It started from humble beginnings in our city
The Royal Liver Building on the Liverpool waterfront(Image: Photo by Colin Lane)
Liverpool’s world-famous Liver Building this week changed hands for only the second time in its 114 year history. Having been sold by Royal London in 2017 to Corestate Capital, on Monday it was announced it had been sold again, this time to Princes.
But who is the food and drink manufacturer, which has gone from humble beginning in Liverpool to a global brand? Today, Princes is known for selling supermarket staples like tinned fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and ready meals, ,ut the business has long been feeding families across the UK and beyond since 1880.
First established in the city as a fish importing business 145 years ago, Princes was originally known as Simpson & Roberts & Co, founded by William Muirhead Simpson and Frank Roberts. An importer of canned food into the then thriving docks, the company started life trading solely in canned fish.
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In 1915, it was also the world’s largest exporters of lobsters and a few years later, Simpson & Roberts & Co had become a private company. At the start of the 20th century, the business adopted the name Princes – and the iconic brand has been seen in kitchens across Merseyside and beyond ever since.
Originally, the trade was concerned with the import and distribution of canned foods from Canada and the United States. But Princes began moving into manufacturing shortly after the end of the Second World War opening its first factory for canned goods in 1946.
An artists painting of how Liverpool looked in 1880, when Princes was founded(Image: Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
From there, it started producing many of the fish, meat and fruit canned foods you can still see in supermarkets today. In 1962, the company changed its name to Princes Foods and in 1965, became a public company.
In the late 1960s, J. Bibby and Sons acquired Princes Foods and by 1989, it was acquired by Mitsubishi Corporation – but many have not forgotten its roots and the humble beginnings of the once family-owned business.
Today, Princes is owned by Italian agro-food group Newlat Food S.p.A, one of Europe’s leading grocery suppliers. There are more than 350 food products available under the Princes brand, including fruit juices, canned vegetables and canned tuna and the company employs 7,000 people around the world.
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But yesterday, Princes embarked on another huge chapter in its 145-year history. The food and drink manufacturer, which is still headquartered in Liverpool, purchased the city’s iconic Royal Liver Building as part of an investment deal worth £60m.
Previously, the landmark building was jointly owned by former Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri after being acquired by international property group Corestate in 2017 for £48m. Weeks after the 2017 deal went through, the Liverpool ECHO revealed Mr Moshiri was Corestate’s partner in the deal.
The grade I-listed building is currently the corporate headquarters of Everton FC in addition to other leading companies including HSBC, ITV, Grant Thornton and Princes themselves. Princes plans to expand its presence within the Liver Building, using it not only as a corporate headquarters but also as a multi-purpose venue for events, collaboration and public engagement.
Princes has confirmed all operations and tenant arrangements at the Liver Building – where it has been a tenant since 1982 and has over 400 employees based – will remain unchanged with colleagues and partners assured of no immediate modifications to the site.
In a statement the company said: “This significant milestone ‘underscores Princes’ commitment to its Liverpool roots, ensuring a bold and confident step in its long-term growth plan.’ Simon Harrison, CEO of Princes, said: “Liverpool is an integral part of our heritage and future. Securing the Royal Liver Building reflects our commitment to this great city, our people, and sustainable success.
“The Royal Liver Building is an enduring symbol of Liverpool, and it’s an honour for Princes to call it our home.” Joe Dent, chief people officer at Princes, added: “With the purchase of the Royal Liver Building, we are investing in the future of our teams in a place that they take great pride in.
“Being headquartered in such an iconic location will continue to inspire our colleagues and cement our deep and meaningful connection to Liverpool.”