The History of Scott & Newman Limited
Scott and Newman Limited was established in 1919 trading Ware and Seed potatoes within Shropshire. In 1973 Ray Owen and family acquired the business and expanded the trading to all areas of the United Kingdom. As opportunities have arisen this has been further extended to the import and export of potatoes throughout Europe.
Tonnes of potatoes traded each year:
120,000 Processing
20,000 Fish & Chip Shops
20,000 Packing
10,000 Seed
Scott & Newman Company History
| 1919 | Established with partnership of Mr Scott & Mr Harry Newman at 4 Chester Street, Shrewsbury. |
| 1936 | Registered as a Limited Company trading at 31 Bellstone, Shrewsbury. |
| 1938 | Moved to Barker Street, Shrewsbury. |
| 1939 - 45 | Second Word War - Ministry of Food Licence granted for control and distribution of potatoes throughout Shropshire. |
| 1955 | Moved to Weeping Cross, Shrewsbury.
- Established seed export business at Limavady, Ireland. - Established ware trading branches at Rutland, London and Bristol. |
| 1973 | Ray Owen and family acquired the company.
- Trading offices in Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire incorporated. - Movement of potatoes in bulk pioneered. - Introduced fixed prices for potatoes. |
| 1976 | Imported first ever potatoes from India. |
| 1981 | Norfolk, Cornwall and Scottish trading offices established. |
| 1983 | Seed Potato Alliance formed and Estima rejuvenated. |
| 1985 | Syd Wright, Hereford purchased. |
| 1987 | Acquired 50% shares of Mosspak Ltd. |
| 1988 | Duchy Potato Growers Group formed. |
| 1989 | 5,500 tonnes cold storage and 6,000 tonnes ambient storage developed. |
| 1991 | Mosspak Ltd shares sold. |
| 1992 | Salopian Gold Potato Growers Association formed. |
| 1994 | 75th Anniversary celebrated. |
| 1995 | £1Million investment in production buildings at Weeping Cross. |
| 1996 | £2Million investment in washing and packing equipment. |
| 2004 | Ray Owen wins World Potato Congress, Potato Industry Award. |
| 2005 | Sold Weeping Cross site to Shrewsbury Council and land for new bypass
- Move to Longbow Trading Estate, Shrewsbury. |
| 2012 | Move to Sitka House, Shrewsbury Business Park. |
| 2019 | 100th Anniversary celebrated. |