Key Milestones in our History
1844 – Rochdale Pioneers was established and formed the basis for the modern Co-operative movement
1863 – Co-operative Wholesale (Industrial & Provident) Society formed
1894 – Co-op owned ship ‘The Pioneer’ first sail up the Manchester Ship Canal
1895 – The CWS opens the Irlam site to manufacture Soap, Detergents & Candles
1955 – The CWS opens a Wines & Spirits depot on the site at Irlam
1964 – The CWS invest in filling lines and become the first company in the UK to import & bottle bulk wine
2002 – The Screw cap Initiative – Launched Unwind range in collaboration with Tesco & established screw cap as the standard closure in the UK for wine
2004 – Business sold by first MBO team to current MBO team
2006 – Kingsland moves first wine container up the Manchester Ship Canal in its initiative with Peel to regenerate the canal as a commercially viable waterway
2010 – Kingsland launches the Worlds Lightest Wine Glass Screw cap Bottle at 300gm
2011 – New wine cellar opens on site containing 42 new stainless steel tanks
2012 – Kingsland acquires the assets of Stratford Wines to bring in exciting premium wines & producers to our portfolio (too many to mention here, please see Our Portfolio section)
2014 – New partnership agreements with Brandphoenix, Marks & Spencer and Limestone Coast Wines