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List of supermarket chains in the United Kingdom facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Tesco, Hemsworth (1st May 2022)
Tesco is the largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom.

There are 16 supermarket chains currently operating in the United Kingdom. The food retail market has been dominated by the 'big four' supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons – who made up over three quarters of sector market share in 2010. Tesco is the largest retailer in Great Britain, with a market share of 27.5% at the end of 2022.

However, discounters Lidl and Aldi have grown rapidly. A number of sources reported that in September 2022, Aldi overtook Morrisons to become Great Britain's fourth largest grocery retailer. At the end of 2022, Morrisons and Aldi both remained at 9.1%. Collectively, the big four accounted for two thirds and the big four and discounters combined for four fifths of the grocery market share at the end of 2022.

Northern Ireland has similar major chains. In 2022, Tesco was the largest retailer in NI, followed by Sainsbury's, Asda and Lidl. However, the market is different because some chains are not shared between the different parts of the UK. For example, Aldi and Morrisons do not operate there.

List of current UK supermarket chains

Supermarket Image Founded/
came to UK
Owned by Headquarters Market share (%) Number
of stores
Types of stores Notes
2021 2007 2000
Aldi UK AldiWorldwideLogo.svg
1990
Aldi Süd GmbH Atherstone 8.0 2.6 1.5 960 No frills supermarket
Amazon Fresh UK AmazonFreshWordmark.svg
2021
Amazon London - - - 19 Cashierless store
Asda ASDA logo.svg
1949
TDR Capital (45%)
Zuber Issa & Mohsin Issa (45%)
Walmart (10%)
Leeds 14.6 16.6 14.1 603
  • Asda
  • Asda Supercentre
  • Asda Superstore
  • Asda Express
  • Asda On the Move
Founded from the merger of Associated Dairies and the Asquith family owned Queens Supermarket.
Booths Booths Central Office - geograph.org.uk - 1369512
1847
Booth Family and staff Preston - - - 28 Only operating in northern England
Co-op Food The Co-Operative clover leaf logo.svg
1844
Various consumers' co-operatives Manchester 5.7 4.4 5.4 2,500
  • Co-op
  • Co-op On the Go
  • Nisa Express
  • Nisa Local
  • Nisa Extra
  • Welcome
Identities shared by about 16 retail co-operatives, including the seven largest:
  • Central Co-op
  • Co-op
  • East of England Co-op
  • Lincolnshire Co-op
  • Scotmid
  • Southern Co-op
  • Your Co-op
Farmfoods Farmfoods logo.svg
1954
UK private company Cumbernauld - 0.5 - 340 Started as a meat processing business in Aberdeen in 1954.

Primarily focused on Frozen foods

Opened first retail outlet in the 1970s also in Aberdeen.

Heron Foods Heron Foods logo.svg
1979
B&M Melton - - - 290
  • Heron Foods
  • B&M Express
Primarily frozen foods; operates stores throughout the Midlands and the North.
In 2012, Cooltrader was acquired by Heron foods, and all stores were rebranded as Heron Foods by 2017.
Heron Foods was acquired by B&M in 2017, and since 2018, some stores have been rebranded as B&M Express.
Iceland Iceland with the The Food Warehouse logo.png
1970
UK private company Deeside 2.3 1.6 2.8 1030
  • Iceland
  • Iceland Local
  • The Food Warehouse
First store opened at Oswestry, Shropshire in 1970
Lidl GB Lidl-Logo.svg
1994
Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG Kingston upon Thames 6.1 2.2 1.3 935 No frills supermarket
Marks & Spencer M&S new no tagline.png
1884
Publicly traded on the
London Stock Exchange
London - 4.3 - 852 Clothing and food retailer
Morrisons Wm Morrison Supermarkets logo.svg
1899

