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Company History
The Stafford business has been in existence for over 118 years. With fourth generation family members still actively involved in its operation, this tradition is set to continue for a long time to come. At the helm currently is Mark Stafford who is a great-grandson of the founder J.J. Stafford. The privately-owned Stafford Group is involved in sports retail, oil/solid fuel importation and distribution, shipping, storage and property development.
| March 2007 | Sale of Stafford Shipping Foynes to DF Doyle as part of the Group’s strategy to divest of non-core businesses. |
| January 2007 | Carve out of Aztec Properties which sees it move from being a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Stafford Group to being a sister company. Both the Stafford Group and Aztec Properties are now held directly by the Stafford family. |
| December 2006 | Aztec Properties acquires 33-35 Fleet Street in Dublin 2 in a €33m plus transaction. |
| April 2006 | Sale of the Glenview Hotel Ltd for over €17 million as part of the Group's strategy to divest. |
| December 2005 | Stafford Group acquires Lifestyle Sports for circa €60m. |
| November 2004 | Stafford Group acquires the Clarke Group for over €10m. The Clarke Group consisted of two main business units, namely Clarke Oil, a 60m litre direct-to-customer business which has been integrated into Campus Oil and Clarke Fuels, a 25KT solid fuel business which has been integrated into Stafford Fuels. |
| October 2004 | Campus Oil rebranding aimed at increasing its retail and business profile and helping to provide a cohesive culture among staff from the merged companies (Campus, Stafford Oil and Clarke Oil). New brand mark and identity system rolled out across all forecourts and vehicle liveries. |
| January 2004 | Mark Stafford takes over the position of Group CEO from his father Victor, who moves to the role of Executive Chairman. |
| September 2003 | Stafford Holdings acquires the Clashfern Group which, after a restructuring, contains Campus Oil as its main business. Campus Oil and the Stafford Group's own oil business, Stafford Oil, are subsequently merged under the Campus Oil name, which is itself rebranded in 2006. |
| April 2000 | Mark Stafford, who was working in the Strategic Services Division of Andersen Consulting in London, returns to Dublin to join the Stafford Group as an Executive Director. |
| 1990 | Stafford Holdings purchases the Glenview Hotel Wicklow, which is subsequently sold in 2006. |
| 1980 | Tonnage through New Ross port reaches record levels of 685,000 compared to 5,960 in 1952. |
| 1975 | New wharf is completed at Raheen, New Ross to provide greater bulk-handling facilities. |
| 1950's & 1960's | The business relocates Wexford Shipping and the coal importing business to New Ross; knocks down and rebuilds the Talbot Hotel; expands the retail and wholesale coal and grain operations; and opens an oil storage facility in New Ross. The principals are also founders and majority shareholders of plastic manufacturer Irish Mouldex Ltd. and fabric manufacturer Fine Wool Fabrics Ltd. They also own shares in the Gresham Hotel Dublin and fertlizer company Albatros Ltd. |
| 1947 | J.J. Stafford dies peacefully at the age of 87. |
| 1940's | J.J. Stafford becomes the largest coal importer in Ireland and a major ship owner with interests in various properties around the country. |
| 1930's | J.J. Stafford & Sons Ltd. and Wexford Steamship Company continue to trade well. J.J. Stafford acquires substantial lands in Rosbercon, New Ross, where Stafford Fuels and Stafford Shipping still trade to this day. |
| 1920's | Purchase of P Donnelly and Sons coal importing company based in Dublin. |
| 1900s | J.J. Stafford acquires the solid fuel business of John E. Barry and also buys a stevedoring company. These are the origins of Stafford Fuels and Stafford Shipping respectively, which remain key parts of the Stafford Group over 100 years later. |
| 1890s | J.J. Stafford & Sons fleet expands by purchasing the first motor ship in Ireland. J.J. Stafford also opens a merchant store in Wexford and a grocery store in partnership with his brother George and sister Elizabeth; he later purchases the shares from his siblings to become sole owner. |
| 1891 | J.J. Stafford becomes a ship owner and founds J.J. Stafford & Sons. J.J. Stafford is grandfather of the current Chairman Victor J. Stafford and great-grandfather of the current CEO Mark Stafford. |
Picture of Stafford Founder JJ Stafford.
The Mary Gertrude.
Stafford Group | 40 Mary Street, Dublin 1, EirCode: D01 XD39. Phone +353 (0)1 812 5500 | Terms of Service | This page last updated 12/07/21