Encyclopedia
Cavaghan & Gray is a food manufacturing business based in Carlisle
, England
, which is now owned by Northern Foods
. Up until 2004, when the London Road factory closed, it was the largest employer in Carlisle. The firm still has sites at Eastern Way and Durranhill Riverside. At one time the company traded under the brand name of Cavray and the firm is known to locals as Cavvies
The company later incurred difficulties through the depression of the 1930s, resulting in the sale of land and property. In 1937 Thomas Cavaghan Sr. died and the running of the company was left to his three sons, George, Henry and Thomas Jr. The company began to prosper again during the Second World War, with a number of new farms and sites being purchased and improvements made to the factories.
In 1957 there was once again a reshuffle after the death of Thomas Cavaghan Jr. George had also died during the war and so Henry Cavaghan took up the position of chairman with Alec Crawford, Brian Seery and Margaret Cavaghan on the board of directors.
By the 1960s and 1970s the company was producing food for Marks & Spencer
and Heinz
, enabling the company to build itself into the prospering business that it is today.
In 1998 the company by then called Cavaghan & Gray Group plc was sold to Northern Foods
for around £79 million.
City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which is now owned by Northern Foods
Northern Foods
Northern Foods Ltd is a British food manufacturer headquartered in Leeds, England. It was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. The company was scheduled to merge with Greencore Group in 2011 to form Essenta Foods, the group being...
. Up until 2004, when the London Road factory closed, it was the largest employer in Carlisle. The firm still has sites at Eastern Way and Durranhill Riverside. At one time the company traded under the brand name of Cavray and the firm is known to locals as Cavvies
History
The company was founded by Thomas Cavaghan and Jonathan Gray with the help of a Mr. Collins, under the name of Cavaghan, Collin and Gray. The business started out as a butchery, with a modest staff of 8 and small profits. By the mid 1920s Mr. Gray and Mr. Collins had left and the company traded under the name of Cavaghan and Gray. By this time Thomas Cavaghan Jr. had also entered the company.The company later incurred difficulties through the depression of the 1930s, resulting in the sale of land and property. In 1937 Thomas Cavaghan Sr. died and the running of the company was left to his three sons, George, Henry and Thomas Jr. The company began to prosper again during the Second World War, with a number of new farms and sites being purchased and improvements made to the factories.
In 1957 there was once again a reshuffle after the death of Thomas Cavaghan Jr. George had also died during the war and so Henry Cavaghan took up the position of chairman with Alec Crawford, Brian Seery and Margaret Cavaghan on the board of directors.
By the 1960s and 1970s the company was producing food for Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
and Heinz
H. J. Heinz Company
The H. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
, enabling the company to build itself into the prospering business that it is today.
In 1998 the company by then called Cavaghan & Gray Group plc was sold to Northern Foods
Northern Foods
Northern Foods Ltd is a British food manufacturer headquartered in Leeds, England. It was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. The company was scheduled to merge with Greencore Group in 2011 to form Essenta Foods, the group being...
for around £79 million.