Vintage C.W.S. “Guaranteed Pure Butter” Cardboard Shipping Box – London Co op
This is a wonderful piece of social and commercial history. Packaging like this rarely survives because it was designed to be discarded after use. How many have survived? very, very few. An incredibly rare item!!! And in amazing condition!! Displayed with another margarine crate not included illustration only for sale separately may sell together please contact us for pricing etc
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38 cm wide
30 cm depth
13 cm tall
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Vintage C.W.S. “Guaranteed Pure Butter” Cardboard Shipping Box – London Cooperative Wholesale Society
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A fascinating and increasingly scarce piece of British food packaging and cooperative retail history, this vintage cardboard shipping box once carried 24 lbs of butter from the C.W.S. Butter Factory in Fairclough Street, London E.
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Printed in bold blue typography on a buff card background, the box proudly proclaims “Guaranteed Pure Butter – Obtained only from Cooperative Stores”. The design also features the Co-operative movement’s famous emblem with the motto “Labour and Wait”, together with brand names Avondale, Daisymead, and Mayflower Dairy. Practical shipping instructions such as “Perishable – With Care” and “Carriage Paid Home” give a wonderful glimpse into the logistics of early 20th-century food distribution.
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The box originally held 24 lbs of butter, and would have been transported by railway or carrier to Co-operative shops around the country before being opened and the butter portioned for sale.
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Today it survives as a remarkable example of ephemeral packaging, capturing the typography, branding, and distribution practices of Britain’s powerful cooperative retail movement.
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Maker History – The Co-operative Wholesale Society (C.W.S.)
The Co-operative Wholesale Society, founded in Manchester in 1863, was established to supply goods to the growing network of Co-operative retail societies across Britain. It became one of the largest wholesale organisations in the country, producing and distributing everything from groceries and clothing to furniture and household goods.
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To guarantee quality and supply, C.W.S. operated its own manufacturing facilities, including butter and dairy factories such as the one at Fairclough Street in London’s East End. Butter was sourced from cooperative farms and dairies and then distributed nationwide through the Co-op’s retail stores. By the early 20th century the organisation was a major force in British retailing and food production.
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Packaging like this illustrates how the Co-operative movement promoted quality assurance, fair pricing, and collective ownership, values that were central to its identity.
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Condition
Good vintage condition for a piece of utilitarian packaging.
Age-related wear, marks and slight creasing consistent with storage and use. The printed graphics remain clear and highly decorative. Structurally sound and displays beautifully.
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Approximate Date
Early–mid 20th century (circa 1920s–1940s).
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Why We Love It
A wonderful survivor of everyday retail history. Pieces like this tell the story of how food was transported, sold, and trusted in the early cooperative era. The typography alone makes it a striking display item for a kitchenalia collection, social history display, or vintage shop interior.
