Biography - Nabob- Circa 1927                                                                            < Back to Gallery 

Ontario born grocer Robert Kelly died in Vancouver June 22, 1922.  He was 60.  Robert came to Vancouver in 1890 and was the co-founder of Kelly, Douglas & Co. Ltd. Wholesale Grocers on Water St. of historic Gastown.  In 1901, his partner Frank Douglas drowned en route from Skagway to Vancouver when the ship he was aboard hit an iceberg and sank.  Franks brother Edward took over his role in the company.  The firm introduced their own coffee in 1896 just before Franks death and its trade name, Nabob, became a household word.  Kraft bought the brand in 1994 and is now the 2nd biggest selling roast and ground coffee in Canada.