A. M. Bickford and Sons was one of the first manufacturing chemists in
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
and until 1930 one of the State's most significant family owned companies. In 1930, they amalgamated with half a dozen other similar Australian companies to form "Drug Houses of Australia" (DHA), which very successfully continued to produce the "A. M. Bickford and Sons" products: the "drugs" and "chemicals" under the DHA brand; the cordials and soft drinks under the "A. M. Bickford and Sons" brand.
In the late 1960s, DHA became the target of a
corporate raid
In business, a corporate raid is the process of buying a large stake in a corporation and then using shareholder voting rights to require the company to undertake novel measures designed to increase the share value, generally in opposition to th ...
er and asset stripper, and by the mid-1970s DHA collapsed under the burden of servicing the imposed massive levels of debt. What was left was split up and sold. Reckitt & Colman acquired the major "drugs" and "chemicals" products and brands, and other people and companies acquired other bits. Melburnian Peter Abbott purchased the pharmacy products,
eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the leaf of ''Eucalyptus'', a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, anti ...
operations, and soft drink products. The pharmacy products were on-sold; the eucalyptus oil operations were incorporated into "FGB" (Felton Grimwade & Bickford), and the soft drink products continued under the revived "A. M. Bickford and Sons" brand. In the late 1980s, FGB decided to concentrate on their "core businesses" under the FGB brand, and sold the soft drink businesses and now established-for-over-a-century Bickford brand names – the history of the Bickford's products and company names between 1987 and 1999 is not clear.
In 1999 the soft drink business and company names were purchased by the Kotses family. "Bickford's" once again became a South Australian family owned business, and continues to be known for its range of cordials and flavourings which are made today to a similarly high standard by Bickford's Australia.
Foundation & establishment (1839–1864)
William Bickford (1815–1850)
William Bickford (18 August 1815 – 11 September 1850) was the seventh child (of fourteen) of a well-to-do couple of
West Alvington
West Alvington is a small village, located on the outskirts of Kingsbridge in South Devon on the A381 road. The appropriate electoral ward is called Westville and Alvington. Its population at the 2011 census was 2,042. It has a primary school an ...
of
Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...
, England, but when his father died the greater part of his fortune went to his eldest son by an earlier marriage, and his second family, though provided for, had to secure their own future. For the fifteen-year-old William, that meant taking an apprenticeship to Mr Buxton, a druggist.Scales, Marjorie ''An Alchemist's Dream'' pub. Ronald F. Bickford 1990
In September 1838, aged 23, the chemist's assistant left England from Plymouth, rounded the Cape of Good Hope in December,The letters of William Bickford to his relatives in England in the period 1838–1850, Archives of the State Library of South Australia. (Click on the "Archival items" tab for a list of the letters.) and arrived in Port Adelaide on 15 February 1839 on the barque Platina. Though he had dreams of becoming a shepherd in South Australia, soon after his arrival he was working as assistant in the dispensary attached to the North Terrace surgery of one Dr Bright at a salary of 40/- (£2) a week with board and lodging provided. On 18 August 1839, his 24th birthday, he married Ann Margaret Garrett, whom he had met on the trip from
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
.Adelaide's first chemist The Letters of William Bickford, ''The Register'', Saturday 13 June 1925, pg.7. Retrieved 30 January 2011 William was a diligent letter writer; a collection of his letters was found in a deed box in the 1920s, and they were placed in the archives of the State Library of South Australia. A two part article summarising their contents appeared in ''The Register'', part I on Saturday 13 June 1925, part II the following Saturday. They were soon expecting their first child, but it died shortly after birth on 6 June 1840, and Ann was seriously ill for some time. In March 1840, William wrote that Dr and Mrs Bright had left the colony for New Zealand, (leaving William to deal with his creditors), and that he had secured another position as manager of a retail shop and dispensary owned by a partnership of two surgeons at a salary of £3 per week.
Despite an economic downturn in the colony, his business thrived. He left the security of the dispensary and by September 1840 had opened his own shop in Hindley Street near Rosina Street with borrowed capital of £220. It, too, prospered, and soon he moved into larger premises at 67 Hindley Street opposite Club Lane.Mr Harding Bickford ''The Advertiser'' 31 March 1898 p.6 accessed 31 January 2011 Harding William Bickford (1877–1919) was the youngest son of Harry (1843–1927) ''The article reports on "A Valedictory Social" held for Mr Harding Bickford prior to his departure for England to "improve his knowledge of pharmacy". The gathering was presided over by Mr William Bickford (jr. – his uncle), who provided a summary of the history of the company, its key personnel, its locations and its business.'' As business flourished, the wholesale lines became the larger part of the firm's business.
