Category Archives: Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies

Sainsbury’s Story

Posted on June 2, 2025 by buildingourpast

Sainsbury’s underwent a radical transformation from humble origins in the dairy trade to win favour in London’s polite suburbs and, eventually, become one of Britain’s favourite supermarkets. The founder, John James Sainsbury, began his career as a shopboy. Towards the … Continue reading →

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The Sumptuous Shops of The Mazawattee Tea Co.

Posted on May 28, 2025 by buildingourpast

Thumbing through their daily newspapers, Victorian consumers were assailed by pictorial advertisement for Mazawattee tea. Indulging nostalgia and sentiment, some featured a dear old lady enjoying tea with her granddaughter, while in others a young woman happily read the future … Continue reading →

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Introducing Self-Service Shopping in the British Isles

Posted on May 20, 2023 by buildingourpast

The co-operative movement is considered the pioneer of self-service shopping in the UK. It opened its first self-service section in Romford in 1942 and its first fully self-service store in Upton Park in 1948. My recently published article, ‘The great … Continue reading →

Posted in Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies, Self-Service Shopping | 1 Comment

Debunking ‘Britain’s First Supermarket’: The Myth of Manor Park

Posted on January 16, 2023 by buildingourpast

On 12 January 2023 social media was awash with blogs and posts – including ones published by respected bodies like the British Library and Historic England – celebrating the opening of ‘the first British supermarket’ on 12 January 1948 at … Continue reading →

Posted in Co-operative Stores, Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies, Self-Service Shopping, Shop Stories | 6 Comments

The Centenary of Britain’s First Self-Service Grocery Shop

Posted on January 9, 2023 by buildingourpast

One hundred years ago the very first self-service grocery shop in the British Isles was opened in North London by the multiple provision dealer David Greig (1866-1952), a rival of J. Sainsbury’s. This pioneering retail experiment was ignored by contemporary … Continue reading →

Posted in David Greig, Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies, Self-Service Shopping | 2 Comments

Irwin’s ‘Ruby Red Stores’

Posted on July 11, 2022 by buildingourpast

Irwin’s was a popular regional grocery chain from the 1880s until 1960, when it was taken over by Tesco and phased out. The shops spread from the company’s Liverpool heartland, along the North Wales coast. The founder, John Irwin (1839-1920), … Continue reading →

Posted in Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies | 10 Comments

Kays Modern Food Stores

Posted on April 20, 2022 by buildingourpast

Kays’ shop at 3 High Street, Ely, is a surviving remnant of a grocery chain that had over 100 small branches throughout much of South-East England and the Midlands in the middle of the 20th century, before the age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies, Shop Stories | 3 Comments

Queens and GEM: Building Asda, 1965-1970

Posted on March 30, 2022 by buildingourpast

When Asda (capitalised as ASDA from 1985) came into being in 1965 the grocery and provisions trade was undergoing a radical transformation throughout the British Isles. Small counter-service shops were gradually being superseded by self-service ‘supermarkets’, defined as having a … Continue reading →

Posted in ASDA, Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies | 6 Comments

Buttercup Dairy Company

Posted on May 19, 2021 by buildingourpast

A Potted History of the Buttercup Dairy Co. Ltd. The Buttercup Dairy Co. devised one of the most artistic and coherent retail house styles to be found on Scottish high streets in the 20th century. The shops of few other … Continue reading →

Posted in Buttercup Dairy Co, Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies, Self-Service Shopping | 2 Comments

Food Experts: William Jackson & Son Ltd. of Hull

Posted on August 15, 2020 by buildingourpast

The History of William Jackson & Son Ltd. The Hull-based grocery, provisions and bakery business of William Jackson & Son Ltd. evolved into a coherent chain of convenience stores which was taken over by Sainsbury’s in 2004. The founder, William … Continue reading →

Posted in Grocers, Provision Dealers and Dairies, William Jackson & Son Ltd. | 7 Comments