Peter Marsh Group celebrates 175th anniversary

The Peter Marsh Group, the Bootle based packaging company has been celebrating its 175^th anniversary. In 2012 The Group consists of Peter Marsh & Sons Ltd who make paper sacks and Peter Marsh Packaging who make corrugated boxes.

The Company commenced trading in Liverpool in 1837 but in fact the family were in business in Hindley near Wigan several years earlier. The current Chief Executive, Peter, is the sixth generation to have worked in the company. The brothers Simon and Benjamin (5^th generation) still take an active role although Benjamin is a farmer near Malmesbury in Wiltshire.

Peter Marsh & Sons Ltd is one of the leading manufacturers of multi-wall paper sacks supplying millions of sacks not only to the flour millers but also to the animal feed industry as well as sacks for potatoes and chemicals. Peter Marsh Packaging Ltd is a rapidly expanding manufacturer of corrugated boxes for many end uses from footwear, confectionery, frozen foods, envelopes, tissues – you name it and they can package it!

The Peter Marsh Group '175' logo

To mark this notable milestone the Group has put on a number of events. Open days will be held at the factories in Canal Street, Bootle and it is hoped that two lunches will be hosted – one in the North West and possibly one in the London area.

These events will be in addition to the Peter Marsh ‘Chase which will be run, as usual, at Haydock Park in January. The first race was run in 1981 when the winner was Little Owl who subsequently went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This was an appropriate winner as the Company’s logo is a barn owl! The Marsh family are keen golfers and play at Formby where they hold their Company Golf Day in September. On September 28, 2012, all employees will be treated to a day out at Haydock Races as part of the celebrations.

Despite these difficult times the Group continues to flourish and has an ambitious re-investment schedule. This includes, hopefully, the purchase of a new factory for the expanding packaging business.

The Peter Marsh Group is very much a family business. As already stated there are three direct descendants on the Board of Directors and hopefully more to come in time. However it is not just a family business through the Marshes. Many of the current employees have had parents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts etc. who have worked for the company.