Fine Fare

Fine Fare
Private company, Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Fate Acquired 1986
Successor The Dee Corporation
Founded 1951
Defunct 1988
Headquarters Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
Key people
 James Gulliver, (Chairman 1967 - 1972)
Parent

Howardsgate Holdings 1951-1963

Associated British Foods 1963 - 1986

Dee Corporation 1986-1988
Subsidiaries Melias, Shoppers Paradise
A Fine Fare store in Thirsk, 1968

Fine Fare was the name of a chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom. It was famous for its Yellow Pack budget own-label range, a fore runner to todays own brand basic ranges.

History

The company started as a single supermarket in Welwyn Garden City in 1951 as an offshoot of the Welwyn Department Store[1] owned by Howardsgate Holdings, the company of Ebenezer Howard, the founder of the garden city movement.[2] It was one of a series of convenience store chains established in the 1950s, the others being Premier and Victor Value.[3] By 1962 it had over 200 shops.[4]

The company was acquired by Associated British Foods in 1963.[5] ABF appointed James Gulliver to the post of chairman of Fine Fare in 1967; he continued to lead the business until 1972.[6] Seven years after the takeover by Associated British Foods the turnover had grown from £75 million to £200 million.[7] In 1978 Fine Fare bought the East Anglian based Downsway supermarket chain, which was owned by the Vestey family business, Union International Group. This added a further 80 stores to the group. Other chains purchased included Burton Supermarkets (Nottingham based), Elmos (East Anglian based) and Coopers (Scotland based in 1955).[8] The business was regularly listed as third in market share behind Sainsbury's and Tescos and had stores nationwide.

They also owned the Melias[9] and Shoppers Paradise[10] chains of convenience and sicount food stores, and moved into the burgeoning DIY industry with their Fix and Fit stores (sold to WH Smiths Do it All in 1986).[11] In 1983, Fine Fare became Britain's first supermarket to sell organic foods.[12]

In 1986, ABF sold the company to The Dee Corporation (subsequently known as Somerfield).[13] Following this, all Dee Corporation's newly acquired stores were rebranded as Gateway or closed, and the Fine Fare name had disappeared by the end of the 1980s.

Fine Fare was perhaps most notable for its sponsorship of the Scottish Football League which commenced for the 1985-86 season (beginning August 1985)[14] to the 1987-88 season (which ended in May 1988, around the same time that the last Fine Fare stores closed).[15] The business also advertised on television with the most famous being fronted by the actor Gordon Jackson.[16]

Fine Fare was immortalised in the song "Aisle of Plenty" from the album Selling England by the Pound by the progressive rock band, Genesis.[17] It was also the subject of a song by the punk band The Toy Dolls called Nowt can compare to Sunderland Fine Fare from their fourth album Bare Faced Cheek.[18]

Branches

(This is not a definitive list and needs to be added to - April 2015)

