A beloved bakery business "famous" for its strawberry tarts once had more than 100 shops across Merseyside.
Decades ago, Cousins Confectioners was a familiar fixture across the region, selling everything from delicious cakes and Danish pastries to Devon Whip, sandwiches and more. Many will remember the large Cousins corner sign in Lord Street that was a major feature in Liverpool city centre until the takeover by Liverpool One, as well as the company's many shops and factory on Woodend Avenue in Speke.
Founder Mr Ernest Gibson moved to Liverpool from Ireland when he was 17 and after returning from active service in 1946, opened his first bakery shop in Aigburth Road, where the baking was done above the store. On February 4, he sold his first cake from the tiny shop and the following year his brother, Eric, joined him and they soon started to expand the firm.
