Wright's Biscuits

File:Women at Work - Wrights Biscuits.jpg

File:Packing Wrights Biscuits.jpg and Hamburg c.1940s]]

Wright's Biscuits was established in 1790 at Holborn in South Shields to produce ship's biscuits.

After a fire in 1898, completely new buildings were created at Tyne Dock. In 1933, Willie Webster became a director of the company with Frederick Cross, and the business name changed from L Wright & Son to Wright's Biscuits Ltd.{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/wrights-biscuits-factory-dozen-delicious-8805378|title=Wright's Biscuits factory in a dozen delicious archive photos from South Shields|newspaper=Chronicle Live|date=10 March 2015}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Liimm9nkRgC&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22|title=The Directory of Directors|periodical=The Directory of Directors|date=1938|volume=59|page=399}} It became a public company in 1936. At the first AGM, the company was described as "commenced from nothing only four years ago".{{cite news |title=Wright's Biscuits; Prospectus Estimates Exceeded |date=31 August 1937 |page=17 |newspaper=The Times}} During this period Wright's installed modern ovens and equipment to produce biscuits on an industrial scale.{{cite periodical|title=Wright's Biscuits|periodical=Far East Trade and Engineering|date=1949|volume=4|page=637}}{{cite book|title=Patents for inventions 660001 - 6800000|pages=163–165}}

The Second World War saw day and night production for the Army. Around 300 employees, mostly women, worked shifts around the clock.{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Bell|url=http://www.shieldsgazette.com/community/cookson-country/ships_biscuits_were_a_bit_of_all_wright_1_2985936 |title=Ships' biscuits were a bit of all Wright – Cookson Country |work=Shields Gazette|access-date=2011-07-07}} After the war, in 1946, Wright's purchased the Golden Crunch Biscuit Company and Medibix from the Edinburgh-based R. Middlemas & Son, in which Wright's purchased a large shareholding three years later in 1949.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtxnIMdV_zgC&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+Middlemass|title=Wright's Biscuits|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1949|page=106}}

In 1958, Wright's raised more capital by issuing new preference shares and purchased the 180 grocery store chain of James Duckworth.{{cite periodical|title=New Preference Shares Issued|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1958|volume=199|page=826}} James Duckworth had opened its first store in 1868, and had a warehouse and offices in Oldham.{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/fashion-news/retail-giant-who-grew-from-a-pound-1052528|title=Retail giant who grew from a pound of tea|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|date=13 August 2007}} This was followed up in 1959 by purchasing the Portsmouth-based chain of 49 grocery stores of W Pink & Sons.{{cite periodical|title=Excellent Year for Wright's Biscuits|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1959|volume=206|page=132}}{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F188956&ved=2ahUKEwjIx8Lc486EAxUcZ0EAHWsdDQMQFnoECDkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3ck3zBiRx9cRvwJlHWPNvc|title=W Pink & Sons Ltd, grocers - National Archive Discovery|website=National Archives|access-date=28 February 2024}} Pinks were one of the claimants to the origins of HP Sauce.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HY9qTwXDhlsC&dq=%22W+Pink+%26+Sons%22&pg=PA127|title=HP Sauce My Ancestors' Legacy|author=Nigel Britton|date=July 2013 |page=127|publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-4817-9704-7 }}

In 1960, Wrights purchased the remaining shares in R. Middlemass & Co, while growing the retail business with the purchases of the Leeds-based grocery chain Gallon, which had 184 branches, and Thomas & Evans, the 88-store South Wales based grocery business of the Beecham Group.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YNuPWUAKoQ0C&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+Middlemass|title=Wright's Biscuits|periodical=The Statist|date=1960|volume=170|page=398}}{{cite periodical|title=Wright's Biscuits' Retail Interests|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1960|volume=210|page=60}} A year later they purchased the Leeds-based grocery business of S. Driver and completed a 24 store exchange deal with rival brand Melias, gaining stores in the Hull area for those in North Wales owned by Gallon.{{cite periodical|title=Wright's Biscuits Profits rise|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1962|volume=214|page=146}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tJHvFtIqQAMC&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+supermarket|title=Gallons & Melias|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1961|page=66}} During Webster's Christmas address, he expressed his worries about the state of the grocery trade,

