Trafford Business

End of an era

9:50am Sunday 22nd August 2010

STAFF and directors from the UK’s oldest family owned jam making factory gathered on Friday to celebrate the end of an era.

F Duerr and Sons Ltd had its factory built in 1893 on Prestage Street, Old Trafford, but now the 117-year old building is due to be knocked down and replaced with 16 houses.

Duerr employs 200 staff across the business, 20 of whom work at the Old Trafford site. Of these, 18 will be relocating to new facilities in Wythenshawe and two have taken retirement.

Tony Duerr, chairman, said: "I first worked in this factory sweeping up before my father and the rest of the staff came in. Things have changed so much when it comes to production but Duerr’s has been a strong presence in Manchester for over 100 years and we will continue to grow."

The firm is opening a new peanut butter manufacturing plant which will be next to its existing jam and honey-making plant on Floats Road on the Roundthorn Industrial Estate, Wythenshawe.

Mark Duerr, managing director, said of the new plant: "This will be the first purpose build peanut butter production and storage site in the UK and will be a major step in our growth strategy for the peanut butter market."

He added: "By centralising production in Wythenshawe we can maximise operational control while having the capacity to increase production."

The firm was set up by Fred Duerr in 1881 and has been passed down through five generations of the family.

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