AFTER 58 years at the helm, Douglas Rae, founder and managing director of Golden Casket Confectionery has announced his decision to retire.
Douglas started Golden Casket in Greenock in 1959 when, as a young husband and father, he stunned friends, family and colleagues by abandoning a career in banking and set out in business as a confectionery manufacturers’ agent.
Over the decades, Douglas has steered Golden Casket through sometimes choppy waters, keeping the business surviving and thriving among fierce competition from the big multinationals.
Today, Golden Casket is known across the UK, stocked in a broad range of stores from the smallest newsagents to supermarket giants, with brands including £onepounders, Buchanan’s of Scotland, Gibbs, Hill’s of Hawick and Millions all becoming household names.
Douglas will be succeeded in his role by his son Crawford Rae, who started the business’ manufacturing company in 1987.
Commenting on his decision to step aside, Douglas said: “The company is in very good hands.”