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Bradford 9.8 11.2 4.9 542
  • Morrisons
  • Morrisons Superstore
  • Morrisons Daily
Fourth biggest supermarket in the UK. From 2011 to 2015 also operated M Local (later MyLocal) convenience stores.
Ocado
2002
Publicly traded on the
London Stock Exchange
Hatfield 1.8 - - 0 Online only, product supply partnership with M&S.
Oseyo Oseyo dark brown 오세요 orange.png
2015
UK private company Kingston upon Thames 0 - - 11 Korean & Asian goods chain which also sells Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian and products from across Asia.
Proudfoot Supermarkets
1948
Family owned Scarborough - - - 5 Small independent chain operating in North Yorkshire.
Sainsbury's Sainsbury's Logo.svg
1869
Publicly traded on the
London Stock Exchange
London 15.5 16.2 17.9 1,430
  • Sainsbury's
  • Sainsbury's Superstore
  • Sainsbury's Local
Tesco Tesco Logo.svg
1919
Publicly traded on the
London Stock Exchange
Welwyn Garden City 27.7 31.6 25.0 3,443 (UK) In May 2021, Tesco announced the rebranding of its Metro stores as either Tesco Express or Tesco.
Budgens is a supermarket chain located in England and Wales, owned by Tesco following its 2018 purchase of Booker Group.
Londis, Premier, and Family Shopper are symbol groups owned by Tesco with the purchase of Booker Group.
Waitrose & Partners Waitrose Logo.svg
1904
John Lewis Partnership Bracknell 5.0 3.9 2.7 344
  • Waitrose
  • Little Waitrose
  • John Lewis Foodhall
  • Food, Fashion & Home
  • Food & Home
  • Welcome Break outlets
    (motorway services)

List of defunct UK supermarket chains

These supermarkets are either no longer trading, have been renamed, or have been taken over and rebranded.


Supermarket Image Founded/
came to UK
Fate Closed Notes
Adsega 1960 Bought by Tesco 1965 Formed by Martin Green and Henry Seaberg. Chain of grocers and supermarkets in the North East, that was based on the budget model and had around 50 stores, before being purchased by Tesco in 1965 for just over £1 million.
Ailsa Superstores 1970s Small chain of supermarkets based in Scotland, owned by Allied Suppliers (51%) and Goldberg Department Stores (49%)
AJ & M Freezer Foods Purchased by Iceland Newcastle-upon-Tynd based freezer food chain.
APT Stores Chain of small supermarkets with the catchphrase The Store with More.
Axe Stores Discounter started in late 1970s by Italian supermarket chain PAM with British partner Hintons in 1976. PAM bought out Hintons in 1978. The 15 store business was bought by the management team in 1987. The company used the slogan Axe – Cut of Value.
Bateman & Sons Bought by Booker Group and merged into Budgens 1973 Chain of 31 supermarkets and 17 self-service stores based in South Wales.
Bejam 1968 Bought by Iceland 1989 Frozen food chain started by John Adthorp in London, it grew to become the biggest frozen food retailer and the largest seller of freezers and microwaves in the United Kingdom. The business was bought by Iceland after a hostile bid.
Big W 1998 Discontinued, rebranded as Woolworths 2004 21-store chain of megastores started by Kingfisher plc, to include all the products of their chains, Woolworths, B&Q, Comet and Superdrug. Seven of the stores sold groceries via a partnership deal with Booker Group. The seven grocery operating stores were sold to Asda and Tesco, with the remaining 14 stores rebranded and downsized under the regular Woolworths banner.
Bishops Stores Bought by Budgens 1984 63 stores in south east England
Bonimart Freezer Centre 1981 Purchased by Argyll Foods and added to Cordon Bleu chain.
BP Safeway 30 1998 Dissolved 2004 Joint-venture between Safeway and BP that operated forecourt convenience stores. The venture was dissolved following Safeway's purchase by Morrisons in 2004 as the company had no plans to enter into the convenience store market, and in September 2005, Morrisons sold twenty-one of the sites to Tesco and would be converted to Tesco Express stores, while the other nine reverted to BP ownership through a Right of first refusal. BP later signed a deal with Somerfield to take over stores at five locations.
Brian Ford's Discount Store 1975 Bought by Tesco in 2004 2010 Opened by Brian Ford after the sale of the family Ford & Lock business to Gateway in 1974. The business opened in the former Deveres Kensington engineering building in Barnstaple, Devon expanding with an extension in 1981. The business was based on the 'cash & carry' principle.

The business was purchased by Tesco in 2004, with the store closing in June 2010 after permission was granted to demolish the site and build a Tesco Extra in its place.

