Sainsbury’s
British supermarket history
The story of Sainsbury’s
Founded as a dairy shop at 173 Drury Lane, London. Developed branded food, distribution depots and eventually self-service supermarkets; floated on the stock market in 1973.
Ownership and development
J Sainsbury plc. Founded as a dairy shop at 173 Drury Lane, London. Developed branded food, distribution depots and eventually self-service supermarkets; floated on the stock market in 1973.
Branding through the years
Early shop lettering and uniform own-label packaging; Leonard Beaumont packaging work after self-service; Peter Dixon-era graphic design; later orange corporate identity.
Historical milestones
- 1869 | First Drury Lane shop
- 1882 | Croydon branch
- 1950 | Croydon self-service conversion
- 1973 | Stock market flotation
Archive and image rights
Consult the linked historical source for further research. Archive images, logos and packaging should only be reproduced with suitable permission or a verified reuse licence.
Brand timeline
First Drury Lane shop
Croydon branch
Croydon self-service conversion
Stock market flotation
Community memories
Personal recollections from visitors. These are not independently verified historical facts.
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