In April 1841 he wrote "Business is going on prosperously, and I have a comfortable home at my own fire side and a good wife, who studies my interest in every respect". Ann was very supportive of her husband and was able to keep his shop running during any forced absence, jury duty for instance. Their first son, William, was born on 19 November 1841, followed by Harry in February 1843, and Elizabeth in November 1844. In December 1845 they lost a baby, (Eulalia), so William decided to move his family away from the unsanitary conditions of the city. He purchased 16 acres (6.4 ha) of land at
Glen Osmond
Glen Osmond is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Burnside which is in the foothills of the Adelaide Hills. It is well known for the road intersection on the western side of the suburb, where the South Eastern Freeway (National ...
, "just 3 miles from the
Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre (Kaurna: Tarndanya) is the inner city locality of Greater Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is known by locals simply as "the City" or "Town" to distinguish it from Greater Adelaide and from the City of Ad ...
", and in the winter of 1846 built a house, later to be called " Benacre", moving the family there before the onset of the next summer. He commuted daily to his business in the city. They lost another baby, (James), in 1848, but Edward was born in 1849.
William was concerned with the development of Adelaide. In 1847 he was one of the founders of the
South Australian Institute
The State Library of South Australia, or SLSA, formerly known as the Public Library of South Australia, located on North Terrace, Adelaide, is the official library of the Australian state of South Australia. It is the largest public research l ...
(another was business competitor Francis Faulding).
In February 1850, William wrote that he had established a garden and had planted fruit trees and vines. However, he did not live to enjoy the fruits, dying on 11 September 1850 at the age of 35 of "brain fever", after a 3-day illness, leaving his wife pregnant (with Mary) and with four young children, (William, Harry, Elizabeth and Edward) to care for.Adelaide's first chemist (part 2) The Letters of William Bickford, ''The Register'', Saturday 20 June 1925, pg.8. Retrieved 30 January 2011
Ann Margaret Bickford
Ann Margaret Bickford (née Garrett) (1810 – 24 January 1877) was determined to carry on her husband's business. With five children under the age of ten, she enrolled the help of a retired pharmacist Mr Paxton to 'hold the fort' until more permanent help could be found. She soon engaged qualified chemists Edwin Page and Robert Hutton, and "with their able assistance" carried on the business for 14 years. (Mr Hutton was to open a pharmacy of his own at 76 Rundle Street in 1863.) On 29 May 1865 the shop shifted yet again – to 19 Hindley Street, later the site of Tattersall's Hotel.
Early 1873 they opened a shop in Taylor Street, Kadina. It ceased being advertised in 1888.
Remarkably, her death was marked in the newspapers of the time with the most cursory of death notices and no more. Whatever funeral arrangements there might have been were not advertised. A vault at
West Terrace Cemetery
The West Terrace Cemetery is South Australia's oldest cemetery, first appearing on Colonel William Light's 1837 plan of Adelaide. The site is located in Park 23 of the Adelaide Park Lands just south-west of the Adelaide city centre, between ...
bears the names of both Ann and William Snr. A nearby stone commemorates Charlotte Jane Bickford.
Second generation
The second generation were:
*unnamed Bickford on 6 June 1840
*William Bickford (19 November 1841 – 20 September 1916)
*Harry Bickford (24 February 1843 – 6 September 1927
*Elizabeth "Bessie" Bickford on 29 November 1844 – England)
*Eulelia Bickford (8 November 1846 – 25 February 1847)
*James Bickford (19 February 1848 – 29 February 1848)
*Edward Bickford (30 May 1849 – 7 January 1907,
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York, United States)
*Mary Bickford (25 April 1851 – 12 December 1882 Bournemouth, England)
The children's education did not suffer. They were already studying at the
Adelaide Educational Institution
Adelaide Educational Institution was a privately run non-sectarian academy for boys in Adelaide founded in 1852 by John Lorenzo Young.B. K. Hyams'Young, John Lorenzo (1826–1881)' ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 6, Melbourne Univ ...
