Stewart and Young
STEWART & YOUNG, Manufacturing and Export Confectioners and Preserve Makers, 260, Broad Street, Mile End, Glasgow.
Among the special industries that have been successfully developed in Glasgow, few are more interesting and important than that represented by the above firm. Messrs. Stewart and Young carry on the manufacture of confectionery and preserves on a gigantic scale for the supply of the home and foreign markets.
The firm was founded for this purpose, some fifteen years ago, by the present partners, Mr. Archibald Stewart and Mr. Alexander Young, and has controlled a business of colossal dimensions almost from the commencement. Nothing could possibly be better designed for an enterprise of this kind than the premises of the firm. The main building is of four storeys, with a frontage of 100 yards. Running at right angles to this block for the same distance are five other ranges of buildings, and above all tower the two chimneys of the concern. The whole is enclosed by a wall, with a wide space intervening between it and the premises.
It would be impossible here to give any adequate idea of the completeness of the interior equipment of the works, or to describe the many ingenious processes and appliances used in the manufacture. The making of the finer classes of confections is one of the nicest operations imaginable, and the manufacture of some of the commoner kinds is a triumph of ingenuity and skill. We do not propose here to describe the modus operandi ; the limits of space at our disposal forbid such an attempt. Suffice it to say that everything is of the most perfect kind throughout, and that no expense or trouble has been spared to complete the executive equipment of the establishment down to the minutest detail. Special care is given to the selection of the materials employed, and the most absolute cleanliness is evident in all departments.
The manufacturing part of the business is carried on during the preserve season by a staff of fully 400 persons, all of whom seem to be exceedingly active and devoted to the interests of the firm. Large as it is, the concern in every respect is a model one, and reflects infinite credit on the partners, who are ably assisted by the general manager and the heads of the various departments. The main lines of manufacture are as follows :Conversation, cough, peppermint, cream, and aromatic lozenges ; almonds, imperials, balls, carraways, mixtures, and various specialities in pan goods ; boiled sweets in the form of drops, balls, chips, seals, crystals, rocks, and tablets ; crystallized and uncrystallized pastilles and jujubes ; fondants, caramel walnuts, Russian toffy, and marzipan goods ; a bewildering variety of sundries, such as Japanese nuggets, mixed fruit jellies, butter-scotch, preserved ginger, cocoa-nut chips, and a large variety of gelatine goods. An entire department is given up to the manufacture of the latest novelties in sugar and gelatine toys. Novelties in penny, half-penny, four-a-penny, and eight-a-penny goods are continually being added. All the above are made in an infinite variety of size, form, and flavouring.
The jam and preserve department is on a similarly extensive and complete scale, and includes in its range everything known to the trade. We need not here catalogue the hundred and one novelties designed for home and foreign use by Messrs. Stewart and Young. It is enough to know that they are made from the finest of the fruit by thoroughly skilled hands. Messrs. Stewart and Young have not been slow to meet the steadily increasing demand for their preserves. By the introduction of many new improvements in machinery they have been able, whilst largely increasing the quantities made, to carry on the various processes of manufacture with the most scrupulous regard to cleanliness and efficiency. The jams, &c., are put up in various ways : in jars, bottles, and tins, according to the market for which they are intended. They are also sent out in a great variety of fancy glass and earthenware receptacles, and are universally admitted to have no superior in genuineness and quality. The volume of production in both departments is immense, and is only surpassed by the demand for the firms goods.
The mercantile department is splendidly organised, is provided with a large clerical staff, and is under the immediate direction of the partners. The trade connection includes a home and foreign business of the most wide-spread character, tending constantly to increase, and conducted on the best lines. Punctuality in the despatch of orders, attention to packing and transport, and a readiness to meet special wants are the striking features of the distributive department. If the firm is famous for one thing more than another, it is for its attention to the wishes of the great public, young and old, for which it finally caters ; ever devising novelties for their gratification and exhausting the resources of invention in administering to their tastes and wishes. Happily, the reward of this exertion has been forthcoming ; and the very eminent reputation enjoyed by Messrs. Stewart and Young, both with the trade and the public, fairly won as it has been, cannot fail to be a powerful factor in the future prosperity of their ambitious and admirably-managed enterprise. Telegraphic address : Preserves, Glasgow ; telephone Mo. 2551.
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