Maypole Grocery Co, Market Place between 1920 and 1923

The Maypole Grocery Co Ltd took over part of the former Post Office and Beaver’s Grocery on the north side of Market Place when it moved out in 1904. The company put in a new frontage with an elaborate gilded signboard and hanging lamps that has not survived.
Maypole Stores promoted sales of their own margarine, shown by the advertisements in the windows. The company was started by Otto Munstead when he set up his margarine factory in Southall in 1894 and expanded into retail. The spread accounted for 85% of the company’s sales by 1918. Although bought out by Jungen, the owner of Home & Colonial, in 1924, the margarine brand survived into the 1960s.
The shop assistants are (left to right) Archie Barber, S William White, George Stallabrass and Ernest Wright. The shop is now part of Toni & Guy’s hairdressing.

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