  • Aberdeen[19]
  • Airdrie[20]
  • Aldershot[21]
  • Ashford
  • Aviemore[22]
  • Banbury[23]
  • Barrhead[24]
  • Barrow upon Soar[25]
  • Bath
  • Beaconsfield
  • Beccles
  • Bedford[26]
  • Belper[27]
  • Beeston[28]
  • Blackpool[29]
  • Biggleswade[30]
  • Birmingham (Perry Barr)
  • Bishop Auckland
  • Bishopbriggs[31]
  • Borehamwood
  • Brentwood
  • Bridgewater
  • Brighton[32]
  • Bristol (Gloucester Road)[33]
  • Bromsgrove[34]
  • Burton
  • Cambridge[35]
  • Cardiff
  • Carlisle[36]
  • Carlisle (Denton Holme)[37]
  • Chatham[38]
  • Chippenham[39]
  • Chipping Campden
  • Christchurch[40]
  • Clydebank Shopping Centre[41]
  • Darlington[42]
  • Dawley[43]
  • Dennistoun[44]
  • Derby (Allenton)[45]
  • Derby (Normanton)[46]
  • Derby (Sinfin)[47]
  • Downham Market
  • Dundee[48]
  • Edinburgh[49]
  • Elgin[50]
  • Faversham[51]
  • Felixstowe
  • Gainsborough[52]
  • Glasgow (Byres Road)[53]
  • Glasgow (Howard Street)[54]
  • Godalming[55]
  • Goole[56]
  • Great Burdon[57]
  • Great Yarmouth
  • Greenock[58]
  • Hallgrove
  • Halesowen[59]
  • Harpenden[60]
  • Hastings
  • Hatfield
  • Haverhill [61]
  • Hedge End
  • Hemel Hempstead (Grovehill)
  • Hertford[62]
  • Hertford (Woodhall)
  • Highbridge [63]
  • Hilltop
  • Horncastle[64]
  • Hucknall[65]
  • Ipswich[66]
  • Jarrow[67]
  • Kenilworth
  • Keynsham[68]
  • Kilmarnock[69]
  • King's Lynn
  • Leeds (Austhorpe Road)
  • Leeds (Kirkstall Road)
  • Leicester (Evington Road)[70]
  • Letchworth Garden City
  • London (Camden Town)
  • London (Chingford)
  • London (Fulham)
  • London (Peckham)
  • London (Stratford)[71]
  • London (Victoria)[72]
  • Long Melford[73]
  • Lowestoft[74]
  • Luton
  • Manchester (Hyde) (opened by Derek Nimmo in 1976[75])
  • Mansfield
  • Matlock[76]
  • Merthyr Tydfil[77]
  • Middlesbrough[78]
  • Motherwell[79]
  • Newark[80]
  • Newcastle under Lyme[81]
  • Newcastle upon Tyne (Heaton)[82]
  • Newhaven
  • Newmarket[83]
  • Newton Aycliffe[84]
  • North Walsham[85]
  • Norwich (Anglia Square)
  • Northampton[86]
  • Nottingham[87]
  • Nottingham (Arnold)[88]
  • Ossett
  • Otley[89]
  • Oxford (Headington)[90]
  • Peterlee[91]
  • Poole
  • Portsmouth (Cosham)[92]
  • Portsmouth (Tricorn Centre)[93]
  • Prestwick[94]
  • Pudsey[95]
  • Rayleigh[96]
  • Ross-on-Wye[97]
  • Rubery
  • Rushden[98]
  • St. Andrews[99]
  • Sawbridgeworth[100]
  • Sheffield (Attercliffe Road)
  • Sheffield {Buchanan Road)
  • Sheffield (Eckington)
  • Sheffield (Heeley Bottom)[101]
  • Sheffield (Firth Park)
  • Sheffield (Woodseats)[102]
  • Shepperton[103]
  • Silloth[104]
  • Spalding[105]
  • Stanley (County Durham)
  • Stevenage[106]
  • Stirling[107]
  • Stockport (Bramhall)
  • Stockport (Cheadle Hulme)
  • Stranraer[108]
  • Staveley[109]
  • Stroud[110]
  • Sutton in Ashfield[111]
  • Swansea[112]
  • Swindon[113]
  • Tamworth[114]
  • Thorne Market[115]
  • Trowbridge[116]
  • Twickenham
  • Uckfield[117]
  • Uppingham[118]
  • Uttoxeter[119]
  • Waltham Abbey
  • Wednesdfield[120]
  • Welwyn Garden City[121]
  • Welwyn Garden City (Handside)
  • Welwyn Garden City (Howardsgate)
  • Weston Super Mare
  • Weymouth[122]
  • Wheathampstead[123]
  • Whitstable
  • Winsford[124]
  • Yeovil
  • York[125]

Operations

Fine Fare's depots were at Welwyn Garden City (Hertfordshire), East Kilbride (Lanarkshire), Washington (Tyne & Wear), Cheadle Hulme (Stockport), Hucknall (Nottingham), Tuffley (Gloucester) and Aylesford (Kent). Shoppers Paradise only depots were at East Kilbride (Lanarkshire), Weedon (Northampton), Stevenage (Hertfordshire) and Alton (Hampshire). Washington also held stocks of non-food items for national distribution.

