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The Sainsbury Archive is the online home for the heart of our heritage, representing the past, present and helping to shape the story of our future. It tells the Sainsbury's story, allowing users to engage and interact with digitised pieces of our history.

Catalogue picks

Christmas

Tis the season to be merry

Celebrate Christmas with a look at some of our historical images.

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About the archive

The Sainsbury Archive is an independent charity and has been held at the London Museum Docklands since 2005. Visit the Archive to see materials in the collection and to carry out research at the Sainsbury Study Centre.

Archive Events

The Archive has a permanent display at the London Museum Docklands. Find out more about visiting us here or about the events in the archive.

Archive Digitisation Project

The Archive is currently carrying out digitisation work on the collection. We are hoping to publish approximately 90,000 images on the website over this period - please come back regularly to see our newly uploaded content.

Our Stories

Christmas Baking

Quick Read

Christmas Baking

A collection of different bakes for the holiday period

Christmas Pudding

Quick Read

Christmas Pudding

Christmas lunch isn't over until we've had at least one serving of the stodgy, spiced pudding, laden with butter and suet, that is Christmas pudding - our favourite festive dessert. But how much do we know about it and how has the recipe changed over time?

Christmas Lunch

Quick Read

Christmas Lunch

A quick look at what a vintage Christmas lunch would have looked like.

Christmas Display

Long Read

Christmas Display

Lavish window and interior displays of Christmas foods such as poultry, cooked meats and cheeses were an annual tradition. Sainsbury’s Christmas turkey displays were quite famous. Enjoy this read from Sainsbury archive about all things festive.

Discover Branches

1869-2017

Search for your local branch on our map of shops, past and present.

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Learning & Activities

Resources
Resources

Resources

Find old fashioned packaging to colour in and other things to download

Food for Talk

Video Story

Food for Talk

A set of small films aimed at getting people talking about food memories

Harry's Story

Audio Story

Harry's Story

This on-line audio book describes through pictures a typical day in the life of a delivery boy working for Sainsbury's in 1912.

Our Sainsbury's Stories

Video Story

Our Sainsbury's Stories

In memory of Dino Adriano’s commitment to veteran Sainsbury’s staff, in collaboration with the Sainsbury Archive, interference-art were commissioned to produce a learning project that records and shares veterans’ stories, and prompts others to participate with the Archive website.

Your Memories

Your Memories

Add to the archive by sharing your memories of shopping or working at a Sainsbury's branch.

Explore memories