Sir Malcolm Campbell began working for greengrocer Mark Walker as a message boy in his fruit shop in 1864 at the age of 16. Upon Walker's retirement in 1878, Campbell purchased the business and began trading under his own name. Over the next 25 years, Malcolm Campbell expanded, opening several new stores and extending the company's product range to flowers, preserves, and chocolate. The company's floral arrangements were well sought after, and Campbell built large nurseries so both flowers and vegetables would be readily available. In 1899, the business became a limited company.
In 1904, Malcolm Campbell Ltd opened their first railway station kiosk at Glasgow Central, where they sold fruit and confectionary. These kiosks extended as far south as Crewe. Post-war, Malcolm Campbell took an interest in civic affairs, becoming a Bailie, City Treasurer, and a Justice of the Peace. A knighthood soon followed.
Campbell remained active in his business until his death in 1935 at the age of 87. His son, Dr Malcolm Campbell, became Chairman for a short period before dying in 1937. The responsibility of the business fell on the shoulders of Dr Campbell's son, Malcolm Brown Campbell, who also had a short time as Chairman before he died as the result of an accident in 1940. As his son was too young to take charge of the business, his widow, Helen M Campbell, assumed the role of Chairman, and took charge of the company until 1952, when she appointed Robert Browning to the role.
After studying Business Management at Glasgow University and leaving the forces, Malcolm Brown Campbell's son, also Malcolm Campbell, joined the company in 1955, working his way through various departments. He became Chairman in 1968, overseeing many changes in the company and the trade, such as refrigerated counters and self-selection. He passed control of the company to his own sons, David and Graham Campbell, in 1996. The firm lost many standalone stores in the course of the 1990s, but concessions were opened in Kwik Save stores and the company continued to trade. As competition increased due to supermarkets, the grocery part of the business was sold to another family business, Peckham and Rye. Peckham and Rye went into administration in 2012. David and Graham Campbell continued business as commercial property investors and developers, and still trade under the name Malcolm Campbell Ltd.
From the guide to the Records of Malcolm Campbell Ltd, greengrocers, Glasgow, Scotland, 1899-1990, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
