History of Bickford's Australia

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 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 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, 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, 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 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. 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.) was sent to England in 1859 to gain qualifications and experience as a chemist, ==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. 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 (on the Leigh Street corner), In 1872 they built the South Australian Cordial Factory on the north side of Waymouth Street where, under Stephen Bickford (about whom little is known), a range of cordials was manufactured, principally lime juice cordial, raspberry vinegar and raspberry balm, but peppermint, cloves, lemon, sarsaparilla, orange bitters, stomach bitters, Canadian bitters and quinine wine were also produced. Production commenced in 1874, and Bickford's Australia labels continue to carry the Bickford's logo which states: "Since 1874". In 1876 the factory was expanded and became the South Australian Cordial and Aerated Water Factory with Mons. H. Foureur in charge 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 as far as Wentworth and then up the Darling to Wilcannia, a 3-month journey he executed twice per year "for some years". Alvington Around 1880, with business prospering and his family expanding, William built a substantial residence "Alvington" at New Glenelg (now Somerton Park) 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, 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 1976 the children were transferred to a new facility at Regency Park. The property was then sold and the building demolished. then as manager of A. M. Bickford & Sons' offices in Sydney then Brisbane, 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, 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 branch. They were in direct competition with Felton Grimwade & Co. of Melbourne and after a few years decided to amalgamate. 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. 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, a bond store and plant for manufacturing absolute alcohol. In 1920 its dental requisites branch was made a separate company Commonwealth Dental Supply Company Ltd. with headquarters in King William Street. 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 (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. 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. 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 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. 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==