Our Heritage & History
Our proud history and family values have led us to becoming the successful group we are today, with over 1,800 employees in 4 businesses across food and agriculture
Our History
1842
his letter was sent by John Billington to his son Edward on the occasion of his taking up an apprenticeship in Liverpool.
The original letter remains in Cunard Building.
1858
Edward Billington began trading as a tea and coffee importer, but within a few years was also importing sugar.
1864
The company moves to Liverpool, operating over a period of time from a number of locations before settling its headquarters at its current location in the famous waterfront Cunard Building in 1959.
1898
The rapid growth of the business prompts a decision to make the firm a limited company.
1902
The manufacture of cattle food started around 1902. A mill was established in the old bedstead manufacturing factory of Billington Brothers on Great Homer Street in 1903.
1915
During the pre-war, wartime, inter-war and post war period, the company steadily expanded both by organic growth and acquisitions of new business.
1928
Criddle purchased their first Sentinel tractor affectionately nicknamed locally as “the crab”. This steam tractor is now housed the Museum of Liverpool Life.
1940
Central Tin Packaging was set up in Liverpool and continued until being sold to its management in 2008.
1959
The company set up headquarters at its current location on the famous Liverpool waterfront at Cunard Building
1960
The Ellesmere Port mill, previously owned by Ranks, was used for the manufacture of animal feed until 1978
1961
A meat division was set up and traded initially as Thomas, Swain and Whiteley. The division was closed in 2000.
1964
The company moved into the travel sector, with Wise Travel on Allerton Road, Liverpool. It remained involved in travel until 2005.
1977
First import of Mauritian unrefined brown sugars by Edward Billington (Sugar) Limited.
1980
Opening of a purpose built Billington Sugar packing factory in Ipswich.
1996
Formation of the Billington Food Group to more accurately reflect the diverse activities of this division. The division was sold to British Sugar in 2004.
1997
English Provender Company was bought by the Group. Founded by John and Ann Curwin making jams, condiments and chutneys.
1998
Formation of Carrs Billington joint venture
Billington Agriculture and Carrs Agriculture formed a joint manufacturing company Carrs Billington Agriculture in response to the shrinking dairy feed market
2000
The company acquired Classic Couverture, a chocolate manufacturing company it owned until 2006.
2001
Edward Billington and Son Ltd took a 55% stake in Wholesome Sweeteners alongside Imperial Sugar in the US who owned 45%. Over the next 10 years the company grew from $4m to $120m to become the leading supplier of organics and fair trade sugars, honey and agave in the US.
2004
Opening of newly purpose built English Provender Company factory in Newbury.
2005
The company had acquired Suffolk Foods in 2004, a manufacturer of mayonnaise and sauces to the food manufacturing and food service sectors, incorporated in 2005 into English Provender Company.
2007
The company acquired Alembic Products Limited in Chester, a manufacturer of sauces and dressings to the food service and food manufacturing sectors, later incorporated into English Provender Company.
2008
Billington Bioenergy began trading. As a supplier and distributor of high quality wood pellets.
2012
The group completed the biggest deal in its history with the sale of 23.53% of Wholesome Sweeteners to Arlon Food and Agriculture Partners, retaining a 26.46% stake.
2012
The company acquired Bar Foods, a manufacturer and supplier of soups, sauces and recipe dishes to the UK’s Foodservice and manufacturing industries. A very significant acquisition in the Group’s history.
2013
Billington Food Ingredients was established in 2013 to source and supply individually quick frozen (IQF) fruit and vegetables to the food manufacturing sector.
2014
In January of 2014 the Group acquired TSC Foods. A North Lincolnshire based supplier of frozen and chilled soups and sauces to the Retail, Food Service and B2B market places.
2015
The Group agreed the sale of Billington Bioenergy to Drax Group plc, which is a world leader in sourcing and providing sustainable, renewable power from field and forest to customer.
2016
The Billington Group acquire Dunkleys.
Dunkleys was one of the UK’s oldest, family-owned food manufacturers and had a heritage of supplying pies, recipe dish and desserts into the UK Foodservice market.
2018
Bar Foods and Dunkleys, businesses with similar customer bases and considerable operational synergies, merge to form Billington Foodservice, trading from sites in Newport (South Wales) and Wellingborough.
2021
The Billington Group (and its co-investors) announce completion of a sale of Wholesome to Whole Earth Brands Inc.
The sale concludes a highly successful twenty-year involvement of the Group with Wholesome.
2021
TSC Foods and Billington Foodservice merged to form Billington Foods, the combined business trades from sites in Scunthorpe and Wellingborough (the Newport site is transferred to English Provender Company).
The combination of the businesses allows for a unified and improved customer-focused approach to the delivery of high-quality bespoke products to market.
2022
The Billington Group takes complete ownership of Carr’s Billington Agriculture Ltd, bringing to an end the joint venture with Carr’s Group plc after twenty-four years.
