Jump to content

Londis (United Kingdom)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Londis
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded1959
Number of locations
1,833 (2024)
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsGroceries
ParentTesco[1] (via Booker Group[2])
Websitewww.londis.co.uk

Londis is a symbol group in the United Kingdom with over 2,000 stores nationwide. Tesco owns the brand, following its 2018 purchase of Booker Group.[3][2][1]

Although it was formerly a subsidiary, the Londis brand in Ireland is no longer related to Londis (UK).

Etymology

[edit]

The name Londis is a contraction of "London District Stores".[4]

History

[edit]

Foundation

[edit]
A Londis in London in 2007

Londis was established in Great Britain in 1959 by Kevin Stanley-Adams as a communally owned company, with each retailer owning a share in the parent company.[4]

Acquisition by Musgrave Group

[edit]

However, in June 2004, the parent company was sold to the Irish Musgrave wholesale chain with a payment of £31,000 being made to each retailer who owned a stake,[5] bringing it under the same ownership as Budgens, which has now adopted a similar franchise based business model. This acquisition proved controversial,[6][7] with the CEO of Musgrave in the United Kingdom, Eoin McGettigan, steering through the choppy waters of member revolts and counter offers from others backed by Icelandic banks.[8] A separate, but wholly owned subsidiary company, Musgrave Retail Partners GB Ltd. was formed to supply the stores, until it was sold to Booker Group in 2015.[9] In May 2015, Londis' parent company Musgrave Group confirmed it had reached an agreement to sell Budgens and Londis for £40 million to the wholesaler Booker Group, subject to regulatory approval.[2]

Acquisition by Booker Group

[edit]

Since May 2015, the company has been owned by Booker Group, which purchased Londis and its sister company Budgens from the Musgrave Group for £40 million.

Tesco plc acquired Booker Group in 2018.[1]

Operations

[edit]

The current Londis retailer network is in excess of 2,200 stores and forecourt shops located throughout England, Scotland and Wales.[10]

Notable Branches

[edit]

Armitage Branch (Opened 2000) The Londis branch in armitage has served customers for over 20 years and has become one of armitage’s most prestigious establishments.

Notable customers: Lisa Wilkinson

Billy Vickerstaff

Ronnie Parsons

Boris Johnson

Judi Dench

Nick Belcher

Muhammad Ali

Dash the Snake

Will Lenney

Andy Samberg

Osama Bin Laden

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Tesco and Booker merger". 29 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Booker Group to buy Budgens and Londis". BBC News. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Booker Retail Partners (GB) Limited". Endole. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Londis - Grocery.com". Perpetual Media Group. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. ^ Muspratt, Caroline (23 June 2004). "Londis retailers back Musgrave's windfall takeover". Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. ^ Pratley, Nils (19 January 2004). "Trouble in store". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Anger over Londis directors' payout". Manchester Evening News. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Londis deal sees shopkeepers ring up £30,000 each". The Guardian. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Booker Group completes £40m acquisition of Londis and Budgens". Retail Week. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: Londis reaches 2,000 stores after fall of Conviviality". betterRetailing. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Londis.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Londis_(United_Kingdom)&oldid=1258002686"