David P. Tyndall (May 17, 1890 - January 6, 1970) was a leading Irish businessman in the 20th century, and played the major role in helping modernize the wholesale and retail grocery trade, consolidate it, and enable the family grocery shop owner adapt to the advent of supermarkets. May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Wholesaling consists of the sale of goods/merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services. ... A shop that sells food, either a Supermarket or a much smaller place. ... Exterior appearance of typical American supermarket (a Safeway) A supermarket or grocery store is a store that sells a wide variety of food. ...

Family Background

He was the grandson of John Tyndall from Newcastle in County Dublin, a saddlery and forge owner related to the renowned physicist of the same name and family, who hailed originally from the Tyndalls of Northumberland and came to Ireland in the Middle Ages. David was also descended from the O’Donnells of Tyrconnell, through a great-grandmother from Glenties in County Donegal who eloped with a Farley, ancestor of James Farley, Postmaster General of the USA. He was from Chapelizod, and left school at 14 years, to work and in due time become a leading entrepreneur. He married Sarah Gaynor (January 1, 1892 – August 19, 1973) from Inchicore in Dublin, in 1914, and had six children, William, David, Annie, Mona, John, and Stephanie. William and David junior joined their father’s business when they reached the age of 16, and Annie died young in 1934. Mona joined the Holy Rosary Sisters. John became a leading Dublin psychiatrist. Stephanie married an Army officer, Patrick Denis O'Donnell. County Dublin (Irish Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath), or more correctly the Dublin Region (Réigiúin Átha Cliath), is the area that contains the city of Dublin, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland; and the modern counties of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin. ... // Origins The Tyndalls are an Anglo-Scots family by origin hailing from Tynedale in Northumberland, and who held estates in the English and Scottish Border Ridings. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Tyrconnell can refer to: a territory in Ireland, now more commonly referred to as County Donegal (see Tír Conaill), although the Kingdom and later Principality of Tyrconnell was broader than that, including parts of Sligo, Leitrim (Republic of Ireland), and Fermanagh (United Kingdom). ... Glenties (Na Gleannta in Irish, meaning The Glens) is a small town in the northwest of Ireland in central County Donegal. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: coord}}}_N_{{{west coord}}}_W_{{{region:IE_type:city}}} {{{north coord}}}° N {{{west coord}}}° W Irish Grid Reference grid}}} {{{irish grid}}} Statistics Province: Ulster County: District: County Town: Lifford Code: DL Area: 4,841 km² Elevation: Population: Website: www. ... James (Jim) Aloysius Farley (May 30, 1888–June 9, 1976) was an American politician who served as head of the Democratic National Committee and Postmaster General. ... A Postmaster General is the national politician in charge of the postal system of a country. ... Chapelizod (Irish: Séipéal Iosóid) village in Dublin, Ireland. ... Inchicore is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. ... Patrick Denis ODonnell, (January 8, 1922 - January 1, 2005), was a well-known Irish military historian, and retired Commandant of the Irish Defence Forces. ...

Career in business

In 1931, David P. Tyndall decided to start his own business, having been a wholesale butter merchant for some years. With a partner, they founded Doherty, Tyndall & Co. Ltd., distributing groceries by horse and two-wheeled cart. By 1941, the firm had expanded to thirteen employees, including his two older sons, Willie and Davy. Transport switched from horse to motor. In 1943, the company became wholly-owned as D. Tyndall & Sons, Ltd. Another company was founded and added in 1957, Farm Sales Ltd.

In the years that followed, other companies were taken over, and the business diversified and expanded, in tandem with technological innovations, commercial initiatives, and marketing prowess. Modern business methods were developed, such as “cash and carry” wholesaling in 1964, and incentive schemes for workers were introduced. Upon his retirement he had achieved the premier position in Ireland for his influence on the wholesale and retail grocery sector, with the largest network in the country. Originally, cash and carry simply designates a method of making purchases where the customer pays the purchased goods immediately and takes them away himself -- as opposed to having the goods delivered and paying a bill later. ...

Private sector influence

With time, he and his sons realised the benefits of consolidation in the sector, and founded a business association of retailers, RG Data (Retail Grocery, Dairy and Allied Trades), which became a powerful business lobby, highly regarded by both manufacturers and Government. Politicians such as various Taoisigh (Irish Prime Ministers) Eamonn De Valera, Liam Cosgrave, and Jack Lynch supported business initiatives by David P. Tyndall and his sons. Eamon de Valera[1] (born Edward George de Valera, Irish name Éamonn de Bhailéara (October 14, 1882 – August 29, 1975), was an Irish politician, best known as a leader of Irelands struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th Century, and the Republican anti-Treaty opposition in... Liam Cosgrave (Irish name Liam Mac Cosgair) (born 13 April 1920), served as the fifth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland between 1973 and 1977. ... John (Jack) Mary Lynch (15 August 1917—20 October 1999), was the fourth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving two terms in office; 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. ...

In 1963, he introduced the Dutch-based supermarket chain, SPAR, into Ireland, enabling the traditional small family-owned grocers to join forces and adjust to the competition from major supermarket chains, whilst retaining the benefits of friendly scale, and local flavour. This article is about the convenience store. ...

Other interests

He held a life-long interest in horse-racing, and at one time owned a racehorse. A devout Roman Catholic, he was also a generous benefactor to the Church and various charities. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ...

Tributes

Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister), the late Liam Cosgrave, and many other leaders of the political, business, and community sectors attended David P. Tyndall’s funeral in 1970. The Taoiseach (plural: Taoisigh) or, more formally, An Taoiseach, is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet. ... Liam Cosgrave (Irish name Liam Mac Cosgair) (born 13 April 1920), served as the fifth Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland between 1973 and 1977. ...

Companies founded

• Doherty, Tyndall & Co. Ltd.
• D. Tyndall & Sons, Ltd.
• Farm Sales, Ltd.
• Creamery packers, Ltd.
• Efficient Distribution, Ltd. (Golden Goose Stores)
• SPAR Ireland Ltd.
• Cameron Markets, Ltd.
• Park Markets, Ltd.
• Greenhills Produce , Ltd.
• Phoenix Markets, Ltd.

Mergers

• National Packers, Ltd.
• Sugar Distributors, Ltd.
• Amalgamated Wholesalers, Ltd. (AWL)

Business Associations founded

• RG Data - Retail Grocery, Dairy and Allied Trades

External links

• RG Data [1]
• SPAR Ireland [2]

Background references

• Tyndall manuscript genealogies: see MS. vols. F.3.23, F.3.27, F.4.18 in Trinity College Library, Dublin
• The Book of Dignities, by Joseph Haydn, 3rd edition, W.H. Allen & Co., London, 1894.
• Fairbairn's Book of Crests of Families of Great Britain and Ireland, by James Fairbairn, (2 Vols.)T.C. & E.C. Jack, London, 1905.
• Prerogative Wills of Ireland (1536-1810) - Index, by Sir Arthur Vicars, Dublin, 1897.
• A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, by John Burke, London, 1838.
• A Guide to Irish Country Houses, by Mark Bence-Jones, Constable & Co.Ltd., London, 1988. (pages 19 and 41).
• Dublin Almanacks, 1830, 1840, 1860.