anniversaryhouse

Bournemouth, 1953 – The Founding of a Specialist

Anniversary House was founded in 1953 in Bournemouth in southern England's Dorset. The starting point was a clearly defined market: traditional cake decorations for the local and regional trade. What began in post-war England as a relatively modest craft business was driven by an understanding that would run throughout the entire company history: celebrations deserve special decorations, and these should be accessible, reliable and crafted with care.

The name «Anniversary House» was not chosen by chance. It describes the thematic core of the company from the very beginning: products for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and all occasions celebrated with a cake, a candle or a special decoration. This focus on the celebratory moment has shaped the range, product development and market orientation of the company across seven decades. In its early decades, Anniversary House concentrated on classic cake decorations – candles, non-edible decorations and simple party supplies distributed through the regional specialist trade.

New Factory, Range Expansion and the Introduction of Sugar Decorations

1983 marked a first major development step: the construction of a new, larger production facility allowed Anniversary House to significantly increase capacity and systematically expand its range. New product categories were developed alongside existing lines, production processes were professionalised and distribution was extended beyond the regional level.

Nine years later, in 1992, a product category was introduced that would prove defining for the further development of the company: handmade sugar decorations. These edible cake decorations – figures, flowers, ornaments and themed decorative elements made from sugar – are produced at Anniversary House exclusively by hand. The sugar decorations sold well from the outset, both in the British domestic market and in the first export markets that Anniversary House developed in the following years. The high level of detail, the variety of forms and the fact that these are edible decorative elements that are at the same time visually sophisticated made this product line a distinctive feature of the company.

Acquisition by Creative Party and Development as a Brand

In 2007, Anniversary House was acquired by Creative Party Ltd, a British company specialising in the development and distribution of party articles and celebration decoration. Creative Party has an established international distribution network and supplies large distributors and specialist retailers in numerous countries. The acquisition gave Anniversary House access to this network and enabled a significant acceleration of international expansion.

In 2008, a formal name change followed: «Anniversary House» has since been not the name of the legal entity but an independent product brand within the Creative Party group. This step changed the legal structure, but not the brand identity or production standards. The management of Creative Party was taken over by Mike Forder in the years following the acquisition. Creative Party continues to be run as a family business to this day – a continuity reflected in its strategic direction, product philosophy and the stability of its brand identity.

Product Philosophy – Range Depth and Breadth of Application

The Anniversary House range covers four main areas that together address almost all aspects of cake decoration and celebration supplies. Edible cake decorations – sugar decorations – form the craft core and distinctive feature of the brand. The spectrum ranges from classic rosettes and flowers through themed figures for birthdays, weddings and seasonal occasions to lettering and individual decorative elements. Non-edible cake decorations complement this area with durable decorative elements that can be kept after the celebration.

Candles and lighting elements – from classic number candles and birthday candles in various versions through to themed special forms – form another central product area. Party supplies that go beyond pure cake decoration complete the range and are aimed at the presentation of celebration tables and parties of all kinds. Product development follows the principle of breadth of application: products should not only work for a specific target group or a specific occasion, but should be as versatile as possible – in a professional confectionery just as in a home kitchen.

International Presence – Production in the UK, Distribution Worldwide

As a brand of Creative Party, Anniversary House supplies large distributors and specialist retailers in over 40 countries on all continents. This international reach is the result of a continuous build-up over several decades: from regional production in Dorset through national expansion in the British market to global distribution under the Creative Party umbrella. The production facilities remain in the United Kingdom, ensuring consistent quality standards and short development cycles for new product lines.

The range is continuously expanded and adapted to current trends in confectionery, cake decoration and celebration culture. Anniversary House sees itself as a reliable supplier that keeps classic core products in the range long-term and supplements them with contemporary new additions. This balance between continuity and development is a key reason why Anniversary House is equally present in markets as diverse as the British specialist trade, German mass distribution and international retail.

Product Range at a Glance

Handmade sugar decorations · Cake candles & number candles · Non-edible cake decorations · Party supplies

Anniversary House at miniSchoggi

miniSchoggi carries Anniversary House because the range covers what no well-stocked kitchen should be without: reliable candles and decoration products that work for every occasion and give homemade bakes the final, decisive touch. Those who bake and decorate with care know that details often make the biggest difference – and that is exactly where Anniversary House comes in: with products that combine quality with practical usability.

The Anniversary House range available at miniSchoggi grows continuously. With every new product added, the possibilities for finishing birthday cakes, anniversary cakes and celebratory bakes expand. Anniversary House provides the right products for the job – trusted since 1953 and suitable for every occasion.

Since 1953. For every occasion. Anniversary House.