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Frank Cooper's

May 02, 2024

Frank Cooper's is a UK brand of marmalades and jams owned by Hain Daniels.[1] Frank Cooper's is known primarily for its "Oxford" Marmalade and holds a Royal Warrant.[2] The brand was created by Sarah Cooper in 1874 and as of 2012 is a brand of Hain Celestial Group.

Frank Cooper's
Three jars of Frank Cooper's products
OwnerHain Celestial Group
CountryUnited Kingdom
Introduced1874
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

1874-1919; early history edit

Francis Thomas Cooper (1811–1862) was originally a hatter and hosier with a shop at 46 High Street, Oxford.[3] He then became an agent for Ridgeway's Tea and in about 1845 converted his shop into a grocery.[3]

In 1856[3] F.T. Cooper paid £2,350 for the remainder of a forty-year lease on Nos. 83 and 84 High Street,[4] which were opposite his earlier premises. He ran 84 as a grocery shop and his family home. In 1867 his son, Frank Cooper (1844–1927) inherited the business and expanded the shop into No. 83 next door.[4][5]

In 1874 Frank Cooper's wife Sarah-Jane (1848–1932), made 76 pounds (34 kg) of marmalade to her own recipe.[4] The marmalade proved popular, and until 1903 was made at 83–84 High Street.[6] Frank Cooper then moved production to a new purpose-built factory at 27 Park End Street.[6] He retained the High Street premises as a shop until 1919, when he sold it to Twinings.[4]

1920-1950; Park End Street factory edit

 
Cooper's former factory in Frideswide Square

The Park End Street factory was designed by Oxford architect Herbert Quinton and built by long-established local builder Thomas Henry Kingerlee.[6] The four-storey, 1,630 square feet (151 m2) factory had separate floors for cutting fruit and bottling the finished product, and the third floor included a separate cloakroom and staff dining room for employees.[6] Boiling the marmalade and jam was in a separate building at the back of the yard behind the main factory.[6] Quinton designed the premises in compliance with the Factory and Workshop Act 1901, and the difficulty of complying with the Act at 83–84 High Street may have prompted the building of the new factory.[6]

The factory was strategically sited close to the stations and goods yards of both the London and North Western Railway at Rewley Road and the Great Western Railway in Botley Road, making the delivery of fruit and sugar, distribution of marmalade and jam and business travel for company personnel, suppliers and trade customers as efficient as possible. Success of the business led to expansion of the factory in 1912, 1915, 1924 and 1925,[7] using land between the 1903 building and the corner of Hollybush Row.

Frank Cooper's marmalade was especially popular with dons and students in Oxford University.[2] It was taken to Antarctica on Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole.[2] A jar was found buried in the ice many years after the ill-fated expedition.[2]

In Arthur Ransome's children's book Missee Lee, Miss Lee, the leader of the Chinese pirates, had been educated at Cambridge University but learned to enjoy Cooper's Oxford Marmalade. As she says 'We always eat Oxford marmalade at Cambridge. Better scholars, better professors at Cambridge but better marmalade at Oxford.'[8]

1951 to present; Further moves and takeover edit

After the Second World War Frank Cooper's bought the site of the ice rink and Majestic Cinema west of the railway stations on the north side of Botley Road.[7] A new factory was built on the site and the company moved production there from Park End Street.

The company also manufactured mint sauce and horseradish sauce in a separate building at the side of the Bulstake stream. In the summer months, they replaced marmalade production with [9] fruit jams, such as strawberry. Both marmalade and jam could also be purchased in “fancy jars”, two sizes of china jars with matching lids, painted with designs such as “crinoline ladies”.

Brown & Polson Ltd. bought Frank Cooper's in 1964 and moved production away from Oxford in 1967,[7] but retained the "Oxford" name for the marmalade.[10]

Some time between 1984 and 1987[4][11] Frank Cooper's again leased 84 and 85 High Street, running 85 as a museum[12] and 84 as a shop until about 1990.[4] Since 2001, 84 High Street has been marked by an Oxfordshire Blue Plaque commemorating Sarah Cooper's inception of Oxford Marmalade.[11]

The former factory at 27 Park End Street (now part of Frideswide Square) survives and is a listed building.[6] It is now called "The Jam Factory" and houses an arts centre, restaurant, and bar.[13] "The Jam Factory" also houses Guardian Award-winning[citation needed] charity, "My Life My Choice" run by and for people with learning disabilities.[14]