{{Blockquote|The food trade has never been more competitive than it is today. Many goods are sold to the housewife at prices which do not cover handling and distribution costs, and in my opinion profit margins are at a dangerously low level{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tJHvFtIqQAMC&q=%22w.+p.+webster%22+wright%27s+biscuits|title=Wright's Biscuits Ltd|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1961|page=714}}}}

In 1962 J Lyons took control of the Wright's Cakes factory in Birkenhead with Wright's Biscuits considering national van sales of cakes to no longer be sufficiently profitable.{{cite news |title=Wright's Biscuits Deal With J. Lyons |date=30 August 1962 |page=14 |newspaper=The Times}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hh0nAAAAMAAJ&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22|title=Lyons buys Wright's factory|periodical=Food, Processing, Packaging, Marketing|date=1962|volume=31|page=395}} In the same year Wright's Biscuits bought Kemp Biscuits from Scribbans-Kemp, while adding the grocery business of W Morton & Sons.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=flkjAQAAIAAJ&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+Middlemass|title=Wright's Biscuits Ltd|periodical=Who Owns Who|date=1972|page=619}} Kemps, who factory was based at Great Coates, had previously been looked at by both Cavenham Foods and Lyons.{{cite news |title=Biscuit Firm's Turnover Up; Big Improvement By Subsidiary |date=19 November 1965 |page=19 |newspaper=The Times}}{{cite periodical|title=Wright's Biscuits Record Year|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1962|volume=218|page=145}}{{cite book|url=|title=A Fell Fine Baker. The Story of United Biscuits : a Jubilee Account of the Men and the Companies who Pioneered One of Britain's Most Celebrated Industries|author=James S. Adam|date=1974|isbn=9780091264406|page=114|publisher=Privately published by Hutchinson }} In 1963 the company announced record year in both turnover and profits.{{cite periodical|title=Wright's Biscuits. Plain or Sweet?|newspaper=The Economist|date=1963|volume=209|page=177}} By 1965, Wright's grocery business had over 750 branches, which 140 had been converted to self-service and 11 supermarkets.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pgatRm3OIqgC&q=%22moores+stores%22+supermarket|title=Investors' Reference Guide to Leading British Industrial Companies|publisher=A. Thomas|date=1965|page=298}} However by 1966, the growth of Wright's Biscuits and its sister firm Moores was hampered due to the losses incurred at Kemp Biscuits Ltd.{{cite news |title=Wright's biscuits growth checked by Kemp losses |date=16 September 1966 |page=17 |newspaper= The Times}}{{cite news|title=Wright's Biscuit shares should be worth watching over the next two weeks or so|newspaper=The Guardian|date=29 March 1965}}{{cite journal|title=Wright's Biscuits|journal=The Statist|date=1966|volume=190|page=1126}} In 1969, Webster set up the William Webster Welfare Fund, for the relief of poor incapacitated or necessitous employees or former employees of Wright's Biscuits Limited.{{cite web|url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/259610/governing-document|title=The William Webster Welfare Fund|website=Charity Commission For England And Wales|access-date=25 February 2024}} Wright's financial performance struggled in 1969, with the company planning to close more of its loss making stores and replace them with supermarkets as part of its turn around plan. As part of its plan, the company sold the former Middlemass factory in Edinburgh.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9z8cAQAAMAAJ&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+supermarket|title=Wright's Biscuits Crumble|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Stock Exchange Gazette|date=1970|volume=14|page=47}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ztYgAQAAMAAJ&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+new+stores|title=Wright's Biscuits|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Stock Exchange Gazette|date=1970|volume=14|page=450}} The turn around plan included opening supermarkets under the company's various brands including Peglers Stores and James Duckworth.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l5RHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+supermarket|title=High Road Kilburn Transactions|periodical=The Estate Gazette|date=1969|volume=212|page=109}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k5RHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22james+duckworth%22+supermarket|title=New Service Parade Feniscowles nr Blackburn|periodical=The Estates Gazette|date=1968|volume=206|page=551}}