References

  1. ↑ "Welwyn Garden City:Welwyn Gardens own Supermarket Chain". Our Welwyn Garden City. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Obituary: Bryan Russel Archer - Architects Journal". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Hamlett, Jane; Regulating UK supermarkets: an oral-history perspective By Jane Hamlett, Andrew Alexander, Adrian R. Bailey and Gareth Shaw, published by Historyandpolicy.org, accessdate: 2011-02-18
  4. ↑ ''Twentieth century industrial archaeology'' By Michael Stratton, Barrie Stuart Trinder Page 82. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  5. ↑ Associated British Foods: History
  6. ↑ James Gulliver Chairman of Food Group dies at 66 New York Times, 17 September 1996
  7. ↑ "Obitury of Sir Alistair Grant - The Independent p.24 Jan 2001" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ms Dow antiques". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. ↑ United Kingdom. "Louis Sherwood". Merchantventurers.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  10. ↑ "Strategy in Retailing: the development of Kwik Save Group plc" (PDF). Irs.stir.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  11. ↑ "The Lost Precinct: An A to Z of Defunct Retailers - EM60 East of the M60". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  12. ↑ The Death of Rural England: A Social History of the Countryside Since 1900 by Alun Howkins - ISBN 9780415138840
  13. ↑ Somerfield: History
  14. ↑ "Celtic Match Programmes 1985". Celticmatchprogrammes.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  15. ↑ "Celtic Match Programmes 1987". Celticmatchprogrammes.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  16. ↑ "Gordon Jackson in Pictures". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Aisle of Plenty lyrics". Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "The Toy Dolls Lyrics - lyricsbox". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Old Aberdeen". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Old Fine Fare and DHSS, Airdrie (under demolition) - Georgraphy.org.uk". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Wellington Street - Sense of Place South East". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Banburys First Supermarket - Banbury Guardian p.1 July 2010". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Barrow Upon Soar - High Street". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  26. ↑ "Chruch Street, Fine Fare Supermarket - nationalarchives". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Picture the Past". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  28. ↑ "Picture the Past". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Fare's fair at Dine Fare! - Flickr". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Brook House - Biggleswade History". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  31. ↑ "BBC Domesday Reloaded". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "Brighton, 119 London Road". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  33. ↑ "The Gloucester Road Story". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "25 years ago, August 17 1979 - Worcester News". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "March 2013 - therealcambridge". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "BBC Domesday Reloaded". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Golden Griel Edna ran Fine Fare and Co-Op Stores in Denton Hulme - Cumberland News p.6 May 2005". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "Chatham High Street - Kent history Forum". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  39. ↑ "The life of Bryan Albert baker - Witshire Times p.2 July 2010".
  40. ↑ "The Lost Buildings of Christchurch - Square House". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "My Clydebank Photos 1978". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Old crime, council and OAPs - Darlington & Stockton Times p.9 May 2014". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "Dawley High Street - Dawley History". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Shopping Centres, SE Derby". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  46. ↑ "Cavendish Cinema in Derby". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "SINFIN SUPERSTORE". Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "Bygone Dundee". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  49. ↑ "My Fare Lady". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  50. ↑ "The food superstore revolution: changing times, changing research agendas in the UK - University of Reading" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Whos Who in Faversham History". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  52. ↑ "Gainsborough Market Place and Town Hall, Early 1980s - Flicker". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  54. ↑ "I might". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  55. ↑ "Godalming High Street, South Side, a photographic survey". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  56. ↑ "History of Boothfeery Road, Goole". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  57. ↑ "Great Burdon, Whinfield Road, Fine Fare - Durham County Council archive". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  58. ↑ "Greenock Shopping Centre - inverclydenow". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  59. ↑ "Fine Fare on Hagley Street - Veooz". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  60. ↑ "Businesses in Bowling Alley & Southdown - Harpenden History". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  61. ↑ "Haverhill in the 1960s - Herbert History Gallery". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  62. ↑ "Do you remember Fine Fare? - Herts Memories". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  63. ↑ "1986 Fine Fare Supermarket - BBC Domesday Reloaded". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  64. ↑ "High Street - HorcastleHistory and Heritage Society". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  65. ↑ "Hucknall Torkard History". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  66. ↑ "Joshua Major the namesake of Major's corner - Ipswich Star p.10 February 2015".