Brierleys Supermarkets Went into receivership in 1974. Superseded by Hillyards supermarket Embrionic supermarket chain founded by Frank Brierley, a former market trader in Northamptonshire, offering very low prices with a moderate choice of products; on occasions the owner would set up a market stall right in the middle of the supermarket. Launched an own brand range with the pirate logo.
Budgens 1872 Became a convenience store symbol group Grocery store chain, that was initially based in the South East of England. Owned by several companies, including Booker Group on two occasions, the business left the supermarket trade under the ownership of the Musgrave Group to concentrate on convenience stores before becoming a symbol group.
Burton Supermarkets Bought by Fine Fare Small Nottinghamshire based supermarket chain purchased by Fine Fare and re-branded
Capital Freezer Centres Bought by Farmfoods Chain of freezer stores located in England and Scotland; owned by United Biscuits since 1979; a management buyout happened in 1989
J.C. Carline Bought by Associated British Foods, rebranded as Fine Fare Supermarket chain of around 40 stores owned by grocers William Cussons. Cussons were purchased by Great Universal Stores in 1962. The business was sold to Associated British Foods and integrated into its subsidiary Fine Fare
Carrefour 1970s Exited out of UK market, sold to Gateway/Somerfield, then later to Asda 1990 French retailer went into partnership with Wheatsheaf Distribution & Trading Ltd.
Cartier's Superfoods 1969 Bought by Tesco 1979 Small Kent based supermarket chain started by Lewis Cartier in 1969, the chain was taken over by Tesco for £19.4 million.
Cater Brothers 1881 Became part of Presto 1979 Henry John Cater founded the grocery and provisions business in Mile End, London 1881. Cater Brothers were a South East-based chain. When their first supermarket (Bromley,Kent) opened in 1958 it was the largest in the UK. In 1972 they were bought out by Debenhams after the death of the chairman Leslie Cater in the same plane crash that killed F J Wallis. In 1979 Debenhams sold the chain to Allied Suppliers who re-branded the stores under their Presto brand.
Cave Austin and Company 1896 Taken over by Burton, Son and Sanders in 1963. Purchased by Moore Stores in 1966. 1966 Cave Austin and Co., Ltd was a chain of Grocery Stores and Cafés in the South East of England. At its height, there were over fifty branches over South-East London, North-East London, Kent, and Surrey as well as cafés in many major South Coast resorts such Deal in Kent and St Leonards-on-Sea and Hastings in Sussex.
Cee N'Cee Late 1950s Purchased by Kwik Save in 1978. 1978 Discount supermarket started in Kidsgrove by Alex Humphries, who sold the 49 store chain to Kwik Save in 1978.
Challenge Supermarket Became part of Frank Dee Supermarket based in Yorkshire owned by Wheatsheaf and Distribution & Trading Ltd, that was purchased by Frank Dee in the 1980s and incorporated into the chain.
Cooltrader Maghull Square - Cool Trader.JPG Bought by Heron Foods 2017 Opened in Wrexham, founded by Iceland founder Malcolm Walker. Cooltrader became part of Iceland after Malcolm Walker's takeover of that business, then sold in 2012 to Heron Foods. The location In Shrewsbury still has the cooltrader branding
Coopers & Co Bought by Fine Fare 1955 Scotland based supermarket and grocers chain bought by Fine Fare and re-branded as Coopers Fine Fare
Cordon Bleu Freezer Food Centres 1970 Purchased by Argyll Supplies Chain of freezer shops started by W N Cassell in 1970, before being purchased by Argyll Supplies subsidiary Louis C Edwards; several chains were purchased and added by Argyll to form second largest freezer chain after Bejam; stores were re-branded under the Lo-cost or Presto name
Crazy Prices Bought by Tesco Associated British Foods owned Northern Ireland group
Curleys Supermarkets and wine cellars 1960s Supermarkets were sold to Sainsburys in 2008 and the remaining 11 Wine Cellars to WineFlair seven years later in 2015 Supermarkets (2009) Wine Cellars (2017) Chain of supermarkets and Wine stores in Northern Ireland
Dalgety Freezer Centres Bought by James Gullivers Argyll Supplies 38 freezer centre bought by James Gulliver and added to Argyll Supplies Cordon Bleu business.