On 22 September 1971, it was announced that Cavenham Foods had purchased Willie Webster and his wife's 41% shareholding in Wright's Biscuits, which owned a 42% shareholding in Moores Stores. This, together with the Wright's own personal shares in Moores gave Cavenham 47% of the stock. Wright's and Webster's shares in Moores were "A" shares which had double voting power.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0j8cAQAAMAAJ&q=%22william+webster%22+%22moores+stores%22|title=Cavenham Foods|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Stock Exchange Gazette|volume=17|date=1971|page=1242}} The price of 36p a share valued the shareholdings at £6.5 million, which was less than the market value; however Wright's and Moores had both struggled. Wright's Biscuits had predicted losses of £500,000, while Moores Stores had seen profits tumble from over £1 million to £560,000 since 1968. Three of Wright's independent directors stated that the company lacked the financial resources to make it viable economically again, while Cavenham believed it would cost £2 million to reorganise Wright's and Moores.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7z8cAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+reorganisation|title=Cavenham Foods|periodical=Investors Chronicle|date=1971|volume=17-18|page=1129}} Goldsmith offered 45p a share to the rest of the remaining stock owners in both companies, however this was below the market price of 82p. Moores Stores operated around 685 grocery stores under both their own name and those of subsidiaries like Hay & Co,{{cite news|title=Big-league bid by Cavenham|newspaper=The Scotsman|date=22 September 1971}}{{cite magazine|title=Goldsmith is Unstoppable|magazine=Food & Drink Weekly|date=1 October 1971}}{{cite magazine|title=Who will laugh kast?|magazine=Investors Guardian|date=1 October 1971}} while in addition to its biscuit manufacturing, Wright's operated a further 488 grocery stores under brands like Gowers & Burgon in Sheffield. However Cavenham's bid was met with hostility from shareholders, led by Liverpool accountant John C. Malthouse, as the company's assets were worth at least 110p a share compared to Cavenham's 45p offer.{{cite news|title=Cavenham offer for Wright's Biscuits Opposed|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=2 October 1971}}{{cite news|title=Rebels rally to fight Cavenham's twin takeover bid|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=7 October 1971}} By November Wright's had announced losses of £1.23 million, far greater than previously predicted, but Cavenham did not withdraw its interest{{clarify|date=February 2024}}, and in December they formally released{{clarify|date=February 2024}} their offer to the shareholders, offering ordinary shares in Cavenham.{{cite news|title=Big loss but Cavenham's bid stays firm|newspaper=Nottingham Guardian|date=17 November 1971}}{{cite news|title=Cavenham in mystery 12.5m deal|newspaper=The Times|date=22 December 1971}} Cavenham completed the purchase of the remaining shares against hostile shareholders at a total cost of £10 million in shares.{{cite book|title=Billionaire. The Life & Times of Sir James Goldsmith|author=Fallon. I|page=228|isbn=0-09-174380-X|date=1991|publisher=Hutchinson }}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5DUUAQAAMAAJ&q=wright%27s+biscuit+Cavenham|title=Cavenham Ltd|periodical=Retail Trade Developments in Great Britain, 1976-1977|isbn=9780716103066|date=1976|page=222}}

In 1972, United Biscuits took over Wright's Biscuits, its subsidiary Kemp Biscuits, along with fellow biscuit manufacturer Carr's of Carlisle from the Cavenham Foods, who retained the grocery business.{{cite news |title=Mr Goldsmith takes Paris by storm; Mr Jimmy Goldsmith's Cavenham group is buying its way into a major French combine. Maurice Corina, Industrial Editor, describes a meteoric career |date=14 April 1972 |page=19 |newspaper=The Times}}{{citation | last1=Massey | first1=Doreen B. | year=1982 | title=The anatomy of job loss: the how, why, and where of employment decline | last2=Meegan | first2=Richard A. | publisher=Taylor & Francis | isbn=978-0-416-32360-3 | page=80 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V9AOAAAAQAAJ}} In October 1972, Wright's Biscuits was put into administration with the South Shields factory finally closing in 1973. The former Kemp Biscuits factory at Great Coates was retained by United Biscuits, finally closing in 1995.{{cite news |title=Wright's Biscuits Limited |date=17 October 1972 |page=21 |newspaper=The Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/united-biscuits-blames-lost-jobs-on-snacks-war-1567708.html|title=United Biscuits blames lost jobs on snacks war|date=12 January 1995|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|access-date=24 August 2014}}

