J. Sainsbury
1869 John James Sainsbury and his wife Mary Ann founded Sainsbury's on their wedding day, 20 April 1869.
Their first shop was a dairy at 173 Drury Lane, Holborn, London, run by Mary Ann while John James worked out his notice.
The early success of the business was assured by offering, in hygienic surroundings, high-quality dairy products and fresh provisions at prices which even London's poor could afford.
Their slogan was 'Quality perfect, prices lower' - this appeared on their early shop fascias. Soon they opened two further branches in Kentish Town.
By the early 1880s also had premises in Islington and Stepney.
1882 A significant venture was acquisition of a shop in Croydon, the first branch outside London. It offered a wider range of provisions including foreign cheeses, poultry and game, and 'table delicacies' (cooked meats). The distinctive Sainsbury's house style was developed here.
Six Sainsbury sons took up positions in the business. See John Benjamin Sainsbury, George Sainsbury, Frank Sainsbury, Arthur Sainsbury, Alfred Sainsbury and Paul James Sainsbury
1922 J. Sainsbury Ltd was incorporated as a joint stock company. John James became life chairman and governing director.
Post WWII: With the ending of food rationing and restrictions on new building, Sainsbury's was a leader in introducing self-service stores, supported by computerized stock control. .
1973 Public flotation of the company. The Sainsbury family remained major shareholders (82 percent) and retained executive responsibility until 1998. The company had 190 shops and was the second largest grocery chain in the country after the Co-op[1]
J. Sainsbury plc diversified into other retailing activities and operated four store chains in the UK and USA.
1979 Set up DIY chain Homebase with minority holding by GIB of Belgium[2]
By the end of 1985, Sainsbury's had 274 supermarkets as well as 36 Homebase DIY stores and 6 Savacentres operated in conjunction with British Home Stores[3]
1995 Acquired Texas Homecare which was merged with Homebase.
1996 GIB sold its share of Homebase to Sainsbury's
1997 Sainsbury's Bank, a joint venture with the Bank of Scotland, was established in 1997.
2004 Acquired the supermarket division of the William Jackson company, Jacksons Stores, based in North Ferriby with 114 stores, for £100 million.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia
- Biography of the Sainsbury family, ODNB