Danish Food Centre
David Greig Bought by Fitch Lovell Grocery store chain started in South London, that in 1972 became part of Wrensons. The Wrensons business was renamed David Greig in 1973. The business was nearly sold to Combined English Stores, but they withdrew their bid after concerns regarding the company's finances, and it was eventually sold to Fitch Lovell. Fitch Lovell sold off many of the stores to recoup the purchase price, and in the late 1970s merged the firm into it's Keymarkets business.
DEE Discount Stores Re-branded as Gateway, later Somerfield now owned by Co-op Chain of supermarkets based in North East of England; parent company Linfood Holdings purchased the smaller Gateway chain and re-branded stores as Gateway and the parent company as Dee Corporation
Dewhurst Freezer Food Centres Chain of 52 freezer stores.
Downsway Supermarkets Bought by Fine Fare 1976 East Anglian based supermarket group with 80 stores owned by Vestey Group. Group had purchased grocery stores Platt Stores and C.H.Kaye, and had £10.9 million in sales during 1974. 47 stores were sold in 1976 and converted to Fine Fare stores. The remaining stores were converted to Freezer Fare.
Elmo Stores Bought by Fine Fare 1967 Started as grocery store chain by Mossy Vanger, a cousin of Jack Cohen. The business grew into a small chain of 28 stores based in East Anglia and the South of England. The business was purchased by South African retailer O.K Bazaars in 1962. It was later purchased for £1m by Fine Fare and run as Elmo Discount Centres before being re-branded under either Fine Fare or Shoppers Paradise.
Fairway c.1960s Bought by Frank Dee 1980s Doncaster based chain of supermarkets started by Mr. Harry Round, bought by Frank Dee in 1980s and merged into that chain
Fine Fare
A Fine Fare store in Thirsk, 1968
1951 Bought by Gateway 1986 Britain's third supermarket until the 1980s behind Tesco and Sainsburys; bought by Gateway Corp. in 1986 and shops rebranded as Gateway by 1988
Fulham Frozen Foods Purchased by Iceland Doncaster based frozen food retailer
Fulton's Foods Fultons Foods - Bramley Shopping Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1779516.jpg 1974 Bought by Poundland 2022 Primarily frozen foods supermarket chain based in South Yorkshire with branches across the Midlands and North of England; acquired by Poundland in October 2020. In February 2022, Poundland announced the closure of all remaining Fulton's Foods stores.
Food Giant 1970s Rebranded as Kwik Save 1990s Originally part of Somerfield group, all stores converted to Kwik Save following the Somerfield/Kwik Save merger
Ford & Lock 1960 Sold to Gateway 1974 36 shops across south-west England; owner Brian Ford went on to open a new store in his own name
Freezer Fare Bought by Argyll Group 1980 66 freezer store chain formed by Vestey from the remainder of Downsway, bought by Argyll Group and added to Cordon Bleu chain
Freezeway Bought by Farmfoods Small chain of freezershops bought by Farmfoods
FreshXpress
FreshXpress Fawdon, a typical style of FreshXpress store inherited from Kwik Save, this store has since been demolished and a new Netto store proposed
2007 Administration in 2008, liquidated in 2009 2009 Smaller stores of former Kwik Save chain; bought out by management team led by Brendan Murtagh
Frank Dee Supermarkets Re-branded as Gateway, later Somerfield now owned by Co-op Chain of supermarkets based in North East of England; parent company Linfood Holdings purchased the smaller Gateway chain and re-branded stores as Gateway and the parent company as Dee Corporation
Galbraith supermarkets 1894 Bought by Allied Suppliers, then Argyll Group Scottish chain
Gateway Foodmarkets
A Gateway supermarket in Skegness, 1992
1950 Rebranded as Somerfield 1992
Goodfellows Hull and East Yorkshire based chain
Grandways Some stores sold to Argyll Group for their Presto chain and Kwik Save, remainder renamed Jacksons 1992/3 Regional in Yorkshire
Granville Supermarkets 31 stores purchased by International Stores.
GT Smith Bought by Co-operative Group 2002 Regional in West Yorkshire
J. Gunn & Co Voluntary Liquidation 1970 Started life as corn merchant stores, but moved into the self service grocery and supermarket business during the 1950s and 60s, operating under the names Gunn Self-Service Stores, Selina Supermarkets and Selina Superettes. Company went into voluntary liquidation.