File:Wrights Biscuit Packing.jpg

Children's illustrator Mabel Lucie Attwell was employed by William Webster in the 1930s to create the Wright's logo, a curly-haired boy called Mischief. There was a Mischief Club for children, with members getting a collectable badge.{{cite web|url=https://blog.twmuseums.org.uk/christmas-in-february/|title=Christmas in February|website=Tyne & Wear Museums|date=5 February 2013}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Moores Stores

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| foundation = 1907 (public company in 1935)

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| defunct = 1971

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| key_people = William Webster
James Goldsmith

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Moores Stores was started as a single grocery store by William Moore in 1907.{{cite book|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/33343/1/A69.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwju_8KOtMaEAxVtVkEAHa3BDIEQFnoECCQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DtSupKsdJhlTxMW4KesxM|title=A study of the evolution of concentration in the food distribution industry for the United Kingdom|author=Commission for the European Communities|date=1977}} In 1935, the company was made public and had grown to 114 stores based in the North East. The company continued to grow before and after the war by purchasing smaller grocery business so by the early 1950s it had grown to nearly 600 shops trading under their original names, including Frank Farrands, Binyons, John Kay (Kays Modern Food Stores) and T . Seymour Mead to name a few.{{cite web|url=https://buildingourpast.com/2022/04/20/kays-modern-food-stores/|title=Kays Modern Food Stores|website=Building Our Past|date=20 April 2022 |access-date=26 February 2024}} It was at the time the third largest grocery company behind Home and Colonial and International Tea Co. Stores.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDpBv9A9y7IC&dq=%22moores+stores%22&pg=PA140|title=Retail Trading in Britain 1850-1950|author=James B. Jefferys|isbn=9781107602731|date=2011|page=140|publisher=Cambridge University Press }} It was during the 1950s that Wright's Biscuits bought their shareholding in the business, with William Webster becoming Moores chairman. In 1958, the total net assets of Wright's Biscuits were about the same as Moores Stores at around £2.5 million.

The 24 Tyneside grocery business of Hanlons was added in 1960, along with the 87 strong Nottingham chain of J D Marsden.{{cite periodical|title=Moores Stores Record Sales & Profits|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1960|volume=208|page=480}} In 1961, Moores added the East of Scotland grocery business of James Walker & Sons, with their further 14 stores added to their 18 Hay & Co stores based in Edinburgh.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tJHvFtIqQAMC&q=%22moores+stores%22+hay+%26+co|title=Moores Stores Ltd|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1961|page=178}} The company continued to expand during 1962, purchasing the 45 store Southend on Sea based grocery chain of H. Garon (founded in 1880), and the 175 store Yorkshire chain of Thrift Stores, while they purchased 102 stores of Mence Smith, the ironmongers, from owner Timothy Whites.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Li-z1EOr57MC&q=%22moores+stores%22+garons|title=Moores Stores Ltd|journal=The Statist|volume=181|date=1963|page=137}}{{cite web|url=https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?DocID=196094|title=RECORDS OF A SOLICITORS' PRACTICE RELATING TO SOUTH-EAST ESSEX|website=Essex Record Office}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GtI-JPkMcxwC&q=%22moores%22+garons+%22southend%22|title=Moores Stores Ltd|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1962|page=436}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G3M1AQAAIAAJ&q=%22garon%22+supermarket|title=Supermarket, Southend on Sea|periodical=Light and Lighting and Environmental Design|date=1965|volume=58|page=140}} Of the 102 Mence Smith stores purchased only 36 were converted to grocery stores, with the rest leased or sold off to generate funds, while H. Garon's bakery and two of its buildings were sold to raise £791,000. The company had nearly 1,000 branches at this time, however only 125 were self service and five of these were supermarkets at this time.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9iDIYFt8SoC&q=%22moores+stores%22+supermarkets|title=Wright's Biscuits|newspaper=The Economist|date=1963|volume=209|page=177}} William Webster told the annual AGM that he was "bitterly against the high costs of acquiring supermarket sites" and that "supermarket enthusiasts are in danger of over-reaching themselves". He stated that between Wright's and Moores they would be planning no more than 30 big supermarkets.{{cite periodical|title=Supermarkets:Moores|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1963|volume=219|page=188}}

