Chivers and Sons Canning Factory, Huntingdon, 1933

In 1930, Chivers & Sons established a vegetable canning factory in Huntingdon. By 1931 the Chivers estate covered 6,000 acres.
By 1935 the firm had 3,000 employees. By 1938 the firm was England’s largest canner of fruits and vegetables. About 4,500
people were employed across four factories. The farms had been extended to 7,000 acres, with 3,000 given over to fruit.
Between four and five tons of marmalade were produced each year.
The company lost its market leading position after 1945, due to a failure to install modern equipment.