Trebor is one of the names that gets casually assumed to be a backwards pun - and the real story turns out to be a bit more roundabout than the joke suggests.
Four men and 100 pounds each
Trebor began on 4 January 1907, when W.B. Woodcock, Thomas Henry King, Robert Robertson and Sydney Herbert Marks formed a partnership in Forest Gate, east London, each contributing 100 pounds to manufacture and market high-quality boiled sweets. In their earliest days, the sweets weren't even sold as Trebor - they went out under the name 'Boleyn'.
So where did "Trebor" actually come from?
The name changed to Trebor just after the end of the First World War, and the popular explanation - "Robert" spelled backwards, after co-founder Robert Robertson - is the version most often repeated. A more detailed company history tells it differently: the name was taken from Trebor Terrace, the site the firm operated from. That house, in turn, had been named by an earlier builder, Robert Cooper, who reversed his own first name in 1894 - a coincidence of naming rather than a direct tribute to Robertson.
From boiled sweets to Extra Strong Mints
Trebor grew into one of Britain's major confectionery names through the 20th century, best known today for its Extra Strong Mints. Cadbury Schweppes eventually bought the company and merged it with Bassett's to form Trebor Bassett, and the brand now sits within Mondelez International's portfolio - still recognisable from the same mint tin format generations of Britons have carried in a coat pocket.
What we stock
We carry Trebor Extra Strong Peppermint Mints Roll 41.3g, along with the rest of our Trebor collection.
Frequently asked questions
When was Trebor founded?
On 4 January 1907 in Forest Gate, east London, by four partners - W.B. Woodcock, Thomas Henry King, Robert Robertson and Sydney Herbert Marks - who each put in 100 pounds to make boiled sweets.
Does the name Trebor really come from "Robert" spelled backwards?
That's the popular story, usually linked to co-founder Robert Robertson. The more detailed company history points elsewhere: the firm took the name from Trebor Terrace, the site it operated from - a house that had itself been named by reversing the name of an earlier builder, Robert Cooper, back in 1894.
What did Trebor sell before it was called Trebor?
The sweets were originally sold under the name "Boleyn". The Trebor name was adopted just after the First World War, taking it from the Trebor Terrace site.
Who owns Trebor now?
Trebor was bought by Cadbury Schweppes and merged with Bassett's to form Trebor Bassett. The brand is now part of Mondelez International.
Sources: Wikipedia, Grace's Guide.