, an academy run by J. L. Young in Freeman Street, and continued there for some years. Harry (or Henry as he was then called), was thriving there in 1853. Both he and Edward were mentioned at the prizegiving in 1855 Harry kept a close association with his ''alma mater'', being president of the Adelaide Educational Institution Old Scholars in 1866.
Although not as academically inclined, William must have made his mark as he was prominent in the Institution's 1863 welcome to "old scholars" W. P. Auld, James Frew and Stephen King, returning members of the
Stuart's sixth expedition
John McDouall Stuart (7 September 18155 June 1866), often referred to as simply "McDouall Stuart", was a Scottish explorer and one of the most accomplished of all Australia's inland explorers.
Stuart led the first successful expedition to tra ...
which had successfully crossed Australia from south to north.
William Bickford (1841–1916)
Older son William Bickford (jr.) (19 November 1841 – 20 September 1916), being less academically inclined than Harry, gained experience travelling and picking up a variety of jobs.
In 1871 he married Margaret Jane Ferguson.Daughter of
William Ferguson William Ferguson may refer to:
Arts
* William Ferguson (tenor), operatic tenor, see '' The Tempest''
* William Gouw Ferguson, Scottish painter of still life
* Will Ferguson (born 1964), Canadian writer
Sportspeople
* Bill Ferguson (American foo ...
(1809–1892) and Rosina (née Forsyth) (1810–1893) They had seven children:
:*William Ferguson Bickford "Willie" (30 November 1871 – 22 June 1889) died aged 17 in riding accident
:*Sidney Bickford (10 August 1874 – 10 December 1938) moved to Perth in 1895.
:*Harold Bickford (16 May 1876 – 23 October 1958) Managing director A. M. Bickford & Sons Ltd 1908–1930? He married Tessie Veronica Murphy in 1916; they had one child, Ronald Ferguson Bickford (1918–2011); he divorced her in 1922 citing four co-respondents, including Napier K. Birks (1876–1953) of the prominent Birks family.
:*Evelyn Victoria Bickford (later Mrs Robert Ezekiel Reid of Geelong) (b.7 June 1878)
:*Reginald Bickford (26 January 1880 – 20 November 1948) m. Rosa Florence Cudmore (30 September 1879 – 22 July 1954) on 17 November 1910
:*Norman Forsyth Bickford (1881 – )
:*Leslie Bruce Bickford (b.30 December 1885 at Alvington) m. Dorothy Murray
Their first home was "Fairfield" in Somerton, followed by "Alvington" near the Brighton Esplanade (see chapter below). Both William and Harry sent their sons to St. Peter's College, a tradition that was largely continued in following generations.
He was made Justice of the Peace in 1886 and elected president of the Justices' Association from 1903 to 1904. He was elected to Brighton council and Mayor of Brighton 1886–1887 and 1890–1891. He was president of the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce from 1894 to 1895.
He and brother Harry bought Burnside Station near Naracoorte in 1886, and though neither ever lived there, they installed a manager and visited frequently. The fine
merino
The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the bree ...
wool produced there always found a ready buyer. By the turn of the century they had decided to free themselves of the responsibility, so after the South Australian Government showed no interest at their price of £49,540, subdivided the 40,978 acres into 28 lots and put them up for auction on 23 October 1908.
Harry Bickford (1843–1927)
Her son Harry Bickford (24 February 1843 – 6 September 1927) (He may have been christened "Henry".) was sent to England in 1859Obituary The Register 7 September 1927 p8 to gain qualifications and experience as a chemist, and returned in 1863.
He took little interest in civic affairs, but was a keen horseman and was Master of the Adelaide Hounds from 1882 and a committeeman with the
South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia.
First racing events
The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, ridin ...
from 1889. He was a crack shot, and won significant trophies for pigeon shooting.
When the company was floated on the Stock Exchange in January 1903, he was elected first managing director, relinquishing the position to his nephew Harold in 1906.
He was married three times: on 24 February 1866 to Charlotte Jane Farr (c. 1842 – 4 September 1866). They had no children. He married again, on 10 March 1870 to Rosina Mary Ferguson (1845 – 5 October 1898). They had three children:
:*(Isabella) May Bickford (12 April 1872 – 28 July 1933) (never married)
:*H(arry) Fairweather "H.F." Bickford (1874 – 8 July 1906) married May Innes-Ker (1876 – 22 August 1906) on 18 March 1903. They had no children.
