Balfours is an Australian bakery which produces pies, pasties and cakes for sale in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.

History

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Balfours began when Scottish immigrant James Calder and Margaret née Balfour opened a bakery at 130 Rundle Street, Adelaide in 1853.[1] As Calder's bakery became very successful, he opened the City Steam Biscuit Factory in Twin Street, Adelaide in 1872. Balfours became a household name and in 1867, when Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited South Australia, James Calder was made the official biscuit baker for the royal visit.[citation needed]

Around this time, Calder took on his nephew John Balfour and began trading as Calder & Balfour.[citation needed]

Margaret Balfour died on 1 November 1887 and James Calder died two years later on 1 October 1889, aged 71.[2][3]

In the 1890s a new factory was built off Carrington Street.[citation needed]

From 1914 Balfours expanded their business to cake shops, cafes and tearooms. They acquired Jackman's Grand Cafe in the T&G Building in King William Street, and Balfour's Cafe was an Adelaide institution on this site for half a century.[citation needed]

In recognition of the significant contribution of then chairman, Charles Wauchope, the company was re-registered under the name Balfour Wauchope Pty Ltd.[citation needed]

In 2001, the state government provided funds to relocate the main production facility from Morphett Street to Dudley Park under a buy and lease back agreement. The company continued to struggle financially and faced imminent closure.[citation needed]

Balfours was acquired by the San Remo Macaroni Company in 2008.[4]

As of 2018 Balfours have a second factory at Milperra in Sydney.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Advertiser, How a humble bread and biscuit maker became Balfours, a South Australian icon, by Liz Walsh, 10 September 2017
  2. ^ "Balfours History". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  3. ^ "City Steam Biscuit Factory". Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  4. ^ "About Balfours". Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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