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Abstract
Beginning with contemporary critiques of consumer culture as a starting point for a discussion of the sources and directions of corporate strategy and structure, the history of the firm of S. Hoffnung and Co. is traced from inception in 1851 until its takeover by Burns Philp in 1980. The organizational development of the firm is analysed as it moved from merchant trade to wholesaling, and then subsequently declined and was taken over. This is explained with reference to the rise of multinationals, and domestic manufacturers and retailers, and a changed national and international business environment. These changes eventually obviated the need for specialist market intermediaries.
Notes
1. This paper draws on archival research undertaken at the Mitchell Library at the State Library of New South Wales (ML), the John Oxley Library at the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) and the Guildhall Library in the City of London (GL). The author would like to thank David Meredith, Ranald Michie, Douglas Meikle, the participants at the Mirrored Histories Symposium hosted by the University of Sydney’s Business and Labour History Group in June 2008, as well as the comments from two anonymous referees. The author thanks the Economic and Social Research Council, Durham University and York St John University for financial support. The usual disclaimer applies.
2. There are limitations to business history based on archival research that focuses only on one firm. Idiographic surveys are only one part of a broader picture, and cannot and do not capture everything. Company records – from which this study is primarily written – provide both a guide and a limit to the conclusions that can be drawn.
3. ML 3860 Add‐on 1378/7, Leslie D. Davis with further information supplied by Dr. Bergman (Citation1973, 261–71); ML, 3860/4 Anon. (Citation1951, 6); Times (1912); Anon. (Citation1952, 5).
4. ML 3860 Add‐on 1378/7, Leslie D. Davis with further information supplied by Bergman (Citation1973, 262); Anon. (Citation1952, 5).
5. Anon. (Citation1952, 5).
6. ML MSS 3860/2, “Ledger, 1853–1856.”
7. SLQ Box 4509, Anon., “S. Hoffnung and Co. Ltd.: A Queensland Century, 1872–1972,” p. 10; Anon. (Citation1952, 4).
8. Anon. (Citation1952, 4, 6–7).
9. Source: SLQ R260 Box 5627, “Bankbook: The Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney: An Account Current with Messrs S. Hoffnung and Co.”
10. ML MSS 3860/2, “Minutes of Alterations in Articles of Partnership: Mr Henry Nathan and Mr S. Hoffnung,” 28 September 1869; ML 3860/2, “Articles of Partnership between Henry Nathan, Sigmond Hoffnung, David Marks and Sigmond Sinauer Trading in England as ‘Henry Nathan and Co’ and in Australia as ‘Sigmond Hoffnung and Co,’” 9 August 1871.
11. ML 3860/2, “Articles of Partnership,” 9 August 1871.
12. SLQ Box 4509, “S. Hoffnung and Co Ltd: A Queensland Century, 1872–1972,” pp. 1, 3.
13. ML 3860/8, “An Account of the Late Mr G.H. Davis on One of his Trips Inland when Representing S. Hoffnung and Co Ltd, Queensland, 1977, Aged 21 Years Old.”
14. ML 3860/2, “Articles of Partnership of the Firms of H. Nathan and Co and S. Hoffnung and Co,” 12 May 1886, Article 23.
15. ML 3860/2, “Articles of Partnership,” 12 May 1886.
16. ML 3860/2, “Re Messrs H. Nathan to S. Hoffnung and Co: Deed of Dissolution of Partnership on Retirement of Messrs H. Nathan and S. Hoffnung and Reconstitution of the Firm on Admission of Messrs A.H. Nathan and S.B.F. Hoffnung,” 2 December 1889.
17. ML 3860/2, “S. Hoffnung and Co (1902) Ltd – Prospectus.”
18. ML 2860/2, “Louis Henry Nathan Esq and Others and Sigmond Sinauer and Others: Release from the Covenants with Mr Henry Nathan in the Deed of the 2nd December 1889 as to £50,000 Capital of Mr L.H. Nathan,” 28 February 1896; ML 3860/2, “Sigmond Sinauer and Others to Abraham Hoffnung: Power of Attorney,” 4 March 1896.
19. ML 3860/2, “S. Sinauer, L.H. Nathan, B. Sinauer, A. Hoffnung, A.H. Nathan and S.B.J. Hoffnung: Supplemental Articles of Partnership,” 28 February 1896.
20. ML 3860/2, “Supplemental Articles of Partnership,” 28 February 1896.
21. GL 18000/85B/838, London Stock Exchange listing file for S. Hoffnung and Co. (1902) Ltd., 29 October 1902.
22. ML 3860/2, “S. Hoffnung and Co (1902) Ltd – Prospectus,” July 1902.
23. GL 18000/85B/838, London Stock Exchange listing file for S. Hoffnung and Co. (1902) Ltd., 29 October 1902; G.H. Davis and S. Hoffnung and Co. Ltd. agreement as to Mr. Davis’ services and remuneration, 28 December, 1899.
24. GL 18000/114B/633, London Stock Exchange listing file, S. Hoffnung and Co, 24 July 1907, “Prospectus, S. Hoffnung and Co (1902) Ltd, 10th July 1902.”