:*Harding William Bickford (14 January 1877 – 5 August 1919) (never married)
On 8 December 1904 he married Priscilla Simms (née Chambers) (c. 1852 – 17 November 1924) They had no children. Priscilla was a daughter of John Chambers (1814–1889).
The two brothers were also major investors in the "Paramatta" copper mine at Moonta in the late 1890s.
A. M. Bickford & Sons (1864–1930)
Bickford & Son (1864–1871)
In 1863, Harry, now qualified, returned from England and began working for her. On his 21st birthday, she formally took him into partnership with her as 'Bickford and Son'. She drew up a deed, dated 23 February 1864, for a seven-year agreement whereby she held a two-thirds interest, and Harry a one-third interest.
A. M. Bickford & Sons (1871–1903)
William was not ready to be tied down, and travelled about the State in a multitude of occupations. Seven years later, he was ready to join the business and a new Deed of Trust was drawn up in 1871 for the new partnership 'A.M. Bickford and Sons'.A. M. Bickford & Sons (1863–1930) Encyclopaedia of Australian Science, www.eoas.info www.bickfords.netBickford's SA Memory, State Library of South AustraliaWm. Bickford, Chemist Australian Postal History William took the role of manager and promoter of the business.
Expansion and move into wholesale
With the continued expansion of the wholesale and manufacturing side of the business, the retail arm was sold around 1870, and substantial offices and warehouse were built at 42–46
Currie Street
Currie Street is a main street in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.Map of the
aerated drinks. Mons. Foureur had previously run a similar factory in Glenelg but like the equipment over which he presided, was of French origin.
With the mother's death in 1877, the two sons continued and expanded the business. William maintained personal contact with important and potential clients statewide, and along the
Murray
Murray may refer to:
Businesses
* Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles
* Murrays, an Australian bus company
* Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust
* D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian who ...
as far as
Wentworth Wentworth may refer to:
People
* Wentworth (surname)
* Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth (1873–1957), Lady Wentworth, notable Arabian horse breeder
* S. Wentworth Horton (1885–1960), New York state senator
* Wentworth Miller (born 1 ...
Wilcannia
Wilcannia is a small town located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales, Australia. Located on the Darling River, the town was the third largest inland port in the country during the river boat era of the mid-19th ce ...
, a 3-month journey he executed twice per year "for some years". Harry was in control at Hindley Street. He served as the first President of the Pharmaceutical Association of S.A. and was known as a sportsman, being Master of the Adelaide Hunt Club for many years.
Alvington
Around 1880, with business prospering and his family expanding, William built a substantial residence "Alvington" at New Glenelg (now
Somerton Park
Somerton Park was a football, greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Newport, South Wales.
Football
In April 1912 Newport County had been accepted to play in the Southern League for the 1912–13 season. Shortly afterwards, the site ...
) on a property with a beach frontage of 160' and depth of 360' (49m x 110m) at the corner of The Esplanade and Madge Terrace (now Bickford Terrace). It was named after
West Alvington
West Alvington is a small village, located on the outskirts of Kingsbridge in South Devon on the A381 road. The appropriate electoral ward is called Westville and Alvington. Its population at the 2011 census was 2,042. It has a primary school an ...
, the home village of his grandparents, and the location to which his sister Elizabeth had "migrated". William Bickford did not live long to enjoy its grandeur, and on his death in 1918 left his widow Margaret and son Harold with a substantial overdraft. They were able to maintain a gracious lifestyle however, retaining a coachman and other servants.
In the period 1938–1976, Alvington became "Somerton Home" of the Crippled Children's Association, an organisation created to support children with poliomyelitis. In 1976 the children were transferred to a new facility at Regency Park. The property was then sold and the building demolished.
Third generation
Sidney Bickford (10 August 1874 – 10 December 1938), second son of William (jr.), opened the
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...
branch.
Harold Bickford (1876–1958) succeeded his father William (jr.) as managing director.
Harding William Bickford (14 January 1877 – 5 August 1919), youngest son of Harry, was in his youth a prominent cyclist. After a few years' work in the company laboratories he left for London in 1898 to gain qualifications as a pharmacist, and on return to Adelaide in 1903, was employed as assistant lecturer at the University of Adelaide. then as manager of A. M. Bickford & Sons' offices in Sydney then
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
, where he died of pneumonia.
Reginald Bickford (26 January 1880 – 20 November 1948) a younger son of William (jr.), was in charge of the Cordial and Aerated Waters factory for many years, succeeding one Stephen Bickford, about whom little is known but was not of the immediate family.
Leslie Bruce Bickford (born 30 December 1885), youngest son of William (jr.) became manager of the Surgical and Veterinary Department.
Felton Grimwade & Bickford Ltd. (1902–1930)
In 1895 the partnership decided to expand west, and sent Sidney Bickford and Robert McClure, an experienced hand from the Adelaide firm to set up a
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...
branch. They were in direct competition with Felton Grimwade & Co. of
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
and after a few years decided to amalgamate.
In 1902, Felton Grimwade & Bickford Ltd. was founded in Western Australia. It was a joint venture between Felton Grimwade & Co, Melbourne and A.M. Bickford & Sons, Adelaide,History , Felton Grimwade & Bickford Ltd, www.fgb.com.au with Robert McClure their first managing director. Sidney Bickford married a Perth girl and settled down, breaking most ties with the Adelaide firm and family.
A. M. Bickford & Sons Ltd (1903–1930)
In 1903 the firm became a limited liability company A. M. Bickford & Sons Ltd.A Story of Enterprise ''The Advertiser'' 28 April 1923 p.18 accessed 31 January 2011
In 1914 the manufacturing laboratory was transferred to Waymouth Street alongside the cordial factory. Facilities installed included a large (6'6" or 1.9m diameter)
autoclave
An autoclave is a machine used to carry out industrial and scientific processes requiring elevated temperature and pressure in relation to ambient pressure and/or temperature. Autoclaves are used before surgical procedures to perform sterilizati ...
, a
bond store
Bond or bonds may refer to:
Common meanings
* Bond (finance), a type of debt security
* Bail bond, a commercial third-party guarantor of surety bonds in the United States
* Chemical bond, the attraction of atoms, ions or molecules to form chemica ...
and plant for manufacturing
absolute alcohol
Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl group linked to a ...
.
In 1920 its dental requisites branch was made a separate company Commonwealth Dental Supply Company Ltd. with headquarters in King William Street.
Products
In 1874, following the foundation of the South Australian Cordial and Aerated Water Factory and laboratories on
Waymouth Street
Waymouth Street, often spelt as Weymouth Street in the early days, is an east–west street running between King William Street and West Terrace in the Adelaide city centre in South Australia. The street is named after Henry Waymouth, a foundi ...
, the company began producing premium cordials and aerated drinks. Before long these quality products, including the now famous Bickford's
Lime Cordial
Lime cordial is a non-alcoholic drink, made by mixing concentrated lime juice and sugar with water.http://www.drinkalizer.com/definitions/lime-cordial.php retrieved on December 31, 2007 Lime cordial is sometimes used as a mixer for cocktail, alt ...
, gained international award recognition for their superiority.
"Maltox" was a " tonic" based on
port wine
Port wine (also known as vinho do Porto, , or simply port) is a Portuguese wine, Portuguese fortified wine produced in the Douro, Douro Valley of Norte, Portugal, northern Portugal. It is typically a sweetness of wine, sweet red wine, often ...
with
barley malt
Malt is germinated cereal grain that has been dried in a process known as "malting". The grain is made to germinate by soaking in water and is then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air.
Malted grain is used to make beer, whi ...
and beef extract added. Like its competitor Sedna it was susceptible to abuse for its alcohol content, and sales from chemist's shops and other unlicensed premises were subject to police " sting operations".
In 1920, Bickford's commenced production of branded Coffee and Chicory Essence, (later renamed Bickford's Iced Coffee Mix), winning the gold medal at the All-Australian Exhibition in 1930. These and other products are still made to the same original recipes today.
In 1922 Bickford's "Sal Vital", an effervescent "health salt" powder which ''"contains all the elements that tend to cool and purify the blood, and makes as well, a refreshing and cooling beverage"'', first went on sale.
Drug Houses of Australia (1930–1974)
In 1930, a holding company
Drug Houses of Australia
Drug Houses of Australia (DHA) was originally established in 1936Bickford's SA Memory, State Library of Sout ...
(DHA) was formed with a capital of £5,000,000 which combined Bickford's with a number of similar Australian companies representing all states except Tasmania. No shares were offered to the public.Drug Houses of Australia Ltd (DHA) (1930–1974) Encyclopaedia of Australian Science, www.eoas.infoInterpretation of Will 8 September 1934, The Advertiser, pg.23
Pursuant to the amalgamation agreements, A.M. Bickford & Son Ltd shareholders received 4.6572 £1 Drug Houses of Australia Ltd shares for each £1 A.M. Bickford & Son Ltd share.
In 1956 D.H.A. (SA) Ltd. moved to new premises at 599 Port Road, West Croydon.
In 1961 Drug Houses of Australia's net profit after tax exceeded a million pounds.
In 1968, DHA was taken over by the corporate raider, asset stripper and now-defunct British bank
Slater Walker Slater Walker was a British industrial conglomerate turned bank that got into financial difficulties in the 1970s. It specialised in corporate raids. Its fall shook the British banking system at the time, and it had to be bailed out by the Bank of ...
. The remnant struggled on until 1974, at which point it was decided to break the company up and sell it. The major products including Dexcal, Sal Vital and Sapoderm were sold to Reckitt & Colman.
Peter Abbott purchased DHA Manufacturing Pty Ltd, which included the eucalyptus oil operations, the business name Drug Houses of Australia, as well as other business and trade names and products including Bickford's Lime Juice Cordial and Bickford's Coffee Essence. An office and warehouse was set up at 17 Capella Crescent, Moorabbin. The name Drug Houses of Australia and some of the pharmacy only products were on-sold to Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) NSW. Currently, DHA is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and is located in Singapore.
Felton Grimwade & Bickford Pty. Ltd. (1975–1987)
In 1975 the name DHA Manufacturing Pty. Ltd. was changed to Felton Grimwade & Bickford Pty. Ltd. (FGB), one of the business names that had been taken over.
In 1987 FGB sold Bickford's Lime Juice Cordial and Coffee Essence, together with the business name A.M. Bickford & Sons. (It is not clear to whom they sold them.) FGB continue in business pursuing their other interests and using the FGB brandname, however the company name now appears to be Felton Grimwade & Bosisto's Pty Ltd.
1987–1999 – A. M. Bickford & Sons again ...
It is remarkably difficult to find anything definitive about this period, particularly the period 1987–1991, and it is not clear why.
At some time, (most likely 1987, but supporting evidence is yet to be located), the Lloyd Family (of Lloyd Helicopters / Lloyd Aviation /
Pearl Aviation
Pearl Aviation is an Australian aviation company that operates charter (some in support of the mining industry) and medical evacuation flights, as well as navigational aid flight inspection services, flight centres and ground handling. It is pa ...
fame) purchased various companies and brands, etc., which allowed them to manufacture and sell soft drinks in general, and Bickford's Lime Cordial in particular, from somewhere in the Adelaide Hills. But to date, and somewhat peculiarly, no supporting evidence has been located.
According to the Bickford's Australia website, Angelo Kotses became involved with the Lloyds some time in the early 1990s.
In 1991 the company extended the premium cordial range to include blackcurrant syrup and other new flavours, and throughout the 1990s further expanded the range with "old style sodas", fruit juice flavoured mineral water, bottled water and other products.
1999– Kotses family: A. M. Bickford & Sons / Bickford's Australia
In 1999, the Kotses family bought the company.
In the early 2000s iced teas and milkshake mixes were added to the range of products.
In 2005, the cordial and soft drink related parts of the company, now called "Bickford's Australia", moved into "a new state of the art manufacturing facility" in
Salisbury, South Australia
Salisbury is a northern suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the seat of the City of Salisbury, and in the South Australian Legislative Assembly electoral district of Ramsay and the Australian House of Representatives division of Spence. ...
.Company Timeline , www.bickfords.net Since the move to the new manufacturing plant in 2005 the range of products has expanded considerably.
In 2006, Bickfords lime juice cordial was recognised by the National Trust of South Australia as a Heritage Icon. Into the second decade of the 21st century, the range of products continues to expand, along with the Bickford's Group which also includes Vok, Wheel & Barrow, and Karma Living.
In February 2014, Bickford's announced plans for a new distillery in the South Australian Riverland. The article states, (amongst other things), that the "key to Bickford's success has been buying unloved brands and working out ways to rebuild them".
See also
*
South Australian food and drink
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...