The Leivers Brothers Story

At a time when large, impersonal monopolies are the order of the day, it is unusual to find a family business celebrating over 125 years of trading.

Our company was started in 1880 by the brothers Alfred, Herbert and Edward Hopkin Leivers, who opened a retail shop on Derby Road, Nottingham where they specialised in bacon, cheese, butter and cooked meats.

By 1888 the brothers had expanded into wholesale plus a second shop in Hockley. The early years of the 20th Century saw continued expansion (more horse and carts!) to meet the growing wholesale and retail demand.

Two amusing episodes were recorded in 1911 when two claims for damages were made against the company. A lady at Bridgford was knocked off her bicycle by a Leivers horse and cart, whilst Mr Slack of Hyson Green was bitten by one of the horses, both claimants settled for a pound.

1919 saw the company start to replace the horse drawn carts with the purchase of a 3 ton Albion motor lorry and the following year saw Leivers take over another Nottingham wholesaler – Thomas Flint.

In 1925 the business moved from Hockley to a warehouse in Rick Street, adjoining the Old Central Market. From then the company continued to expand its wholesale interests to include a complete range of grocery products in addition to the provisions on which it was founded.

The post-war years up until 1954 were extremely difficult due to food rationing and other problems, but the company survived.

The rapidly changing face of the food trade saw an opportunity for a wholesaler specialising in provisions and so in 1967 the whole of the grocery range was discontinued and the company moved into new, purpose built premises in Arnold.

The company that had been established by three brothers offering a specialised provisions service 21 years before the end of Queen Victoria’s reign is now back to those same principles – quality, cost and service second to none.

Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton, Bottesford, Grantham, Newark, Tuxford, Ollerton, Edwinstowe, Southwell, Ilkeston, Eastwood, Alfreton, Belper, Clay Cross, Bolsover, Kegworth, Loughborough, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Birmingham, Coventry, Shelthorpe, Rugeley, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield, Hucknall, Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton in Ashfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Shirebrook, Warsop, Blidworth, Calverton, Gainsborough, Scunthorpe, Hull, Melton Mowbray, Corby, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, Draycott, Ashbourne, Shepshed, Whitwick, Coalville, Ibstock, Louth, Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Market Rasen, Arnold, Carlton, St Annes, Victoria Centre, Bulwell, Bingham, Cotgrave, Ruddington, West Bridgford, Beeston, Long Eaton, Wollaton, Uttoxeter, Stafford, Stoke, Killamarsh, Beighton, Chesterfield, Bakewell, Buxton, Leek, Cheadle, Ancaster, Bourne, Spalding, Holbeach, Boston, Sleaford, Ruskington, Lutterworth, Rugby, Hinckley, Ashby, Measham, Atherstone, Polesworth, Burton upon Trent, Ravenshead, Mansfield, Eastwood, Kimberley, Clipstone on the Wolds, Sheffield, Rotherham, Retford, Doncaster, Worksop, Alrewas, Lichfield, Walsall, Stamford, Peterborough, Ramsey, Wisbeach, Aston, Melbourne, Kegworth, East Leake, Vale of Belvior, Wymeswold, Melton, Barrow on Soar, Quorn, Newthorpe, Sudbury, Mansfield, Crich, Holloway, The Peaks, Netherfield, Stavely, Ravenshead, Navenby, Wragby, Spilsby, Woodhall Spa