During 1963 it was announced that Moores subsidiary H. Garon, along with Debenhams and British Rail had agreed to develop a site in the High Street, Southend, for a department store, a supermarket, two other stores and an office block.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NNfbcgQTup0C&q=%22plummer+roddis%22+%22Southend-on-Sea%22|title=Provinces|periodical=Leathergoods|volume=102|date=1967|page=53}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9AtLAQAAIAAJ&q=%22plummers%22+%22southend%22|title=Southend-on-Sea, 70 High Street|periodical=The Estates Gazette|volume=219|date=1971|page=756}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BKrau13idtcC&q=%22garons%22+supermarket+%22southend%22|title=Southend development|periodical=Municipal Engineering, Cleansing and Public Health|volume=140|date=1963|page=45|publisher=Municipal Engineering Publications}} The company grew by purchasing further grocery stores, including chains John Favers and A.E. Smith from Scribbans-Kemp, the 13 branches of George Barr and Bells (Cash Grocers).{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CwgAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+scribbans-kemp|title=Moores - Scribbans-Kemp|periodical=The Statist|date=1963|volume=182|page=73}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0TlxjEM-frAC&q=%22moores+stores%22+george+barr|title=Moores Stores|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1963|volume=222|page=59}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ArG9yQDMWkC&q=%22moores+stores%22+Bells+(Cash+Grocers)|title=Moores Stores|periodical=Investors Chronicle and Money Market Review|date=1963|volume=221|page=178}} In 1966, Webster stated

{{blockquote|Modernisation of warehouses and distribution centres has proceeded steadily over the past two years, while it is planned to speed up expansion into supermarkets and larger self-service stores, a considerable number will open in the later half of 1967 or early 1968. The closure of small counter service branches and the conversion of others to self-service will continue. In the year end April 1, 1967, 129 branches were closed and 44 converted. At the year end, the group had 663 counter shops and 337 self-service or supermarkets.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pKVis8YUeR0C&q=%22moores+stores%22+opening|title=Moores Stores Ltd|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1967|page=260}}}}

These included new supermarkets opening in Ripley and Whitley Bay and the purchase of the 21 store south east based grocery chain of Cave Austin and Company from Burton, Son and Sanders of Ipswich.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gb0iAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+1968|title=Developments|periodical=The Ectricsl Review|volume=183|date=1968|page=54}}{{cite web|url=https://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll?logon&application=UNION_VIEW&language=144&file=|title=LMA/4758/B/01/009: 'Moores buys Cave, Austin' Cutting from 'The Grocer'|date=January 1966|website=London Metropolitan Archives}}{{cite web|url=https://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll?logon&application=UNION_VIEW&language=144&file=|title=LMA/4758/B/01/010: 'Cave Austin sold to Moores Stores' Cutting from 'The Grocers Gazette'|date=January 1966|website=London Metropolitan Archives}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6dwDCfphflAC&q=%22moores+stores%22+cave+Austin|title=Moores Stores Ltd|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1966|page=84}} In 1968, Moores Stores were listed at number 402 in The Times 500

