Rolling back the years
Sheldon’s was started by the Master Baker Harold Sheldon. As it grew and became successful, his son Graham Sheldon took over the reins and built the business to greater heights. Nowadays, Graham is still behind his desk, but his son and daughter, Lee Sheldon and Sarah Sheldon, have joined him to help run the business and it continues to go from strength to strength.
Baking History since 1949
Harold Sheldon joins the baking trade.
Harold Sheldon joins the baking trade.
On leaving school, young and began work as a baker for Horrock’s bakers in Goodier Street, Newton Heath, Manchester. Harold learned the basics of the baking trade and also worked as a van boy helping on deliveries. Never one for standing around idly, when he wasn’t baking or on the vans, Harold worked as a stable boy to the horses that used to pull the bread vans.
Back Home.
Back Home.
Following a nasty motorcycle accident, Harold was medically discharged from the army due to the seriousness of his injuries, and moved back to Manchester. After a lengthy recuperation, he rejoined Horrock’s in his previous job.
Out on his own.
Out on his own.
Harold left to set up his own bread and confectionary wholesaling business – using products from the numerous independent bakers he’d grown to know.
…and then there were three.
Through Harold’s drive and determination, the business grew considerably; drafting in his brother Bob and brother in law-Harry Shields to help, Harold saw his vans travelling the winding old roads to Blackburn and Huddersfield every day.
Focus, focus, focus.
With the business growing in all directions, the brothers decided to sell 9 of their 12 vans as going concerns, so they could concentrate on growing the core of the business and doing more of what they were best at.
Baking history
Baking history
The most popular product by far was the Lancashire Oven Bottom Muffin –selling like hotcakes in almost every market in their area. Harold knew a Good Thing when he saw it and went into partnership with one of his former suppliers, Arthur Leigh, who had a bakery on Ashton Old Road in Manchester – Building the whole business around the now famous Oven Bottom Muffin!
It just keeps growing
It just keeps growing
Demand was so great that they moved to a bigger bakery on Clayton Lane, Openshaw, Manchester. Harold’s son, Graham Sheldon, joined the business as a van man to help satisfy the growing throng of customers.
