Records of Malcolm Campbell Ltd, greengrocers, Glasgow, Scotland
- Reference:GB 248 UGC 081
- Dates of Creation:1899-1990
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:0.4 metres
Scope and Content
- Minutes, 1899-1970;
- Branch management guide, 1983;
- Registers of shareholders, 1899-1990;
- Cash sales book, 1948-1952;
- Pension fund and life assurance scheme records, 1958-1980;
- Contract of service, 1911;
- Re-packaged photograph and newspaper albums, 1895-1998.
Administrative / Biographical History
Sir Malcolm Campbell began working for greengrocer Mark Walker as a message boy in his fruit shop in 1864 at the age of 16. Upon Walker's retirement in 1878, Campbell purchased the business and began trading under his own name. Over the next 25 years, Malcolm Campbell expanded, opening several new stores and extending the company's product range to flowers, preserves, and chocolate. The company's floral arrangements were well sought after, and Campbell built large nurseries so both flowers and vegetables would be readily available. In 1899, the business became a limited company.
In 1904, Malcolm Campbell Ltd opened their first railway station kiosk at Glasgow Central, where they sold fruit and confectionary. These kiosks extended as far south as Crewe. Post-war, Malcolm Campbell took an interest in civic affairs, becoming a Bailie, City Treasurer, and a Justice of the Peace. A knighthood soon followed.
Campbell remained active in his business until his death in 1935 at the age of 87. His son, Dr Malcolm Campbell, became Chairman for a short period before dying in 1937. The responsibility of the business fell on the shoulders of Dr Campbell's son, Malcolm Brown Campbell, who also had a short time as Chairman before he died as the result of an accident in 1940. As his son was too young to take charge of the business, his widow, Helen M Campbell, assumed the role of Chairman, and took charge of the company until 1952, when she appointed Robert Browning to the role.
After studying Business Management at Glasgow University and leaving the forces, Malcolm Brown Campbell's son, also Malcolm Campbell, joined the company in 1955, working his way through various departments. He became Chairman in 1968, overseeing many changes in the company and the trade, such as refrigerated counters and self-selection. He passed control of the company to his own sons, David and Graham Campbell, in 1996. The firm lost many standalone stores in the course of the 1990s, but concessions were opened in Kwik Save stores and the company continued to trade. As competition increased due to supermarkets, the grocery part of the business was sold to another family business, Peckham and Rye. Peckham and Rye went into administration in 2012. David and Graham Campbell continued business as commercial property investors and developers, and still trade under the name Malcolm Campbell Ltd.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically within record series unless otherwise stated
Access Information
Open
Acquisition Information
Deposit : Malcolm Campbell : April 2001 : ACCN 2054
Other Finding Aids
Digital file level list available in searchroom.
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
None which affect the use of this material
Conditions Governing Use
Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.
Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures
Custodial History
Malcolm Campbell Ltd
Accruals
None expected
Related Material
No known material
Location of Originals
This material is original
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names
Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.
Fonds level description compiled by Emma Anthony, Assistant Archivist, 21 February 2012.
Collection catalogued by Emma Anthony, Assistant Archivist, 21 February. Catalogue converted to Encoded Archival Description by Emma Anthony, Assistant Archivist, February 2012. Edited by Gemma Tougher, Assistant Archivist, (Cataloguing), 19 April 2012. Amended by Sam Maddra. Assistant Archivist (cataloguing), 11 December 2014.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Geographical Names