25. ML 3860/2, “S. Hoffnung and Co (1902) Ltd – Prospectus,” July 1902.
26. ML 3860/8, “Hoffnungs Diary and Almanac, 1914.”
27. ML 3860/2, letter from J.C. Williams and Co. to Messrs R. Towns and Co., 2 January 1890.
28. ML 3860/2, letter from J.C. Williams and Co. to R. Towns re Hoffnung and the Welcome Nugget Agency, 8 June 1899.
29. ML 3860/2, letter from W.D. and H.O. Wills (Australia) Ltd. to S. Hoffnung and Co., 11 May 1903; letter from S. Hoffnung and Co. to A.J. Warry, American Tobacco Co. Ltd., 23 September 1908; “Ardath Tobacco Co. Ltd. with S. Hoffnung and Co. Agreement for New South Wales and Queensland,” 13 December 1916.
30. ML 3860, Add‐on 1278/2, A. Hoffnung, London office, to Sydney directors, 30 August 1911; A. Hoffnung, London office, to Otto Lion, New York office, 20 August 1911.
31. ML 3860/2, letter from the British‐American Safety Razor Co. Ltd. to S. Hoffnung and Co., 21 November 1921.
32. ML 3860/2, “Trade Mark Act 1905–1934: Certificate of Renewal,” 31 July 1935.
33. ML 3860/2, letter from the S. Hoffnung and Co. Sydney office to London office, 29 April 1931.
34. ML 3860/2, minutes of a meeting held in the board‐room of S. Hoffnung and Co. Ltd., 5 March 1935.
35. ML 3860/2, note re: South Coast Tobacco Co., 2 November 1936.
36. ML 3860/4, letter to shareholders, 2 December 1935.
37. GL 18000/731/4A, London Stock Exchange listing file for S. Hoffnung and Co. Ltd., 14 May 1936; Memo, 14 May 1936: Stock Exchange Official Yearbook, 1936 (Anon. Citation1936, 1312).
38. ML 3860/3, Narvell (1939, 38).
39. ML 3860/3, Narvell (1939, 44).
40. ML 3860/4, letter from L. Davis to London directors, 30 November 1937.
41. ML 3860/7, “Report on Investigation of Business (Davis and Penney),” 13 January 1938; ML 3860/4, memo dated 3 January 1958, “Davis and Penney Pty. Ltd. Wollongong.”
42. ML 3860/4, letter from Leslie Davis to Maurice Davis (his uncle), 1 December 1937.
43. ML 3860/4, letter from L. Davis to London directors, 30 November 1937.
44. ML 3860/4, memo: “Commonwealth Moulding Pty Ltd,” 3 January 1958.
45. ML 3860/4, memo: “Brief Outline of History of Tallerman and Co,” 12 February 1953; letter from Eric Susman to Leslie Davis, 23 February 1956; memo by Leslie Davis, 30 December 1957.
46. ML 3860/4, letter from Eric Susman to Leslie Davis, 23 February 1956.
47. ML 3860/4, letter from Leslie Davis to Maurice Davis, 1 December 1937.
48. ML 3860/4, letter from Sydney to the London directors, 2 June 1922; letter from Leslie Davis to London directors, 27 May 1924.
49. ML 3860/3, L.D. Davis (Citation1939, 42–44).
50. ML 3860/3, A. Lloyd (Citation1978, 41–42).
51. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and statement of accounts, 31 March 1945, chairman’s statement.
52. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and statement of accounts, 31 March 1954.
53. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and statement of accounts, 31 March 1948, chairman’s statement.
54. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and statement of accounts, 31 March 1950, chairman’s statement to stockholders.
55. ML 3860, Add‐on 1378/8, S. Hoffnung and Co. annual report for 1955, p. 14.
56. ML 3860, Add‐on 1378/8, S. Hoffnung and Co. annual report for 1955, p. 15.
57. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1957; Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1958.
58. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March, 1960.
59. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1961.
60. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1961.
61. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1965.
62. ML 3860/4, S. Hoffnung and Co. Ltd. reports and accounts for the year ended 31 March 1974, p. 20.
63. ML 3860/4, the second annual report to the employees, 1977, pp. 7–8.
64. ML 3860/4, first annual report to our employees, 1976, pp. 5–6; the second annual report to the employees, 1977, p. 6.
65. ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1964.
66. ML 3860/3, A. Lloyd (Citation1978, 42).
67. ML 3860/6, “Documents re Takeovers, A–L”; memo by J.H. Gale to L.W. Rawson, “John Danks and Son Pty Ltd,” November 1972.
68. ML 3860/6, “Documents re Takeovers, A–L”; memo by J.W. Rawson to L.W. Rawson, November 1972.
69. ML 3860/6, L.W. Rawson to London office, 7 November 1972.
70. ML 3860/6, H.R. Bourne to the Australian board, 10 November 1972.
71. ML 3860/6, “Documents re Takeovers, A–L.”
72. SLQ R260 Box 5628, anonymous newspaper cutting dated May 1970, “Hoffnungs May Seek Citizenship.” The article observed that 95% of the shares in the company were owned in the UK with shares listed only on London; however, some 90% of profits were earned in Australia.
73. Anon. (Citation1952, 3).
74. ML 3860/2, letter from S. Hoffnung and Co. to A.J. Warry, American Tobacco, 25 September 1908; ML 3860/6, S. Hoffnung and Co. report of the directors and the statement of accounts, 31 March 1962.