Mum who set up one of foremost companies
WHEN she set up Cooplands in Doncaster's Hall Gate in 1931, a Doncaster mother laid the foundations for one of the borough's most successful firms. The company still operates shops all across South York-shire, and employs hundreds of staff.
It was a company managing director, David Jenkinson, who explained where the name came from and the history of the firm. "It was my mother's maiden name,” explained David. "She was responsible for setting up the business in Doncaster's Hall Gate during 1931."
David's father, Tom Jenkinson, was a Bentley-based building contractor and, while he was working in Scarborough he met Alice Coopland. Alice opened her first shop - which she called Cooplands - at 34 Hall Gate, selling homemade cakes, toffees and chocolate. In 1932 she started baking and selling bread. It was also during the mid-1930s that Cooplands introduced their two well-known trademarks - bow-fronted Georgian windows with bullseyes, and Olde English lettering to the company name.