Haldanes 2009 (including UGO stores) 2011 Fell into Administration
Hanburys 1889 Bought by Co-Op 1997 Started in 1889 when Jeremiah Hanbury opened a small store in Market Street, Farnworth, selling butter and bacon. In 1929, the business was bought by Bolton wholesale grocers E.H. Steele Ltd. In 1997 the 31 Hanburys stores, which cover the north-west, including 8 in Bolton, were acquired by United Norwest Co-op and subsequently re-branded.
Heagneys Supermarkets 1999 North East chain, who purchased fellow local business Star Discount and operated from 12 stores.
Hodgson & Hepworth South Yorkshire grocery chain based in Doncaster. Supermarket at St Sepulchre Gate. Purchased by Fine Fare, closed in 1979 and became a Primark.
Hillards 1880 Bought by Tesco 1988 Several locations throughout Midlands, North East
Hintons Bought by Argyll Foods to become part of Presto Mainly in North East England and Yorkshire
Homefare Supermarket Based in former Wickhams Department Store building on Mile End Road.
Home and Colonial Stores 1883 Bought by Cavenham Foods 1972 Acquired Lipton's (1931), Galbraith's (1954), Andrew Cochrane, A. Massey and Sons, R. and J. Templeton and Vye and Son. Converted to Presto or Lo-Cost stores
Hollis Supermarkets Former Grocery business based in Norfolk and Suffolk which opened several supermarkets, including a store in the former Boundary Garage on Hellesdon and the current site of Wilkinson in Gorleston.
Igloo Purchased by Iceland North East based freezer food chain.
Imperial Stores Bought by International 1977 Grocery store group in South Buckinghamshire. Purchased by International Stores in 1949. High Wycombe branch converted to a supermarket in 1963. Closed when International Stores bought Price-rite chain which had a store opposite.
Irwin's Stores Bought by Tesco
International 1874 Bought by Dee Corporation 1996 Stores were re-branded gateway or sold off to competitors
Anthony Jackson Foodfare Bought by Victor Value
Jacksons Bought by J Sainsbury 2008 See also Grandways, above, which was originally part of the same group. Stores originally traded under the Jacksons name, and were slowly converted to the Grandways brand. After the sale to Sainsbury, the Jackson name was revived for a chain of smaller stores in the Wm Jackson until they were sold and were re-branded Sainsbury's Local.
James Duckworth Wright's Biscuits was purchased by Cavenham Foods in 1971, and was merged with Moores Stores into holding company Cavenham-Southland. Stores were re-branded under Moores Stores. Founded by James Duckworth, and known as Jimmy Ducks, the grocery chain grew to 180 stores across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire. The business was bought by Wright's Biscuits in 1958, and during the 1960s started opening supermarkets under the James Duckworth brand.
John Gardner Bought by Safeway 1963 Small chain of supermarkets based in London. Purchased along with sister brand Prideaux for £1.2 million.
Kenton Supermarkets Small chain based in North West of England
Key Markets Supermarkets Bought by Dee Corporation Created by food giant Fitch Lovell in 1963. Purchased by Dee Corporation in 1983. Re-branded as Gateway.
Kibby's Supermarkets Chain of supermarkets owned by Unigate. The business was sold off to Laws Stores in the early 70s.
Kingsway Supermarkets Small chain based in the South West. Became part of Gateways.
Kwik Save Closed branch of Kwik Save in Warrington, 13 July 2007 1959 Administration Company purchased by Somerfield in 1998. Name and 177 stores sold by Somerfield in 2006 but went into administration in 2007. The name was later purchased by Costcutter who began opening convenience stores under the name in 2012.
Laws Stores c.1890s Bought by Wm Low for £7.1 million in 1985 1985 Chain of supermarkets focused on North East England
Lennons Supermarkets 1958 Bought by Dee Corporation Chain of Supermarkets and off-licences based in North East. Started out as a wholesaler in 1900, before opening a chain of grocers in between the wars. Opened their first supermarket in 1956 in Widnes and by 1974 operated 34 supermarkets and 49 off licences. The company had 41 supermarkets and 96 off-licenses

