| Industry | Grocery, General merchandise |
|---|---|
| Fate | Stores converted to Safeway |
| Successor | Safeway (UK) |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Hayes, Greater London |
| Parent | Safeway (UK) (Formerly Argyll Stores Ltd) |
Presto Foodmarkets was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in Great Britain. The brand finally disappeared during 1998.
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The company was established in the north of England and in Scotland in 1977 where its primary base remained but for some years Presto did have a nationwide presence. According to the Institute of Grocery Distribution the name derives from the town of Prestonpans, the location in which the first Presto store was opened. A store also opened around the same time in Preston Grange, Tyne and Wear.
Presto was a division of Allied Suppliers which also operated 500 Liptons supermarkets in England and Wales as well as the brands Galbraith and Templeton with around 85 supermarkets in Scotland. Allied also operated a discount chain, Lo-Cost as well as Cordon Bleu, a chain of freezer centres. Presto was the most significant brand, operating primarily large supermarkets and superstores throughout the country.
In 1982, Presto and its 136 stores transferred, together with the rest of Allied Suppliers to Argyll Foods Ltd. Allied Suppliers was sold by its then owner James Goldsmith for £101 million.[1]
For some time Argyll continued to operate the brands as it had acquired them. In 1984 Argyll acquired the Thornaby-based Amos Hinton plc which operated 55 supermarkets under the Hintons name in the North East of England, Cumbria and Yorkshire. Although the Hintons name remained above the door, Hintons' own brand products were quickly replaced with Presto brands as well as Argyll's "Basics" low price brand.[2]
The new Hintons store in Guisborough (today a Morrisons) was one of the last to be launched with the Hintons name, the interior of the store having already been fitted out in the Presto standard.
In 1985, Argyll began a major re-organisation of its food store division. In Scotland and Northern England, the Hintons, Liptons, Galbraith and Templeton stores were either rebranded as Presto stores or closed. For some time, Hintons' direct marketing magazine "Going Shopping" continued with the Presto name including the headline "Presto - Our Heart's in the North". Liptons stores in the rest of England and Wales were either closed or converted to Presto (larger stores) or Lo-Cost (smaller stores).
Argyll also launched a new slogan in 1985 moving from "for the best, best go to Presto" to "You'll be impressed in Presto". To complement the new slogan, a new logo was also launched featuring yellow, blue and red as well as, for a short time, a shopping basket. The new logo was used on all converted stores while original Presto stores retained the old logo on their exterior signage throughout their life. A number of new Presto Superstores were also opened featuring the new logo.
In 1986, the conversion programme was complete and Argyll was set for expansion and new Presto regional distribution centres in Bristol, Wakefield, Bathgate and Welwyn Garden City were planned.
In 1987, Argyll purchased Safeway (UK). Seven Presto stores were converted to Safeway on a trial basis including the Presto Superstores at Farnham, Morden and Chandlers Wharf, Stockton-On-Tees (today a Bingo hall and Casino). In 1988 a further 57 Presto stores (including the store at Sedgley, West Midlands, which had opened only a year earlier) changed to Safeway and Argyll began phasing out Presto's own brand range, replacing it with the Safeway own-brands throughout the estate. Some Presto brands remained however, pre-packed bread continued to be sold as a Presto own brand in Presto stores.[1]
As time went by most of Presto's larger stores were converted to Safeway. However, the Presto name continued to be used on supermarkets and smaller stores in the North East of England and Scotland. No new Presto stores opened during this period as Argyll concentrated on opening larger stores.
In March 1993, Argyll split its retail operations into two divisions, Safeway Stores, and Presto and Lo-Cost Stores. Super Marketing reported that Sir Alistair Grant stated in a memo, "The creation of Presto and Lo-Cost divisions is an important move which signifies our commitment to these important businesses and our wish that their direction and management should be given a strong specific focus." When Argyll had acquired Safeway, it had planned to phase out Presto, but these stores were expanded because of strong customer loyalty in the north.[3]
In 1996 Argyll announced it was changing its name to Safeway and would be converting the remaining 110 Presto stores to Safeway.[4]
While Presto branded products, and even carrier bags, were quickly replaced with Safeway, the conversion of the stores was not complete until mid 1998 when the final Presto (mainly smaller) stores which were not to be converted to Safeway were sold on to other retailers including convenience operator Bells Stores.
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