Heinz purchased Frank Cooper's in 1997. It was later sold to Rank Hovis McDougall which was acquired by Premier Foods in 2006. The brand was again sold in 2012, this time to Hain Celestial Group.[10]

Literature and popular culture edit

Oxford marmalade was mentioned by John Betjeman (1906–1984) in his poetry.[15] It was also consumed by character James Bond in the 1964 spy film From Russia with Love.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Our Brands". Hain Daniels.
  2. ^ a b c d . English Tea Store. Online Stores Inc. 2004–2009. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Jenkins, Stephanie. "The High, Oxford: No 46". Oxford History. Oxfordhistory, Oxford. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Jenkins, Stephanie. "The High, Oxford: No 84". Oxford History. Oxfordhistory, Oxford. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Frank Cooper". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 7 March 2011. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Woolley, 2010, page 91
  7. ^ a b c Woolley, 2010, page 94
  8. ^ Ransome, Arthur (1941). Missee Lee. London: Puffin. p. 192. ISBN 0140304509.
  9. ^ soft
  10. ^ a b c Farrel, T (12 November 2016). "Appearling Frank Cooper's Marmalade". Let's Look Again. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Sarah-Jane Cooper (1848–1932)". Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  12. ^ "The High, Oxford: No 85". www.oxfordhistory.org.uk.
  13. ^ "The Jam Factory". Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  14. ^ . UK: My Life My Choice. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  15. ^ Delaney, Frank (1985). "Oxford". Betjeman Country. Paladin Books. Granada Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-586-08499-1.

