Godfrey Phillips, founder in 1826 of Godfrey Phillips & Sons commenced business in the Barbican, London, as a cigar manufacturer in 1844, having earlier served an apprenticeship with Maurice Newman in Alie Place, London. He married Elizabeth Phillips in 1846. Ten years after Godfrey's death, in 1910, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Godfrey Phillips was primarily a manufacturing company and made cigarette brands like Cavanders, Abdulla No. 7, De Reske, Marcovich, Red & White. In 1951/52 Godfrey Phillips UK bought out George Dobie & Son's, famous Four Square brand. It also diversified into other business such as the Spencer Greeting Cards. The company was never opened on a Saturday and its employees were not overpaid but "there was always work there" and it had a good reputation. Family members employed at the factory were paid exactly the same as any other employees would have been. Godfrey Phillips Tobacco Plc was the subject of a takeover bid in 1968 by Philip Morris Inc. and family shareholders with "B" shares lost control. The company name remains today only in India, where it is stockmarket listed but has no connection with the founder family. There are many collectors of the cigarette pack cards today. Godfrey and Elizabeth had 13 children. All their sons and some grandsons had positions at the family tobacco firm. Many other relatives worked there too.
Godfrey Phillips, founder in 1826 of Godfrey Phillips & Sons commenced business in the Barbican, London, as a cigar manufacturer in 1844, having earlier served an apprenticeship with Maurice Newman in Alie Place, London. He married Elizabeth Phillips in 1846. Ten years after Godfrey's death, in 1910, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Godfrey Phillips was primarily a manufacturing company and made cigarette brands like Cavanders, Abdulla No. 7, De Reske, Marcovich, Red & White. In 1951/52 Godfrey Phillips UK bought out George Dobie & Son's, famous Four Square brand. It also diversified into other business such as the Spencer Greeting Cards. The company was never opened on a Saturday and its employees were not overpaid but "there was always work there" and it had a good reputation. Family members employed at the factory were paid exactly the same as any other employees would have been. Godfrey Phillips Tobacco Plc was the subject of a takeover bid in 1968 by Philip Morris Inc. and family shareholders with "B" shares lost control. The company name remains today only in India, where it is stockmarket listed but has no connection with the founder family. There are many collectors of the cigarette pack cards today. Godfrey and Elizabeth had 13 children. All their sons and some grandsons had positions at the family tobacco firm. Many other relatives worked there too.
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