Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd

This material is held atBorthwick Institute for Archives, University of York

Administrative / Biographical History

Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd was formed in 1926 as a subsidiary of the company Wilson & Co Ltd.
Wilson & Co Ltd was a South African confectionary company in which Rowntree and Co had acquired majority shares in 1925. Rowntree wanted to develop its products in South Africa, however there were concerns that the Rowntree trademarks might have no validity in South Africa if they were to be used by Wilson & Co Ltd. Because of this, Rowntree and Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd was founded as a subsidiary, and was empowered to develop York’s brands in the Union freely.
It was decided that both parts of this new operation would market their products separately and have their own trading accounts. Wilson & Co Ltd focused on its strength in sugar confectionary and Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd launched popular York lines including York Milk, Plain York, Bee Assorted Chocolates and gums and pastilles. In October 1928, it was decided that Wilson chocolate products would be withdrawn in favour of the Rowntree brand.
The articles of association in which Rowntree and Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd were formed under were complicated and didn’t provide Rowntree in York with full managerial control. The York business became increasingly concerned with the marketing and dividend policies of its subsidiaries in South Africa.
On 31 December 1957, Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Wilson and Co Ltd merged to form Wilson-Rowntree (Pty) Ltd. This gave Rowntree in York the majority control over its South African subsidiary, as the new unified management was ultimately responsible to Rowntree.
Despite the merger, Rowntree and Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd remained in existence.

Note

Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd was formed in 1926 as a subsidiary of the company Wilson & Co Ltd.
Wilson & Co Ltd was a South African confectionary company in which Rowntree and Co had acquired majority shares in 1925. Rowntree wanted to develop its products in South Africa, however there were concerns that the Rowntree trademarks might have no validity in South Africa if they were to be used by Wilson & Co Ltd. Because of this, Rowntree and Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd was founded as a subsidiary, and was empowered to develop York’s brands in the Union freely.
It was decided that both parts of this new operation would market their products separately and have their own trading accounts. Wilson & Co Ltd focused on its strength in sugar confectionary and Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd launched popular York lines including York Milk, Plain York, Bee Assorted Chocolates and gums and pastilles. In October 1928, it was decided that Wilson chocolate products would be withdrawn in favour of the Rowntree brand.
The articles of association in which Rowntree and Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd were formed under were complicated and didn’t provide Rowntree in York with full managerial control. The York business became increasingly concerned with the marketing and dividend policies of its subsidiaries in South Africa.
On 31 December 1957, Rowntree and Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Wilson and Co Ltd merged to form Wilson-Rowntree (Pty) Ltd. This gave Rowntree in York the majority control over its South African subsidiary, as the new unified management was ultimately responsible to Rowntree.
Despite the merger, Rowntree and Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd remained in existence.

Additional Information

Published