Sources and further reading edit

External links edit

  • Premier Foods: Frank Cooper's

May 02, 2024
frank, cooper, brand, marmalades, jams, owned, hain, daniels, known, primarily, oxford, marmalade, holds, royal, warrant, brand, created, sarah, cooper, 1874, 2012, brand, hain, celestial, group, three, jars, productsownerhain, celestial, groupcountryunited, k. Frank Cooper s is a UK brand of marmalades and jams owned by Hain Daniels 1 Frank Cooper s is known primarily for its Oxford Marmalade and holds a Royal Warrant 2 The brand was created by Sarah Cooper in 1874 and as of 2012 is a brand of Hain Celestial Group Frank Cooper sThree jars of Frank Cooper s productsOwnerHain Celestial GroupCountryUnited KingdomIntroduced1874WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 History 1 1 1874 1919 early history 1 2 1920 1950 Park End Street factory 1 3 1951 to present Further moves and takeover 2 Literature and popular culture 3 References 4 Sources and further reading 5 External linksHistory edit1874 1919 early history edit Francis Thomas Cooper 1811 1862 was originally a hatter and hosier with a shop at 46 High Street Oxford 3 He then became an agent for Ridgeway s Tea and in about 1845 converted his shop into a grocery 3 In 1856 3 F T Cooper paid 2 350 for the remainder of a forty year lease on Nos 83 and 84 High Street 4 which were opposite his earlier premises He ran 84 as a grocery shop and his family home In 1867 his son Frank Cooper 1844 1927 inherited the business and expanded the shop into No 83 next door 4 5 In 1874 Frank Cooper s wife Sarah Jane 1848 1932 made 76 pounds 34 kg of marmalade to her own recipe 4 The marmalade proved popular and until 1903 was made at 83 84 High Street 6 Frank Cooper then moved production to a new purpose built factory at 27 Park End Street 6 He retained the High Street premises as a shop until 1919 when he sold it to Twinings 4 1920 1950 Park End Street factory edit nbsp Cooper s former factory in Frideswide Square The Park End Street factory was designed by Oxford architect Herbert Quinton and built by long established local builder Thomas Henry Kingerlee 6 The four storey 1 630 square feet 151 m2 factory had separate floors for cutting fruit and bottling the finished product and the third floor included a separate cloakroom and staff dining room for employees 6 Boiling the marmalade and jam was in a separate building at the back of the yard behind the main factory 6 Quinton designed the premises in compliance with the Factory and Workshop Act 1901 and the difficulty of complying with the Act at 83 84 High Street may have prompted the building of the new factory 6 The factory was strategically sited close to the stations and goods yards of both the London and North Western Railway at Rewley Road and the Great Western Railway in Botley Road making the delivery of fruit and sugar distribution of marmalade and jam and business travel for company personnel suppliers and trade customers as efficient as possible Success of the business led to expansion of the factory in 1912 1915 1924 and 1925 7 using land between the 1903 building and the corner of Hollybush Row Frank Cooper s marmalade was especially popular with dons and students in Oxford University 2 It was taken to Antarctica on Robert Falcon Scott s expedition to the South Pole 2 A jar was found buried in the ice many years after the ill fated expedition 2 In Arthur Ransome s children s book Missee Lee Miss Lee the leader of the Chinese pirates had been educated at Cambridge University but learned to enjoy Cooper s Oxford Marmalade As she says We always eat Oxford marmalade at Cambridge Better scholars better professors at Cambridge but better marmalade at Oxford 8 1951 to present Further moves and takeover edit After the Second World War Frank Cooper s bought the site of the ice rink and Majestic Cinema west of the railway stations on the north side of Botley Road 7 A new factory was built on the site and the company moved production there from Park End Street The company also manufactured mint sauce and horseradish sauce in a separate building at the side of the Bulstake stream In the summer months they replaced marmalade production with 9 fruit jams such as strawberry Both marmalade and jam could also be purchased in fancy jars two sizes of china jars with matching lids painted with designs such as crinoline ladies Brown amp Polson Ltd bought Frank Cooper s in 1964 and moved production away from Oxford in 1967 7 but retained the Oxford name for the marmalade 10 Some time between 1984 and 1987 4 11 Frank Cooper s again leased 84 and 85 High Street running 85 as a museum 12 and 84 as a shop until about 1990 4 Since 2001 84 High Street has been marked by an Oxfordshire Blue Plaque commemorating Sarah Cooper s inception of Oxford Marmalade 11 The former factory at 27 Park End Street now part of Frideswide Square survives and is a listed building 6 It is now called The Jam Factory and houses an arts centre restaurant and bar 13 The Jam Factory also houses Guardian Award winning citation needed charity My Life My Choice run by and for people with learning disabilities 14 Heinz purchased Frank Cooper s in 1997 It was later sold to Rank Hovis McDougall which was acquired by Premier Foods in 2006 The brand was again sold in 2012 this time to Hain Celestial Group 10 Literature and popular culture editOxford marmalade was mentioned by John Betjeman 1906 1984 in his poetry 15 It was also consumed by character James Bond in the 1964 spy film From Russia with Love 10 References edit Our Brands Hain Daniels a b c d Frank Cooper Marmalade amp Jam English Tea Store Online Stores Inc 2004 2009 Archived from the original on 30 December 2010 Retrieved 7 March 2011 a b c Jenkins Stephanie The High Oxford No 46 Oxford History Oxfordhistory Oxford Retrieved 11 October 2013 a b c d e f Jenkins Stephanie The High Oxford No 84 Oxford History Oxfordhistory Oxford Retrieved 11 October 2013 Frank Cooper Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press Retrieved 7 March 2011 subscription required a b c d e f g Woolley 2010 page 91 a b c Woolley 2010 page 94 Ransome Arthur 1941 Missee Lee London Puffin p 192 ISBN 0140304509 soft a b c Farrel T 12 November 2016 Appearling Frank Cooper s Marmalade Let s Look Again Retrieved 29 January 2024 a b Sarah Jane Cooper 1848 1932 Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board 15 September 2010 Retrieved 7 March 2011 The High Oxford No 85 www oxfordhistory org uk The Jam Factory Retrieved 16 January 2013 About My Life My Choice UK My Life My Choice Archived from the original on 26 February 2013 Retrieved 16 January 2013 Delaney Frank 1985 Oxford Betjeman Country Paladin Books Granada Publishing p 72 ISBN 978 0 586 08499 1 Sources and further reading editAllen Brigid 1989 Cooper s Oxford ISBN 0 9514658 0 5 Woolley Liz 2010 Industrial Architecture in Oxford 1870 to 1914 Oxoniensia LXXV Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society 91 94 ISSN 0308 5562 External links editPremier Foods Frank Cooper s Portal nbsp Food Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Cooper 27s amp oldid 1200356277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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