Leading Companies in Britain and Overseas,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4EgAQAAIAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+1968|title=The Times 500 Leading Companies in Britain and Overseas 1968-69|date=1968|page=28 }} but the company announced a drop in profits and stated that government policies would see food prices rise.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iYAqAAAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+1969|title=that tax|periodical=Comment. A Communist Weekly Review|volume=7|date=1969|page=532}} By 1970, Moores was still one of the four largest grocery groups in the United Kingdom,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4jvyAAAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+1970|title=Changes in the Processing and Distribution of Milk and Milk Products: Danemark, United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and General report|publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|date=1970|isbn=9789264112933|page=202}} and by 1971 the company had seen a 34% up turn in business.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0j8cAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+profits|title=Upturn at last for Moores Stores|date=1971|volume=17|page=324}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Cavenham-Southland

| logo =

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| foundation = 1971

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| defunct = 1976

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| area_served = United Kingdom

| key_people = Jim Wood

James Goldsmith

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| parent = Cavenham Foods (50.1%) & Southland Corporation (49.9%)

| divisions = Moores Stores
Wright's Retail Grocers

| subsid =

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| intl =

}}

The stores of Wright's and Moores Stores were sold to a new company, Cavenham-Southland shortly after the takeover. It was part of the Southland Corporation (owners of 7-Eleven) deal previously brokered by John Tigrett for Cavenham's newsagent business, with Southland owning 49.9% and Cavenham owning the remaining 50.1%.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2UUKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22cavenham+southland%22|title=Cavenham Ltd|periodical=The S & P Fixed Income Investor|volume=5|issue=1–25|date=1977|page=896}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QhJ1yCHq5UC&q=%22cavenham+southland%22|title=Cavenham Ltd|periodical=Jane's Major Companies of Europe|author=Lionel Faraday Gray|date=1975|page=B-124|isbn=9780354005142 }} As part of the deal Southland paid $10.35 million.{{cite periodical|title=Southland Corporation|periodical=Moody's OTC Industrial Manual|date=1985|publisher=Mergent FIS|page=3047}} Cavenham appointed their retail chief, Jim Wood to the board, who had turned around their newsagent chain. He stayed with the company until he joined the Grand Union supermarket chain in the United States after Cavenham's purchase in 1974.{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/05/25/He-wants-his-customers-to-look-as-good-as-the-produceNEWLNBusiness-Profile-James-Wood-The-affable-Englishman-who-runs-AP-Not-content-with-saving-the-chain-from-financial-ruin/4568517377600/|title=He wants his customers to look as good as the produce;NEWLN:Business Profile: James Wood The affable Englishman who runs A&P Not content with saving the chain from financial ruin|newspaper=UPI|date=25 May 1986}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/23/business/supermarket-savior-james-wood-bringing-a-p-back-from-the-brink.html|title=SUPERMARKET SAVIOR: JAMES WOOD; BRINGING A.&P. BACK FROM THE BRINK|newspaper=The New York Times|date=23 June 1985}} The new company continued the programme of reorganisation started prior to the takeover, closing and selling off stores and distribution centres.{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YANLAQAAIAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+1969|title=Cricklewood Warehouse Lease Agreed|periodical=The Estates Gazette|date=1972|volume=223|page=1374}} Moores' Scottish stores, which operated under the Hay & Co brand were transferred to Allied Suppliers by Cavenham, after that company's purchase in 1972, to add to their existing Scottish portfolio of stores.{{cite book|url=|title=Scotland: the New Future|author=George Thursby Murray|date=1973|publisher=Scottish Television; Blackie|page=184}} By 1973, the company had 729 stores against a total of 1,173 it had at the time of the takeover, and the combined Wright's/Moores group of stores had made £2 million in profits.{{cite book|title=Stock Market Encyclopedia|date=1974|page=1969|publisher=Standard and Poor's Corporation}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzgAsDLhVs8C&q=%22Cavenham%22+moores|title=Cavenham Foods|newspaper=The Economist|date=1973|volume=247|page=98}} The number of stores had reduced to 624 stores by 1976, with most having been renamed under the Moores Stores brand, except for the larger discount stores which were branded under the Tower name.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5DUUAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+1970|title=Retail Trade Developments in Great Britain, 1976-1977|date=1976|publisher=Gower Press|isbn=9780716103066|pages=324–325}}

