Machines supplier Comrie Leisure celebrated 60 years of trading this month by holding a party at its Midlands headquarters, with the family-owned firm looking “to continue supplying our valued customers for many more years to come.”
Midlands-based machine supplier Comrie is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, with the family-owned business “very proud” to mark the milestone, and acknowledge the hard work of its team.
Founded in 1965 to supply independent pubs and social clubs with fruit machines, pool tables and jukeboxes, the company was named by founder Harry Grieg after his home address in Comrie Close, Coventry.
“Harry liked the name as it also celebrated his Scottish roots with his father, William having operated mechanical one arm slot machines in sweet shops in Glasgow years before they relocated to Coventry,” said owner Mark Grieg.
“Over the years Harry’s wife June and his brother Philip joined the company and June became the only lady in the UK at the time to hold a Gambling Commission licence.”
Though technology has changed significantly over the last 60 years, Comrie said its core values remain unchanged; “supplying quality machines with first class friendly service to independent pubs and clubs has been at the heart of the company for all these years.”
“After Harry’s passing in 2001 his son Mark ran the business with his mum, June,” the company stated. “As Comrie expanded, Jason joined the team, from the banking industry, as one of Comrie’s directors who in turn introduced his two cousins Justin and Matt and then his brother-in-law, Paul.”
And the family just keeps on expanding. “Mark’s wife Cheryl joined the family business a few years later, who, with her Coventry University business background, brought the back-office operations into the 21st Century.”
Though Comrie acknowledged that the hospitality landscape “is definitely changing,” it intends to continue supplying its valued customers “for many more years to come. We truly are a family business who take a lot of pride in our work.”
