A. L. Simpkin & Co. Ltd facts for kids

Simpkins' tasty barley sugar travel sweets

A. L. Simpkin & Co. Ltd is a company that makes delicious confectionery (sweets and candies). They are based in Sheffield, England. Their factory is located on Hunter Road in the Hillsborough part of the city.

The Story of Simpkins Sweets

How it All Started

The company was created by Albert Leslie Simpkin in 1921. Albert had been a soldier in World War I. He was recognized for his bravery and received a special award called the Military Cross.

After the war, in 1920, Albert left the army because of serious injuries. He first sold sweets from other companies. Soon, he decided to make his own. He bought a factory in Sheffield and built a large, new one in Hillsborough. This factory was 40,000 square feet big and employed 180 people.

Special Travel Sweets

Albert Simpkin wanted to make high-quality glucose sweets. He used natural ingredients. He aimed to sell his sweets in special places like pharmacies (drugstores). This helped him avoid competing with very big candy companies.

During World War I, Albert had used liquid glucose to help him recover from his injuries. He noticed that glucose was not available as a solid sweet. So, he decided to focus on making glucose travel sweets. Back then, a tin of sweets was a common item to keep in a car's glovebox.

Within just two years, his glucose sweets became very popular. They were called Simpkins' Orange Barley Sticks. You could find them in 90% of pharmacies across the U.K.

The Famous Tins

At first, Simpkins sold their sweets in large jars to shops. But Albert soon changed to selling them in small, airtight eight-ounce tins. This was important because the sweets had a lot of fruit juice. They would get sticky if they were exposed to moisture.

In the 1950s, a new, completely airtight tin was created. These tins had no seams and could keep the sweets fresh for many years. Using these special tins became a unique sign for the company. At its busiest, the company had over 300 employees.

During World War II, Simpkins made high-quality glucose sweets for R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) pilots. These sweets helped the air crew on high-altitude missions. The company also provided glucose sweets for the famous 1953 British Mount Everest expedition. In 2009, Simpkins won an award for its Dr. Stuart range of herbal sweets.

Simpkins Today

Simpkin's goods entrance on Roselle Street.

Today, Simpkins sends its sweets to over 40 countries around the world. This makes up about 25% of their total earnings. They make 80 different kinds of sweets in Sheffield. They also import 50 types of sugar-free sweets, which they then package.

Because of new machines and technology, the company now has about 50 employees. Besides pharmacies, you can now buy Simpkins sweets in stores like Boots UK, W H Smith, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, and Tesco.

In 2009, the company earned over £3,000,000. They were making 2,000,000 sweets (about 35,000 tins) every day. The company has also looked into making smaller 50-gram tins. These smaller tins would be great for younger customers.

Albert Leslie Simpkin's three sons, Neville, Brian, and John, joined the company. They continued the family business. John took full control in 2002. Now, John's children, Adrian and Karen Simpkin, are in charge. They are joint managing directors.