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Our History
For over 200 years, the companies in the group have developed something of a taste for innovation. We have a long tradition of bakery excellence, setting successful trends, serving delicious new favourites and redefining the taste experience for successive generations. Today, we sell over 312 million products every year, both within our own branded portfolio and for our retail partners, establishing new standards for recipe inspiration across a wide variety of chilled savoury foods, ranging from pork pies, savoury pies, sausage rolls and pasties to quiche, slices and scotch eggs.
1786–
1910
Before 1900 – 1910
1786 – Richard Wall opened a butchery in St. James’ Market, London and the Wall’s brand was established, beginning its sizzling journey to success. He quickly earned an enviable reputation as a pork butcher and word of his superb quality cuts of meat and delicious pork sausages soon reached the Royal Household.
1808 – Abraham Bowyer began producing quality pork products in Wiltshire, a precursor to the creation of the Bowyers brand
1857 – Palethorpes Bakery established by Henry Palethorpes
1897 – William Miller opens pie and sausage shop in Poole
1910 – George Adams opens butchers in Spalding
1931–
1947
The 1930s and 1940s
1931 – Pork Farms pie shop opened in Nottingham
1937 – William Millers son opens model factory in Poole (Millers bakery)
1947 – Kenneth Parr buys Pork Farms shops
1957–
1969
The 1950s and 1960s
1957 – Bakery built behind George Adams shop
1960 – Dorset Foods founded producing frozen desserts
1967 – Market Drayton factory built
1969 – Pork Farms bought by Samworth Brothers
1973–
1982
The 1970s and 1980s
1973 – Pork Farms moves to the Queens Drive site in Nottingham
1974 – Iconic Richard Wattis Pork Farms advert
1978 – Northern Foods purchases Pork Farms
1980 – Northern Foods purchases Dorset Foods and refurbishes to being a dedicated scotch egg factory
1982 – Northern Foods opens Riverside Bakery to produce fresh meals, quiche, flans and tarts
1990–
1998
The 1990s
1990 – Crescent House (Spalding Bakery) was built
1991 – Kerry Foods acquires Millers
1992 – Wall’s entered the pastry market
1998 – Extension of Riverside Bakery
2007–
2019
The 2000s
2007 – Vision Capital acquired Pork Farms Group (comprising of Pork Farms Bakery, Dorset Foods, Riverside Bakery, Palethorpes)
2007 – Riverside ceased to produce ready meals and focused on being leading experts in quiche & tarts
2014 – Vision Capital (Pork Farms Group) acquired Poole Bakery (Millers site) and Spalding Bakery (George Adams) along with the brands Wall’s & Millers.
2014 – The creation of NO G, which won the Grocer award for top launch in 2014 and became the largest manufacturer of gluten-free pastry
2015 – The Addo Food Group was created and Pork Farms Queens Drive site renamed Tottle Bakery.
2016 –Wall’s Pastry and Pork Farms both relaunched under new packaging and positioning with the Pork Farms relaunched supported by a return to TV advertising.
2017 – LDC become the major institutional investor of Addo Food Group as Vision Capital exit. Our market leading Gluten Free brand No. G was relaunched under the brand name Too Good To Be…
2019 – Wall’s innovative approach sees the brand launch a new range of Vegan and Chicken products as part of the move towards ‘healthier snacking’ in response to change consumer tastes.