Allen Brothers enters third generation of family ownership

Allen Brothers (Fittings) has entered its third generation of family ownership, with Richard Allen becoming managing director. His mother, Lindsay Allen, remains with the company as director.

Allen Brothers, which develops and manufactures sailing hardware for the marine sector, will continue manufacturing at its factory in Southminster, Essex, in southern England.

The change follows the retirement of Liz Adams, who has stepped down as managing director after leading the company for many years. Adams, the daughter of co-founder Tony Allen, took over running Allen Brothers and helped develop it into an international business.

Graham Adams has also retired from the company after many years as international sales manager.

Richard Allen is the third generation of the Allen family to lead the business. His grandfather, Glenn Allen, founded Allen Brothers with his brother Tony in 1956. Richard’s father, Kim Allen, later led the company before his death in 2015.

“It’s a great opportunity to take Allen Brothers into its third generation,” says managing director Richard Allen.

“My grandfather started the company by making fittings for his own race boats, and that approach of solving problems and making better hardware is still very much part of what we do today.

“We want to continue where he left off, investing in engineering, manufacturing and product development to produce the best performance sailing hardware we can. We have a great team here at Allen, and we’ll continue to build on what has already been achieved while looking at where we can improve and develop.”

Manufacturing and product development

Co-founders Tony and Glenn Allen initially made fittings for their own race boats in a garden shed. As other sailors began using the fittings, demand increased, and the brothers registered Allen Brothers (Fittings) in 1956.

More than 70 years later, the company still manufactures its products at its Southminster factory and exports sailing hardware to customers worldwide.

Allen Brothers has expanded its engineering and manufacturing capabilities over the years. Its facilities include computer-aided design, 3D printing, CNC machining, turning, moulding and hydraulic pressing. These processes support production of the company’s established sailing hardware range as well as custom components for boat builders and other industries.

Allen hardware is now used by boatbuilders, sailing teams and sailors in markets around the world.