English-born John Grey migrated to Australia in the 1850s. In 1860 he crossed the Tasman and settled initially in Dunedin, and north to Auckland in 1867 setting up as a confectioner, importer & retailer at 187 Queen Street. In 1874 he purchased the Eden Crescent site from Charles Sutton and advertised as a “Patent Stopper Aerated-Water Works selling lemonade, soda, tonic, and all kinds of Mineral Water, Superior Cordial Liqueurs, Ginger & Quinine Wine & Sarsparilla” and still importing “all kinds of English Confectionery”.

In 1880, having earlier sent one of his sons to England to learn about the business, John Grey brought his sons into the business which became J Grey & Sons, and began to expand, installing new machinery and setting up branches at Onehunga and later at Devonport and at Coromandel.

When John Grey died in 1896 he had three sons in the business which continued to operate as J Grey & Sons until 1902 when the company merged with Menzies & Co. to form Grey &^ Menzies

Later changes were as follows:

J Grey & Sons 1880-1902; Grey & Menzies 1902-1964; Oasis Industries (with CL Innes Ltd) after 1964