town’s iconic Market Hall, and currently the pods outside. This family business began with James Bramwell, who sold fish from a barrow.
transformed the former dairy farm after selling his late father’s office supplies business, FH Brown, in 1997. In 2011 his son Oliver joined the business. Today he acts as managing director with his father as chairman. The destination has recently opened a multi-million pound spa upgrade.
FAGAN AND WHALLEY
BUTLERS FARMHOUSE CHEESES
This is a distinguished fourth-generation family business based in the Ribble Valley. Established in 1932 by Richard and Annie Butler, the company has remained under the stewardship of the Butler family, with Gillian, Matthew and Daniel Hall leading the business. Despite challenges, including a significant fire in 2023, it has shown resilience and is one of the leading family-run cheesemakers in the UK.
Fagan & Whalley, a Burnley-born logistics specialist, has a near century legacy that spans six generations, with six family members working in the business today. From a horse-drawn cart to an electric truck, the business has navigated through a world war, multiple recessions, a pandemic, and more. Today the business has five depots – Padiham, Frontier Park, Coventry, Burnley Bridge and Newport – and a fleet of more than 170 vehicles. It was all started by Sam Fagan and son in law Thomas Whalley in 1927. Fifth generation brothers Stephen and Graham Fagan serve as joint chief executives with their children in a number of senior roles.
largest private-label pet food manufacturers in Europe. The owner and chairman is Roger Bracewell and his son William is production director and other son James Bracewell is a European sales director. Georgina Sims-Stirling is the communications director and is Roger’s daughter.
GRAHAM AND BROWN
The wallpaper coverings business was started in Blackburn by two friends Harold Graham and Henry Brown in 1946. Today, John Carter, grandson of founder Henry Brown is chairman while managing director Andrew Graham is the grandson of Harold. The company welcomed its fourth generation to the business when Andrew’s eldest daughter Iona, 27, joined as community and social manager. It closed its manufacturing site at India Mill in Blackburn in 2023 and moved to a state-of-the-art low carbon production site in Padiham as part of a bold digital transformation strategy.
FOREST GROUP CHORLEY GROUP
Chorley Group is a renowned family-owned automotive dealership group based in the town it shares its name with. Established in 1989 by Andrew Turner, the business has grown from a single used car dealership at the family home into a multi-franchise organisation representing leading motor brands across the North West. The Turner family remains in charge, with Andrew as chairman and his son Adam as managing director. The Chorley Group continues to thrive by blending its rich family heritage.
Forest Group UK is a family-owned business spanning two generations and has been operating successfully for more than 30 years. It is now run by the Fraser brothers, Andrew and Neil, and their sister Janine Vernon. Headquartered in Blackburn, it provides a range of repair and maintenance services to commercial organisations from fridges or air condition units to heat pumps and EV or solar battery packs. The business acts for some of the largest organisations in leisure and hospitality and operate across the UK.
FREDERICKS ICE CREAM
In 1936 Mattia Federici married his sweetheart May. Originally from Italy, May’s family, the Massas, had been making ice cream in Chorley since 1896. This also marks the year they started their own ice cream shop and factory at the Bolton Road site, where Tony, Mattia’s son, and Liz, his wife, and their children still make all the delicious ice cream to this day along with their grandchildren, who are fifth generation and work in the ice cream parlour.
CROW WOOD RESORT AND SPA
An award-winning family-owned luxury destination in Burnley. Founded by local entrepreneur Andrew Brown in 2001, the resort has evolved from a private members’ facility into a premier hotel and spa complex. Andrew
GA PET FOOD
GA Pet Food is based in Buckshaw Village and has more than 30 years of expertise and knowledge in making and delivering the world’s finest pet food for its valued partners. GA Pet Food Partners is one of the
JAMES E HATCH & SONS
James E Hatch and Son in Chorley was founded in 1974 by James Edward Hatch as a plant and commercial vehicle repair company. In 1985 the business began maintaining and repairing timber engineering machinery nationwide. James Hatch, now 78 years of age, still works in the engineering department. Today it is a third-generation family business with three other members of the Hatch family in the business: Stuart, Frazer and Jacob.
LANCASHIRE SPORTS REPAIRS
LSR, based in Burnley, was founded by David Comer. He has now been joined by wife Beverley, sons George and Tom and his brother-in-law Daniel. LSR has been repairing outdoor gear for some of the biggest brands in the industry, including Patagonia, Berghaus and Gore-Tex, plus thousands of end consumers, for more than 30 years. The business is a huge part of many brands’ sustainability efforts, keeping their items out of landfill.
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