Elders & and Fyffes Line

• History
• Ships

History

Elders & Fyffes Limited was formed in May 1901 to transport and distribute West Indian bananas in the United Kingdom. Bananas were first imported into the UK in about 1880 when Elder, Dempster ships began loading them as deck cargo on their northbound bunkering call at Las Palmas. By the end of the decade London tea importers E. W. Fyffe & Co were also importing Canary Island bananas and in 1897 joined with fruit sellers Hudson Bros to form Fyffe, Hudson & Co.

Elder, Dempster formed the Imperial Direct West India Mail Service in 1901 and the first imports of Jamaican bananas arrived in March. Two months later the rival companies combined as Elders & Fyffes. In 1902 the new company purchased its first ships and also approached the United Fruit Company with the aim of ensuring cargoes were available from the Caribbean. As a result United Fruit took a substantial share-holding and, in 1910, complete ownership of E & F.

In 1970 the owning company became United Brands but in 1986 the Fyffes Group was sold to FII of Ireland. The Fyffes name was retained, however shipowning was no longer considered part of the future and its bananas are now carried in chartered ships.

Ships