Bryant & May Ltd

Sectors:

  • Chemical production Match production

Notes:

Traced origins to c1839 when Francis May, a London grocer, and William Bryant, a Plymouth manufacturer of candles, soap, etc, established a provision merchants business. From 1850 a major line was importing safety matches from Sweden and in 1861 they started to manufacture matches at Bow and emerged as the leading UK match maker - had 5,000 employees by c1870. 1864 May withdrew from the business. 1884 public company. 'Matchgirls strike' occurred at Bryant & May factories 1888, reflecting dreadful working conditions and pay. 1901 merged with Diamond Match Co of USA which, in 1895, had acquired Collard, Kendall & Co of Liverpool, originators of the Swan Vesta brand. Subsequently acquired other UK matchmakers including S J Moreland & Son Ltd of Gloucester in 1913 and George M Judd & Brothers Ltd of London in 1914. 1926 reconstruction resulted in the formation of the British Match Corp Ltd, controlled by Bryant & May, embracing match interests of Bryant & May Ltd, J John Masters & Co Ltd and UK interests of Swedish Match Co. Established a connection with Albright & Wilson Ltd in 1929. 1973 merged with Wilkinson Sword Ltd.

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