The story of Rolford Leather began in 1974, when the father of current directors Adrian and Alasdair Cross, Colin, left his job as a leather salesman at the Keunen Brothers tannery in Irthlingborough. He left with the dream of starting is own leather company, building on his in-depth knowledge and experience to create a superior company that provides the best leather hides in the UK.
He began by taking over the former Charles Horrell shoe factory in Fitwilliam Street, Rushden and quickly turned this into his own company. The business was an instant hit and quickly outgrew the premises requiring an additional site to keep up with demand. This resulted in the foundation of a second site; time the former Co-op Shoe Factory on Kimbolton Road, Higham Ferrers. After a highly successful start in the industry, Colin retired in 1998. He sold the original warehouse for residential property development and moved the business to Raunds, Northamptonshire where Rolford Leather continues to trade today.
The Rolford Leather company is managed by the second generation of leather experts Adrian and Alasdair Cross. Between them, they have over 50 years of experience within the leather industry. They both started their careers working in leather tanneries throughout the UK, learning the importance of the production process as well as the process of creating fine leathers.
Adrian and Alasdair further diversified their experience by working outside the UK to gain insight as to how leather is produced in other countries. They gain expert knowledge of the industry as a whole and has played a fundamental part of the modern Rolford Leather production process. In the late 1980s, both Adrian and Alasdair moved back to the family leather merchanting business where they have managed the company since.
Today, Rolford Leather is a leading UK supplier of fine quality leathers. Their vast customer base includes leather good companies, equestrian companies, leather manufacturers and independent designers—those who work with fine quality leathers for their designs. The company take pride in its impressive portfolio, which consists of only the highest quality leathers sourced from top tanneries around the globe.