Balfours is an Australian bakery which produces pies, pasties and cakes for sale in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.

History

Balfours began when Scottish immigrant James Calder and Margaret née Balfour opened a bakery at 130 Rundle Street, Adelaide in 1853.[1] As Calder's bakery became very successful, he opened the City Steam Biscuit Factory in Twin Street, Adelaide in 1872. Balfours became a household name and in 1867, when Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited South Australia, James Calder was made the official biscuit baker for the royal visit.

Around this time, Calder took on his nephew John Balfour and began trading as Calder & Balfour.

Margaret Balfour died on 1 November 1887 and James Calder died two years later on 1 October 1889, aged 71.[2][3]

In the 1890s a new factory was built off Carrington Street.

From 1914 Balfours expanded their business to cake shops, cafes and tearooms. They acquired Jackman's Grand Cafe in the T&G Building in King William Street, and Balfour's Cafe was an Adelaide institution on this site for half a century.

In recognition of the significant contribution of then chairman, Charles Wauchope, the company was re-registered under the name Balfour Wauchope Pty Ltd.

In 2001, the state government provided funds to relocate the main production facility from Morphett Street to Dudley Park under a buy and lease back agreement. The company continued to struggle financially and faced imminent closure.

Balfours was acquired by the San Remo Macaroni Company in 2008.[4]

As of 2018 Balfours have a second factory at Milperra in Sydney.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Advertiser, How a humble bread and biscuit maker became Balfours, a South Australian icon, by Liz Walsh, 10 September 2017
  2. ↑ "Balfours History". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "City Steam Biscuit Factory". Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "About Balfours". Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.


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