when it was bought by the Dee Corporation in 1984 for £23 million. The stores were re-branded as Gateway.

Leos Rebranded Co-operative Pioneer Name given to larger co-operative stores during the 1980s
Liptons 1871 Bought by Allied Suppliers Converted to Presto or Lo-Cost stores
Lo-Cost Converted to Safeway. Some stores sold to other chains e.g. Kwik Save.
Lodges 1921 Bought by Co-operative Retail Services 1995 Trading name of F and A E Lodge. Founded in Huddersfield by Albert and Frank Lodge growing to more than 30 shops, mainly in market halls in West Yorkshire and Lancashire by the early 1960s. Opening first supermarket in a converted cinema in Marsh, followed by another converted cinema at Waterloo. Market hall shops were then closed with other supermarket branches opening in Meltham, Huddersfield Town Centre, Crossland Moor, Lepton, Darwen, and finally Honley and Holmfirth in 1975. In later 1960s Clough Mill in Birkby bought with plans for 90,000 sq ft hypermarket. Objections delayed opening until 1978 and it was sold to Asda in 1980. Remaining stores in management buyout in 1991 for more than £5 million. Chain sold to Co-operative Retail Services in March 1995.
Lowfreeze Bought by Bejam Small chain of freezer shops started by W M Low as part of expansion plans. The business was bought by Bejam.
Mac Food Centre Bought by International Stores 1978 Supermarket chain created by Unilever by expanding their Wet fish stores, Mac Fisheries. Was further expanded by the purchase of Premier from Express Dairy's
Madora Supermarkets Chain of supermarkets owned by Fitch Lovell's subsidiary Key Markets.
Mainstop Acquired by Gateway 1981
Markdown Supermarkets Stores nationwide including Nantwich Road, Crewe, Prescot, Denton, Disbury and Tottenham
A. Massey & Sons Bought by Home & Colonial Chain of Scottish grocery stores purchased by Home & Colonial. The chain opened a few supermarkets.
Memory Brothers Bought by Wallis Supermarkets 1974 Grocers that were owned by the Matthews Butchery chain and operated 6 supermarkets, including opening in Woolwich in the former Century cinema. The business was sold to F J Wallis in 1974.
Mercury Market Bought by Fine Fare Chain of supermarkets based in the North West opened by the De Rooy family who had previously run grocers.
Merlin Supermarkets Bought by Associated British Foods 1967 Chain of supermarkets formed by Melias. The original business was set up as a separate company, but in 1961 Melias closed the company and transferred management internally. A majority shareholding in Melias was purchased by Associated British Foods (ABF) in 1967, with many of the management structure shared with ABF's Fine Fare business and Merlin's stores rebranded under the Fine Fare name. ABF purchased the remaining shares in Melias in 1972 and was merged into Fine Fare holding company.
Midland Supermarket Had a branch in Earle Street, Crewe.
Moores Stores Bought by Cavenham Foods in 1971; Merged with Sister group owned by Wright's Biscuits; added to Cavenham's Allied Suppliers group in 1976/77. 1977 Chain of small supermarkets based in the North East of England which had a turnover of £53m in 1969/70 The store was bought by Cavenham Foods in 1971 after purchasing the shareholdings of Wright's Biscuits owner Willie Webster.

