From the company archives:- 1911 Price List for Samuel White & son
Five generations and counting
Samuel White was a Brewer (Samuel White & Son) at Bellefield Brewery, Winson Green, Birmingham not far from the well known prison. William Reginald Frazier his son was a licensed valuer in the 19th century, when Ansells Brewery was purchasing Hotels and Public Houses - he acquired for Ansells many of the properties within a days ride of Birmingham town centre. William’s son Kenneth Frazier, in 1949, sensing a bargain purchased an Off Licence in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, when the original purchaser failed to complete - called Ideal Stores. Morris's Wine Stores was the second business to be purchased and the name of this business was taken on as the brand. The business flourished over 40 years expanding to 35 branches and was eventually sold to Vaux Breweries in 1989. However Vaux Breweries did not require the wholesale business supplying many hotels and restaurants, so John Frazier purchased the warehouse and Frazier’s Wine Merchants Ltd. has continued to trade ever since. William Frazier (the 2nd?) joined the company after leaving school in 1991.
The company is now one of the leading wine merchants in the Midlands with two stores serving the local community. One in Tiddington, Stratford on Avon and one in Lapworth, Solihull which is also the local post office. The head office serves both the Private Customers and Wholesale business. Our customers come from all over the world due to sometimes eccentric range we stock and we look forward to serving the local and wider wine buying public for many years (generations) to come.
Samuel White was a brewer at Bellefield Brewery, Winson Green, Birmingham, while his son in law, William Reginald Frazier, was a licensed valuer for the local breweries including Ansells, Flowers, and Mitchels and Butlers in the 19th century. In 1949, William’s son Kenneth Frazier, sensing a bargain, bought an off-licence in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, and called it Ideal Stores. Soon after he bought Morris's Wine Stores too, taking this name for the brand. In 1963 Kenneth’s son, aged 21 John Lewis Reginald Frazier joined the family business. Over the next 40 years the business flourished, expanding to 35 branches before it was eventually sold to Vaux Breweries, in 1989. However, John Frazier kept the wholesale business to supply hotels and restaurants –creating Frazier’s Wine Merchants Ltd. John has continued to trade ever since, with his son, William Jerome Frazier joining the company from school in 1991.
The company is now one of the leading wine merchants in the Midlands, with a Wine warehouse in Shirley, near Solihull. We serve both private customers and wholesale businesses and thanks to our eclectic range of stock our customers come from all over the world.
We’re looking forward to serving the local and wider wine buying public for many years – and generations – to come.
