Our History
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1896 - George Samworth starts his own business
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1950 - Frank Samworth buys TN Parrs
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1969 - Pork Farms is purchased
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1971 - The business is floated as Pork Farms plc
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1973 - Family builds its first “own label” bakery
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1977 - Ginsters is purchased
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1978 - Pork Farms is sold to Northern Foods
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1985 - The company changes its name to Samworth Brothers
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1986 - Long established Walker & Son of Leicester is acquired
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1992 - Dickinson & Morris is acquired
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1992 - Westward Laboratories established
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1993 - Bradgate Bakery established
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1996 - Walkers Midshires Foods established
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1997 - Kensey Foods established
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1998 - Melton Foods established
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1998 - Samworth Brothers Distribution established
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1999 - Kettleby Foods established
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1999 - Tamar Foods established
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2003 - Samworth Brothers Wins JP Morgan's Family Business Honours
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2003 - Saladworks established
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2003 - Samworth Brothers wins Leicestershire's "Business of the Decade"
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2004 - Ginsters Wins Management Today's UK Food Company of the Year
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2008 - Blueberry Foods established
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2008 - Coldcall Distribution established
Our family business has evolved from a one-man pig dealing firm founded by George Samworth in 1896 to today’s quality chilled foods group with eight thousand people.
George’s entrepreneurial spirit was shared by his son Frank. In reinventing the business after the Second World War, he stamped upon it his commitment to quality, consistency and attention to detail. When he was joined by his sons John, Frank and David, the four began building a business that not only included brands, including Pork Farms and Parr’s, but was innovative in supplying the fledgling “own brand” ranges for the emerging supermarkets.
Pork Farms floated in 1971 to fund further expansion but the City’s short term approach jarred with the family, and the family sold its shares to Northern Foods in 1978 to concentrate on what is today’s Samworth Brothers.