John Pearce And The Rise Of The Mass Food Market In London, 1870–1930

At the center of sweeping change to food retailing practices in Victorian and Edwardian England lies one man: John Pearce. An innovative businessman and a quintessential rags-to-riches success story, Pearce was at the forefront of the rise of the mass food market in London. With his catering company Pearce & Plenty, he fed millions of workers who wanted fast, nutritious, and tasty food. David W. Gutzke mines a wide range of primary sources to offer a portrait of a pivotal figure in London and a leader of the temperance catering movement who had “done more than can be readily recognised to render London a sober city.” By studying Pearce’s companies as well as those of his competitors, this book documents a half century of changing consumption habits in London. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 1-20 Pubs without Beer (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 21-48 From Philanthropy to Profits in London (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 49-67 From Penny Capitalist to Server of the Multitudes (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 69-95 Advent of the Mass Market (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 97-121 Catering Crisis in Edwardian England (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 123-152 Collapse of the British Tea Table Company (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 153-182 Starting Over (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 183-201 Into the War and Beyond (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 203-218 Conclusion (David W. Gutzke)....Pages 219-236 Back Matter ....Pages 237-257