Heritage - Celebrating 140 years

Looking back, moving forward

This year we’re celebrating our 140th Anniversary – our first store opened in London’s Drury Lane in 1869. When John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury founded the business it was on the principle of helping people in the poorer parts of London eat a better diet, despite having little money to spend on food.

The ‘Quality perfect, prices lower’ strap line was on the front of our first store and 140 years later we’re still guided by the principle of offering great quality food at fair prices. And right now, when getting value for money is important to so many of us, this simple principle matters as much as ever.

Sainsbury’s pioneered the introduction of own-label lines in 1882 and our extensive heritage provides customers today with a unique proposition in Sainsbury’s own-brand products. Over the years the company has led the way on ingredient standards and product innovation and the quality of Sainsbury’s own-brand products is widely recognised. Red Label tea is the oldest own-brand product still sold today and became Fairtrade in 2007.

May 2009

Transcript of video

[Children getting up and having breakfast]

1869, made good food affordable for all.

[Scene of Sainsbury’s in 1869]

1914, first employed women.

[Archive photo of group]

[Series of scenes, 1940s]

1944, halved our labels to save resources.

1962, introduced the Avocado pear.

[Summer scenes]

2007, made reusable bags sexy.

[Series of scenes – breakfast again]

2009, all eggs from cage-free British hens.

Sainsbury’s – trying something new for 140 years.