SEPU

SEPU or Sepu (Sociedad Española de Precios Únicos) was Spain's first department store. SEPU was founded in Barcelona 9 January 1934 by Swiss citizens of Jewish origins, Henry Reisembach and Edouard Worms; it later opened branches in Madrid and Zaragoza. Their slogan was "Quien calcula compra en SEPU" ("He who calculates buys at SEPU").

During the Second Spanish Republic, SEPU was attacked by the Falangist newspaper Arriba (and, indeed, its premises were physically attacked by Falangists and/or their sympathizers).[1]

SEPU was purchased in 2000 by Australian retailer Rodd Partridge; it was a failing company at the time. The company closed in 2002 because of previous management's massive undisclosed accumulated tax debts[2]. These could not be negotiated and the company was forced to close.

Notes

  1. ^ In particular, see quotations from "Siempre Sepu", Arriba, 12 June 1935 (cited in Isidro González (2004), p. 272) and from an article in Arriba, 18 April 1935 (cited in Gonzalo Álvarez Chillida (2002), p. 343).
  2. ^ http://www.elpais.com/articulo/madrid/SEPU/elpepuespmad/20021005elpmad_3/Tes

References