The stores of Wright's and Moores were merged into a new group, Cavenham-Southland, part owned by 7-eleven owner Southland Corporation. The stores were later transferred to Cavenham's Allied Suppliers division after it purchase in 1976, and were either rebranded under the Liptons or Presto nameplates.

Netto Nettobutik i Bjärred.jpg 1990 Bought by Asda 2011 Was a no frills supermarket. In 2010, Asda acquired Netto UK for £778M from Dansk Supermarked Group. In 2011, 147 of the stores were rebranded under the Asda Supermarket name, with the remaining 47 stores being sold off to other companies such as Morrisons and new convenience store UGO and other retailers due to competition laws.
Netto 2014 15 2016 Joint-venture with Sainsbury's. In July 2016, Sainsbury's ended the joint venture, scrapping the Netto name in the UK once again.
Normans supermarkets Bought by Plymco Chain of cash and carry stores in the South West. Founded by Ken Norman in Budleigh Salterton in 1957, becoming first cash and carry in the South West. 7 Stores across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall by 1979. Sold to Singlo Holdings who opened further stores before selling to Plymco.
Normid Rebranded Co-op Was owned by United Co-operatives
Norco Rebranded Co-op Aberdeen based co-operative society
Oakeshotts Purchased by Fine Fare Grocery and supermarket chain run by Barker & Dobson (originally called Scribbans-Kemp), which brought together 180 shops trading under 31 different names including United Counties, Baylis and Stevenson & Rush. The business had sales of £14.2 million in 1974. Purchased by Fine Fare.
Orchard Frozen Foods Went into receivership and 12 stores were bought by Iceland 1986 Chain of freezer centres based in the South East of England and owned by the Carr family. The business went into receivership in 1985 and 12 of the 37 stores were purchased by Iceland, after a bidding war with rival Bejam, for £910,000.
Paddy's Superstore Chain of 33 no frills grocery superstores. Purchased by Morgan Edwards, a wholesaling business that also owned Supavalu, which became part of Argyll Foods. The stores were either closed or moved to the Lo-Cost brand.
Peglers Stores Wright's Biscuits was purchased by Cavenham Foods in 1971, and merged with Moores Stores into holding company Cavenham-Southland. Stores were re-branded under Moores Stores. A grocery chain purchased by Wright's Biscuits that moved into the supermarket trade during the late 1960s.
Premier Supermarkets Premier Supermarket, Station Road, Harrow - geograph.org.uk - 380202.jpg Bought by Mac Fisheries 1965 Subsidiary of Express Dairies, opened UK's first supermarket in Streatham, South London in 1951. Sold after losing out on purchase of Irwin's stores to Tesco
Presto Presto Food Market, Cheltenham, 1982 1977 Rebranded as Safeway after purchasing the chain 1998
Price Rite Chain of stores purchased by British American Tobacco and incorporated into International Stores; some stores were re-branded as International Stores while 67 were sold to Argyll Foods.
Prideaux Bought by Safeway 1963 Small chain of supermarkets based in London. Purchased along with sister brand John Gardiner for £1.2 million.
Quality Fare Bought by the Co-operative Group in 2004. 19 store chain started by the Leathley family in 1969 and based in the North East.
Queens Supermarkets 1958 Merged with Associated Dairies and GEN to form ASDA 1965 Small chain of supermarkets started by Asquith family in Pontefract. In 1965 merged with Associated Dairies and purchased the GEN brand, relaunching as ASDA Queens, before becoming ASDA. ASDA is an abbreviation of ASquith and DAiries.
Rainbow Halesworth Rainbow Co-op, 1999.jpg Discontinued, rebranded as parent Co-op
Richway Supermarkets Retail chain operating in South of England and the Isle of Wight.
Robsons Eucomarket Based in Haxby Yorkshire.
Safeway Safeway Superstore, Bude - geograph.org.uk - 18245.jpg 1962 Bought by Morrisons 2005 Safeway Compact stores sold to Somerfield. Was still trading under Safeway in Channel Islands until becoming Waitrose in 2010.
Sainsbury's Freezer Centres 1974 Bought by Bejam 1986 Sainsburys opened the chain of freezer shops to try and compete with the new style of food store, with the first store opening in Southbourne near Bournemouth. By 1980 there was 21 freezer centres, but these were sold off in 1986 to Bejam.
Sainsbury's Savacentre Sainsburys in Sydenham - geograph.org.uk - 3334.jpg 1977 Discontinued, Rebranded Sainsbury's 2005 Savacentre was a joint project started by Sainsburys and BHS to compete in Hypermarket scene. Sainsburys added when BHS pulled out of the company.
Sanders Brothers 1877 Bankruptcy 1950s One of Britain's biggest grocers and food producers, with over 263 stores in 1937 within London and the South East. The business collapsed in the 1950s.
Savemore Hull based group created by Cliff Dunn and spread across the North.
Saverite 1968 Bought by West Midlands Co-operative Society which later became Mid-counties Co-operative after a merger with Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-operative 2000 Shropshire based grocery business started in 1869. Renamed Saverite in 1968 (from Morris & Co) and expanded into supermarkets. Sold to Mid-Counties Co-operative in 2000.
Savon Foods Converted to Key Markets 1970s A supermarket subsidiary set up by grocers, Green's Stores of Ilford, who were in turn owned by Fitch Lovell. Would eventually become part of their Key Markets chain.
Scan Superstores 1974 Sold to Tesco 1978 Two superstores setup by Debenhams to sell a mixture of food and non food products.
Schofield & Martin Rebranded Waitrose c.1965 Small chain of grocers based in South Essex purchased by Waitrose in 1944. Had the first self-service supermarket store within the Waitrose group in 1951.
SIMCO Supermarkets Taken over by Dunnes Stores Supermarket chain based in North of England.
Shoppers Paradise Taken over by Gateway Discount food store chain created by Associated British Foods from un-profitable Fine Fare stores. Became part of Gateway as part of Fine Fare purchase.