In December 1976, Cavenham purchased the 49.8% of Cavenham-Southland from the Southland Corporation that it didn't own, and renamed the company Moores-Wright's,{{cite news|title=Can Jimmy make the big boys bite?|newspaper=Daily Mail|date=18 December 1976}}{{cite periodical|title=Southland Corporation|periodical=The S & P Fixed Income Investor|volume=5|issue=1–25|date=1977|page=896}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iZEKAQAAMAAJ&q=southland-mccolls|title=Cavenham Ltd|periodical=Beerman's Financial Year Book of Europe|date=1977|page=B-89}} but it not stay as a separate business for long, as it was merged into Cavenham's other grocery subsidiary Allied Suppliers during 1977.{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/stream/NewsUK1977UKEnglish/Jun%2018%201977%2C%20The%20Times%2C%20%2360033%2C%20UK%20%28en%29_djvu.txt|title=UK retailing sector puts on a spurt|newspaper=The Times|date=17 June 1977}}

Wright's Biscuits and Moores Stores operated under a variety of grocery store operating names:{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5eCx1WhsxaQC&q=%22moores+stores%22+%22Consumers+%27+Tea+Co.+Ltd%22|title=Who Owns Who|date=1971|publisher=O. W. Roskill|page=384}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0_jl81F9e2YC&q=%22moores+stores%22+%22Consumers+%27+Tea+Co.+Ltd%22|title=Moores Stores|periodical=The New Dawn|date=1963|page=654}}{{cite book|url=|title=The International Who's Who|date=1950|publisher=Europa Publications Limited|page=675}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CU4MAQAAMAAJ&q=%22moores+stores%22+buckley+Jones|title=The Stock Exchange Official Year-book|date=1944|publisher=London Stock Exchange|page=1458}}{{cite book|title=Harpers Directory and Manual|publisher=Harper Trade Journals|date=1969|page=32}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l5RHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22wright%27s+biscuits%22+peglers+stores|title=To Let|periodical=The Estates Gazette|date=1969|volume=212|page=109}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MzffFm131l0C&q=%22S.+Wills+%26+Sons+Ltd%22|title=Wright's Stores|periodical=Who Owns Whom|date=1970|page=566|publisher=O. W. Roskill}}{{cite periodical|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MzffFm131l0C&q=%22S.+Wills+%26+Sons+Ltd%22|title=Wright's Stores|periodical=Who Owns Whom|date=1970|page=360|publisher=O. W. Roskill}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Abbey Stores (F. H. Whaley & Sons)
• Alex Robb & Co
• E. H. Askew
• George Barr
• Bells (Cash Grocers)
• Binyons
• George Briscoe
• Buckley Jones
• Burgess Stores
• Burgons
• Cairns Stores
• Cave Austin & Co
• Consumer Tea Company
• Frank Farrands
• Gallon
• H. Garon
• E. Gower & Sons
• Hanlons
• Harman & Ely
• Hay & Co
• James Duckworth
• James Walker & Sons
• J D Marsden
• John Kay (Kays Modern Food Stores)
• John Rowntree & Sons
• Kemp Stores
• Metcalfe Stores
• Moores Stores
• Peglers Stores
• Phillips Stores
• Pricedown
• R. C. Hopkinson
• Savemore
• S. C. Moss
• S. Drive
• S. Wills & Sons Ltd
• T. Seymour Mead
• Thrift Stores
• Thomas & Evans
• Thompsons The Grocers
• Tower Discount
• United Kingdom Tea Company
• W Morton & Sons
• W. G. Moss
• W Pink & Sons
• Woodcock & Co
• W. Robinson (Otley)

}}

The factory was reopened in 1975 under the ownership of F.C. Lowe's for the production of dog biscuits. This stayed open until 1983. After the closure the factory and the chimney, a landmark for the Tyne and Wear Dock area, were demolished.

{{commons category|Wright's Biscuits }}

• Newcastle University - Wright's Biscuits, South Shields (1790-1973) [https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/wrights-biscuits-south-shields/]

{{reflist}}

Category:1791 establishments in England

Category:Biscuit brands

Category:South Shields

Category:1973 disestablishments in England

Category:Defunct companies based in Tyne and Wear

Category:Defunct food and drink companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange