Family businesses

The Institute for Family Business has published research which reveals the 10 oldest family businesses in the UK.  Nine of these had been trading for over 200 years and the Financial Times highlights the oldest which is a butchers called R.J. Balson & Son that started trading in in 1535. Another article about it is available here.

The ten companies are:

• RJ Balson and Son (butchers)
• R Durtnell & Sons (construction)
• C Hoare & Co (private bank)
• Morning Foods (cereals)
• Aspall Cyder (juice & vinegar)
• Lock & Co (hat maker)
• Toye, Kenning & Spencer (military manufacturer)
• Folkes Group (real estate)
• Berry Bros & Rudd (wine merchant)
• Salts Healthcare (surgeons’ instrument manufacturer)