  67. ↑ "Woolies photo updates from South Shields". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  68. ↑ "Keynsham High Street - Could 'Dis be Cane Shum". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  69. ↑ "Fine Fare Then and Now - Flickr". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  70. ↑ "Man with the Axe Axed - Leceister Mercury p.17 July 2012". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  71. ↑ "RTL1360 at Stratford - Flickr". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  72. ↑ "Wilton Road, Victoria, London - Flickr". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  73. ↑ "Fine Fare Stores - British Listed Buildings". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  74. ↑ "Catalogue View Gateway London Road North - Suffolk Heritage Direct". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  75. ↑ "The Lost Precinct: An A to Z of Defunct Retailers - EM60 East of the M60". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  76. ↑ "Trent 343 Matlock - Flickr". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  77. ↑ "High Street, Merthyr Tydfil - alangeorge.co.uk". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  78. ↑ "My Kind of Town - The Gazzette p.10 March 2004". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  79. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  80. ↑ "Morrisons Milestone - Newark Advertiser". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  81. ↑ "Then & Now - Stoke Sentinel p.12 March 2011". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  82. ↑ "Heaton History Group". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  83. ↑ "Newmarket Street Fine Fare - Flickr". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  84. ↑ "Market Stalls Cramp Town centre - Newton News p.28 September 1978" (PDF). Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  85. ↑ "Construction of Fine Fare - North Walsham & District Community Archive". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  86. ↑ "Demolition work halted on historical buildings - Northampton Chronicle p.8 June 2007". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  87. ↑ "The Nottingham Forum @ Nottingham Archives".
  88. ↑ "Picture the Past". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  89. ↑ "Kirgate nos. 26-36 - Leodis.net". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  90. ↑ "Heading history:Reminiscences". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  91. ↑ "Fine Fare Superstore Peterlee - Durham County Council Archive". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  92. ↑ "Fine fare Opens in Cosham - aboutmyarea.com".
  93. ↑ "Tricorn Centre - Architectuul". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  94. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  95. ↑ "Church lane Fine Fare - Leodis.net". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  96. ↑ "Rayleigh Guided tour". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  97. ↑ "Ex Fine Fare - Flickr". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  98. ↑ "Old Shops of the High Street - Rushden Research". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  99. ↑ "St. Andrews through Time by Helen Cook".
  100. ↑ "Town View - Events - Sawbridgeworth Fire Brigade". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  101. ↑ "The Heeley Coliseum - Sheffield History Sheffield Memories". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  102. ↑ "The Old Cinemas of Sheffield". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  103. ↑ "Psychomania Locations". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  104. ↑ "Shopping on the Solway Plain". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  105. ↑ "Half Place, Spalding - Francis Firth". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  106. ↑ "A new town and a new life - Our Stevenage". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  107. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  108. ↑ "Michael Beale - Dictionary of Scottish Architects". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  109. ↑ "fine Fare - Flickr". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  110. ↑ "30 years of Stroud 1984 to 2014 - Stroud Local History Society". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  111. ↑ "Picture the Past". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  112. ↑ "Swansea's Forgotten Shops - South Wales Evening Post p.3 February 2015". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  113. ↑ "The Parade, Swindon - Flickr". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  114. ↑ "Whatever would we do without our wonderful supermarkets - Tamworth Herald p.1 March 2013". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  115. ↑ "Thorne Market Place September 1974 - flickr". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  116. ↑ "Trowbridge Fore Street 1965 - Flickr". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  117. ↑ "Images around the Welden Line". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  118. ↑ "Uppingham Fine Fare Store - National Archives". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  119. ↑ "High Street, Uttoxeter - Staffordshire Past Track". Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  120. ↑ "The Twentieh Century - Wednesdield History". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  121. ↑ "Photo Exhibition Reveals Welwyn Hatfields past - Welwyn Hatfield Times p.13 September 2012". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  122. ↑ "Ramblanista". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  123. ↑ "Historic pictures of Wheathampton". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  124. ↑ "Town Centre - Winsord History". Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  125. ↑ "September 24 - The Press p.24 September 2015". Retrieved 17 April 2015.