Normacot Road, Longton
From a tiny sweet shop in Stoke-on-Trent,
Edward Joseph Walker began making toffee for a handful of local
customers in the 1890's. A rich smooth toffee, it soon became popular
locally and the business flourished. So much so that, in 1915, he and
his son Edward Victor Walker established Walkers' Nonsuch as an
independent family company, producing toffee from a factory near his
shop. Now the company is operating from larger premises, with the
present managing director Ian Walker continuing his father's work.
Together with his brother, the late Edward John Walker, he has
accommodated changing times and increasing markets, by pioneering the
use of the latest production techniques.
Demand for Edward's
homemade toffee grew so quickly that he was forced to open a small
factory in the old King Street area of Longton. In 1915 Edward
enlisted his son, Edward Victor, to help with production.
Together they manufactured
their toffee, one batch at a time, to Edward Joseph's original recipe.
Walkers' Nonsuch was born and in 1922 was established as an independent
Ltd company.
Walkers'
Nonsuch took its name from Henry VIII's legendary 'Nonsuch' palace.
Crowned the 'palace of all palaces' for its exquisite splendor there was
'nonsuch' like it. This was similar to Edward's status as the creator of
the most delicious toffee 'nonsuch' like any other.
Business thrived and Walkers
toffee continued to be enjoyed by an ever increasing number of
chewers. However, with the beginning of the Second World War and in the
post war years
Walkers was forced to restrict its output, finding it more and more
difficult to find its raw
materials. After the war, when restrictions were lifted and business began
to grow again Walkers decided to move to larger premises.
The new site on Calverley
Street, Longton had been a sweet factory since it was built in 1894,
formerly belonging to boiled sweet manufacturer, Horleston Brothers Ltd.
Calverley Street is still the
home to Walkers' today, following the purchase of Horleston Brothers in
1947 and Siddalls Blue Churn Confectionery later in 1961.
  
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