Food manufacturing and trading activities

Even before the declaration of war in September 1939, it was recognised that food supplies would have to be as carefully organised by the State as the supply of munitions and petroleum oil or the distribution of civilian manpower. Much of Britain's food was imported, and it was realised that supplies would be disrupted not only by enemy action but by the allocation of merchant shipping for other strategic purposes. Elaborate contingency planning was undertaken in the period from 1937, based partly on an analysis of the experience of the Ministry of Food of 1916–1918. Ration books were printed well in advance of the outbreak of hostilities and the second Ministry of Food was established in September 1939 to put into action the plans decided upon in the preceding two years. ‘The outbreak of war found this country better fitted than ever before to apply the findings of nutritional science to the task of feeding the population.’ To assist in this task the Ministry recruited advisers with experience of nutrition and the food industry. From 1941 to 1943 Harry Jephcott was Adviser on Manufactured Foods to the Ministry. In his absence from Glaxo, Colonel Rose acted as Managing Director.

Despite (or because of) food rationing, which for bacon, butter and sugar was imposed in 1940, Nathan's food subsidiaries performed better during the war.