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History
Although the Elizabeth Shaw name only arrived in Bristol in the 1960´s, the company, which makes a delicious range of luxury chocolates and specialties, has local roots that go back to the 19th century.
Pre 1937
The Smith family made what even by today´s standards would be a major move and decided to relocate from Somerset to Teddington in Middlesex. We believe this was in the search for work. The Smiths soon settled into their new surroundings and it wasn´t long before Elizabeth caught the eye of Patrick, by then a worker at a local confectionery company, Page & Shaw. The couple were later married and started their lives together in Teddington.
1937
During their marriage they did however fall on hard times, and were forced to move in with one of Elizabeth´s sisters and her husband – Mr and Mrs Bellchamber. Elizabeth had always enjoyed cooking for the family, especially making treats such as chocolates. One of her favourites was a chocolate made from honeycomb crisp which was mint flavoured, developed from a recipe an American friend had given to her. In 1937, keen to help both her husband and pay their way, Elizabeth started to produce Mint Crisps and Langes de Chat on her sister´s stove to sell in her brother–in–law´s local shop, Bellchamber´s.
The venture was a great success and soon Patrick and Elizabeth had to create a name for these delicious chocolates. After some thought, they decided to combine Elizabeth´s first name with the name Shaw, from the name Page & Shaw, Patrick´s former employer. The combination of names was felt to be very pleasing to the ear and thus started the household name of Elizabeth Shaw.
The venture was a great success and soon Patrick and Elizabeth had to create a name for these delicious chocolates. After some thought, they decided to combine Elizabeth´s first name with the name Shaw, from the name Page & Shaw, Patrick´s former employer. The combination of names was felt to be very pleasing to the ear and thus started the household name of Elizabeth Shaw.
1938
Patrick soon realised the potential of Elizabeth Shaw and started to develop distribution for the products outside the Bellchamber´s shop. As sales increased, so did the need for proper production facilities. In 1938 a small kitchen was set up in a premises at the rear of 25 High Street, Teddington.
1953
It wasn´t long before even this was too small, and so in 1939 they moved into their own factory – The Mint House in Commerce Road Brentford – and then again in 1953 to larger premises in Camberley.
1968
Alas a disastrous fire swept away the Camberley factory and as a result of the subsequent financial difficulties the company was sold and in 1968 the Elizabeth Shaw brand name and production was moved to Bristol, to an existing factory of the company’s new owners, Cavenham Confectionery Ltd.
1991
In 1991 Leaf UK bought the brand and cared for it until March 2000. This brought back stability, and also brought Elizabeth Shaw back to the West Country where Elizabeth first developed her chocolate making skills.
September 18th 1991 Diana Princess of Wales, then HRH The Princess of Wales, visited the factory at Greenbank. The signed visitors book and photograph are still on display in Elizabeth Shaws new offices in Bristol.
September 18th 1991 Diana Princess of Wales, then HRH The Princess of Wales, visited the factory at Greenbank. The signed visitors book and photograph are still on display in Elizabeth Shaws new offices in Bristol.
2000
The year 2000 saw yet another change of ownership with a management buy out led by then Managing Director Malachy McReynolds.
2006
October 2006 saw an end to an era as production ceased at Elizabeth Shaw´s factory in Greenbank Bristol. The factory, by then over 100 years old, had become economically unviable and could not sensibly sustain further investment.
The production of Elizabeth Shaw chocolates has now moved to other sites in the UK and mainland Europe.
The production of Elizabeth Shaw chocolates has now moved to other sites in the UK and mainland Europe.
Today
Although the factory in Greenbank has now closed, Elizabeth Shaw´s
roots remain in Bristol with its new head office not far from one of its original manufacturing sites in Shortwood.
Thus from humble beginnings of Elizabeth Shaw chocolate in a Teddington kitchen, the brand has gone from strength to strength and is now a major household name, on the shelves of virtually every supermarket in the UK and exported widely throughout the World.
Thus from humble beginnings of Elizabeth Shaw chocolate in a Teddington kitchen, the brand has gone from strength to strength and is now a major household name, on the shelves of virtually every supermarket in the UK and exported widely throughout the World.