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Sandilands Buttery and Co. Ltd.

Sandilands Buttery and Co Ltd was one of the earliest British trading firms to be established in Malaya. Like many of the early mercantile companies in the Straits Settlements, the company was associated with a host of other firms as exporters and importers, and manufacturers' representatives as well as insurance and shipping agents.

Early History
Sandilands Buttery and Co Ltd had its origins in Lorrain Sandilands, which was established in Penang by George MacFarlane Sandilands and Francis Currie Lorrain in the 1830s.  It was the first firm of British traders in Penang.  In 1856, the firm started business in Singapore. Later, a branch was established in Singapore in Malacca Street in 1859. Following Lorrain's retirement in 1862, the firm was renamed Sandilands and Co. The following year, it changed its name to Sandilands Buttery, when John Buttery of Glasgow was admitted as a partner.  

Products and Services
As general importers and exporters, and agents for rubber, tapioca and tobacco estates and tin mines in Malaya and the East Indies, the company dealt with a host of products. In its heyday, it imported goods such as machinery, wine and spirits from Europe and exported from Malaya and the East Indies produce such as tapioca, spices, rubber, tobacco, sugar and tin to Europe and other parts of the world. The company was also agents for financial, insurance and shipping companies. In the mid-1870s, the firm became an agent for Ben Line in Penang. The firm also associated with other shipping lines such as Knutsen Line. In insurance, agencies held by Sandilands Buttery included those for underwriters' associations and insurance companies in Britain and other parts of the world

With time, as the economic landscape changed, the business profile of Sandilands Buttery also changed, with emphasis on being import agents for a wide range of companies, and less emphasis on being agents for insurance and shipping firms and a shipper of agricultural produce. As Singapore and the region industrialized, and the firm was aquired by or merged with other companies, its original role as East Indies merchants evolved further and Sandilands Buttery began dealing more with  marketing industrial and consumer products rather than agricultural produce. Instead of traditional produce such as spices, rubber and tin, the company focused on products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and toiletries, and building materials.

Officers of Sandilands Buttery played an active role in the public affairs of Singapore and held important positions in the community.  They also served on the Boards of the Port Authorities and in the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. 

Later History
In 1920, the firm set up a branch at Medan, Sumatra for trading, as well as serving as rubber estate agents.  Subsequently, offices were set up in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Port Swettenham. In 1946, Sandilands Buttery was acquired by Henry Gardner and Co. Ltd of London but continued to operate under its own name.  In 1972, Henry Gardner merged its activities with British Metal Corporation Ltd, and Sandilands Buttery traded as a member of the Amalgamated Metal Corporation Group.  In the mid-1970s, Sandilands Buttery became Jardine Sandilands and subsequently was renamed Jardine Marketing Services in the late 1970s. 



Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia & Chan Fook Weng



References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore 1819-1867 (p. 672). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)

Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. (1979).  From early days (pp. 90-91).  Singapore: The Chamber.  
(Call no.: RSING 380.10655957SIN)

Wright, Arnold. (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya : Its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (pp. 793-794) [Microflim no.: NL2645].  London : Lloyd's Greater Britain Pub. 



The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.  Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. 

Subject
Commerce and Industry>>Trade
Trading companies--Malaysia--Malaya
Sandilands Buttery and Co. Ltd.
Business, finance and industry>>Business organization>>Business enterprises



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