Which company was famous in the UK for its purvey?

Answer 1

Following the Great London Fire of 1666, William Fortnum came to work for Queen Anne as a footman for the Royal Family. With the insistence of Her Majesty, that the palace always use fresh candles every evening, William quickly adapted a small trade for himself selling the excess wax. It helped him to pay his rent to his landlord and friend, Mr. Mason. The rest is history. The men began a lucrative business importing the finest goods from around the world - pelts from the Carpathians, spices from India, tea from China - all to satiate the voracious appetite of the Royal Family.

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Today Fortnum & Mason is the world's finest purveyor of goods. Whether you're ordering your custom created hamper from specialist staff downstairs, buying teas, spices and chocolates on the ground floor, or visiting the 'Royal Bee Hives' on the roof top, where Fortnum's make their own honey, Fortnum's is the pinnacle of quality and style.

Fortnum and Mason are recognised internationally for its high quality goods and as an iconic British symbol of excellence. It has held countless (and priceless) Royal Warrants over the past 150 years.

In 1886, after having bought the entire stock of five cases of a new product made by Mr Henry Heinz' young company, based in Pennsylvania USA, Fortnum & Mason became the first store in Britain to stock tins of baked beans. Fortnum's are also alleged to be the originators of the world renown 'Scotch Egg.'

During the Napoleonic Wars, Fortnum's supplied teas, dried fruit, spices and jams to British officers abroad. During the Victorian era Fortnum's became the accepted purveyor to call when feeding prestigious Royal Court functions. Queen Victoria even sent shipments of Fortnum and Mason's concentrated beef tea to Florence Nightingale's hospitals during the Crimean War.

Today, Fortnum's continue to provide only the finest of goods to ladies and gentlemen from around the world. Their store remains at the same London location - 181 Piccadilly. And there are currently two additional stores in Japan.

The Co-Op was also famous for providing a purvey - a buffet for Scottish families for such events as weddings and funeral teas. However, modern day, rather than functions being held in the home, they are held elsewhere with everything under one roof, including the catering. The purvey in present day financial climate is, slowly making a come back. Local bakers in Scotland are now offering catering for events. We can see today the once famous cake and sandwich trays making also a come back. The trays being made from wood with either the bakers or bakery name being stamped on the side of the tray.