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Fortnum & Mason facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1707 |
| Founders | William Fortnum Hugh Mason |
| Headquarters | |
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Number of locations
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5 (2019) |
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Area served
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United Kingdom Hong Kong Worldwide (via stockists and online) |
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Key people
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Chairman: Kate Hobhouse CEO: Tom Athron |
| Products | Luxury goods |
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Number of employees
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708 (2016) |
| Parent | Wittington Investments Ltd |
Fortnum & Mason is a very special shop in London, England. People often call it Fortnum's for short. It's known for selling fancy and high-quality items. The main store is at 181 Piccadilly, where it first opened in 1707. William Fortnum and Hugh Mason started the business. You can also find Fortnum's stores in other places like Heathrow Airport and Hong Kong. The company is owned by Wittington Investments Limited.
Fortnum's began as a grocery store. It became famous for selling excellent food. Even though it grew into a bigger department store, it still focuses on unique and special foods. You can also find everyday items there. The main store now has many different sections. These include a gentlemen's department, a tea shop, and several restaurants.
Contents
A Long History
William Fortnum used to work for Queen Anne. The Queen wanted new candles every night. This meant there was a lot of half-used wax left over. William Fortnum was smart and resold this wax. He also had a small business selling groceries. He teamed up with his landlord, Hugh Mason. Together, they opened the first Fortnum & Mason store in 1707.
Royal Connections
In 1761, William Fortnum's grandson, Charles, started working for Queen Charlotte. This connection to the royal family helped the business grow a lot. Fortnum & Mason says it invented the Scotch egg in 1738. The store also started selling special ready-to-eat meals. These included fancy dishes like poultry or game in jelly.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Fortnum's sent special foods to British officers. These foods included dried fruit, spices, and other preserves. In the Victorian era, the store often provided food for important royal events. Queen Victoria even sent Fortnum & Mason's special beef tea to hospitals during the Crimean War. This was to help Florence Nightingale and the soldiers.
In 1886, Fortnum & Mason became the first store in Britain to sell baked beans. They bought all five cases of a new product from H. J. Heinz. The main shop building at 181–184 Piccadilly was rebuilt between 1926 and 1927.
The Famous Clock
In 1951, a Canadian businessman named W. Garfield Weston bought the store. In 1964, he added a special clock above the main entrance. This clock weighs four tons! Every hour, two models of William Fortnum and Hugh Mason come out. They are about 4 feet tall and bow to each other. Music from the 1700s plays in the background. After Garfield Weston passed away in 1978, his granddaughters, Jana Khayat and Kate Hobhouse, have run the store.
Recent Changes
The store had a big makeover in 2007. This was part of its 300th birthday celebrations. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla, and Catherine visited the store together. The Queen opened the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon on the fourth floor.
Since 2013, Fortnum & Mason has opened more stores. These include locations at St Pancras International station, Heathrow Terminal 5, and The Royal Exchange. In 2019, Fortnum & Mason opened its first store outside Britain in Hong Kong.
Awards and Recognition
Food and Drink Awards
Fortnum & Mason hosts special awards each year. These are called the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards. They celebrate the best writers, publishers, and personalities in the food and drink world. The awards recognize great achievements in food and drink media. In 2018, famous people like Nadiya Hussain and Nigel Slater won awards.
Royal Warrants
Fortnum & Mason has two special honors called royal warrants. A royal warrant means the company supplies goods or services to the Royal Family. One warrant is from Queen Elizabeth II for being Grocers and Provisions Merchants. The other is from King Charles III (when he was Prince of Wales) for being Tea Merchants and Grocers.
Their first royal warrant was given in 1910 by Queen Alexandra. Later, King George V also granted them a warrant. Fortnum & Mason briefly lost their warrant for King George VI in 1948. This was because of food rationing after the war. But the warrant was given back in 1951. Both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother also granted Fortnum & Mason royal warrants.
Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
In 2022, Fortnum & Mason helped celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. This was a big event for Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne. Fortnum & Mason was a sponsor of the Platinum Pudding Competition. They were also one of the main partners for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
See also
In Spanish: Fortnum & Mason para niños
- Harrods
- Jenners