Shopping Giant Brand name for Co-op stores in the Greater Manchester area Brand name for CO-OP
Shop Rite 1972 Bought by Kwik Save, Still trades as ShopRite in the Isle of Man stocking a range of Waitrose & Iceland products as well as locally produced goods 1994 Discount supermarket chain started by Isle of Man business in Scotland, and expanded to the North of England between 1990 and 1994. The company's finances collapsed.
Smiths Freezer Centres c.1990s Small chain of freezer stores located in Essex; went into liquidation during the 1990s
Somerfield Oakwood Somerfield ShadowCrop.jpg 1875 Purchase agreed by the Co-operative Group on 16 July 2008 for £1.56bn; from 2009 many larger stores were sold off and smaller stores rebranded to The Co-operative Food 2011
Solo Trading name of Gateways - rebranded Somerfield Trading name created by Gateways
St Catherine's Freezer Centres Bought by Iceland 1983 Chain of 18 freezer centres located in Bristol and South West area
Star Discounts Bought by Heagneys Supermarkets in 1990s 1990s Goole based chain, with stores located across Teesside.
Stewarts Supermarket Limited Bought by Tesco Associated British Foods owned Northern Ireland group
Stitchers Supermarkets Bought by Downsway Small chain of supermarkets purchased by Downsway and re-branded
Supa Centa Supermarket brand owned 50% by Fitch Lovell.
Supa-Save 1960 Closed by owners Keddies 1970s Independent American style superstore opened by Southend's largest department store chain, Keddies, in the former Essoldo cinema. Store was closed in the 70s due to competition from national competitors, and the building demolished and the site used to extend the department store.
Supavalu Chain setup by Morgan Edwards Ltd, a Shrewsbury-based wholesaler. Morgan Edwards had 30% purchased by James Gulliver Associates subsidiary Avonmiles. In 1980, Morgan Edwards was purchased by Gulliver's other company, butchers Louis G Edwards for £4.3 million and became part of the newly formed Argyll Food in May 1980. The Supavalu brand was merged into the Lo-Cost brand.
Super Key Parent Key Markets was bought by Linwood Corporation, owners of Gateway. Stores were re-branded. Alternative brand name for certain larger Keymarket Stores. Largest store was in Wisbech.
Supermac 1964 Demolished to make way for Forrestside Shopping Centre Northern Ireland's first out of town supermarket opened by Anderson & Macauley.
Supernational Stores 1935 Bought by Gateway
Taskers 1961 Local supermarket based in Burnley and Blackpool, started by Eddie Skinner.
Templeton supermarkets 1880 Bought by Allied Suppliers then Argyll Group Scottish chain, rebranded as Presto
Tower Discount Were re-branded under Allied Suppliers brands 1977 Trading name given to the larger supermarkets owned by Cavenham-Southland.
Value Foods 1959 Re-branded as Kwik Save 1965 Opened as a grocery store in Rhyll in 1959, grew into a small supermarket chain operating in North Wales. In 1965 the brand name was changed to Kwik Save.
Victor Value Bought by Tesco 1968/1986 Chain created by the combine, London Grocers; larger stores were rebranded as Tesco after takeover; remaining stores were sold to Bejam in 1986, before being sold to Kwiksave in 1989 by Iceland after its purchase of Bejam.
Vye & Son: The Kentish Grocer 1817 Bought by Home & Colonial 1960s Independent chain of about 40 stores. Originally tea and coffee importers.
Wallis 1955 Bought by Somerfield 2003 Founded by Francis J Wallis of Rainham Essex in 1955. By 1968 there were 38 stores. In 1977 the chain's 100 stores were sold to British American Tobacco and merged with their already owned chain International Stores. The stores were re-branded International. The company officially still existed and was wound up by Somerfield, who had purchased International Stores in 2003.
Wallis Frozen Foods Purchased by Farmfoods 1990 A chain of 18 stores, Purchased by Farmfoods in the 1990, which was there foray into England.
Wavy Line Small chain of small supermarkets and convenience stores located in the South and South East of England
Walter Willson Bought by Alldays Chain of small supermarkets and convenience stores in the north east of England and Cumbria
Wellworths Bought by Musgrave Group & Safeway 1997 Northern Ireland supermarket chain split into Supervalu and Safeway
Whelan Discount Stores Bought by Morrisons for £1.5 million 1978 Chain of supermarkets based in Lancashire started by JJB Sports owner Dave Whelan
Wm Low Bought by Tesco Presence in Scotland and northern England
Williamson & Treadgold Bournemouth based grocers that opened a supermarket at The Hampshire Centre. The store was eventually purchased by Sainsburys.
Woolco 1966 Discontinued, rebranded as Woolworth and later bought by Gateway in 1986 1982 Hypermarket chain started by Woolworth
Wrensons 1909 Renamed David Greig 1973 Grocery store chain based in Birmingham, who were purchased by Martin & Peter Green, formerly of Adsega in 1972. They purchased fellow grocery store chain Redmans and David Greig, moving into the supermarket trade, before rebranding the business under the David Greig name.

Waitrose effect

Proximity to a supermarket has been widely reported to be an amenity that can have a significant effect on residential property prices in Britain. Beginning under Andy Hulme and continuing under Mike Songer, the home mortgage unit of Lloyds Bank has published pricing research that examines the premiums commanded by homes in a given neighbourhood against comparables in the same post-code and correlates the difference in price with convenience of access to the various supermarkets. The following table averages information from neighbourhoods across England and Wales, compiled by Lloyds Bank for their 2016 report using supermarket location information from CACI Datalab and house price information from the UK Land Registry.

Supermarket Nearby property
premium
(%) (£)
Waitrose 10% £38,666
Sainsbury's 10% £27,939
Marks & Spencer 9% £27,182
Tesco 9% £22,072
Iceland 8% £20,034
Co-op 8% £17,904
Morrisons 5% £10,558
Asda 2% £5,026
Lidl 2% £3,926
Aldi 1% £1,333

See also

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