
Sainsbury Family; Sainsbury's Joint President
The eldest son of John Benjamin Sainsbury, Alan Sainsbury began his career at the age of 17 working alongside his uncles Arthur and Alfred as a buyer of eggs and dairy products. His entry into the family business was very much to fulfil parental expectations. Buying initially proved somewhat uncongenial and instead he was allowed to work incognito behind the counter at the Boscombe branch under the alias 'Mr Alan'. Following this period, he worked a secondment with Buisman's, a butter supplier based at Leeuwarden in Holland, prior to taking over more responsibility for purchasing for the business.
Following his father's stroke and consequent unexpected retirement in 1938, Alan Sainsbury became Joint General Manager with his brother Robert, Alan taking responsibility for trading matters. Subsequently he became Chairman on his father's death in 1956. He retired as Chairman in 1967, becoming instead Joint President.
Politically, Alan Sainsbury initially stood for Parliament as a candidate for the Liberal Party for Sudbury in Suffolk although was never elected. Subsequently, he joined the Labour Party in 1945 having moved gradually towards this position since this mid 1930s.His interest in social welfare may have stemmed from work in the Haileybury Mission in Stepney and the Isle of Dogs prior to joining the family firm. Although never an MP, Alan Sainsbury served the government in a private capacity both before and during the Second World War. Prior to the war he advised the government upon the emergency distribution of foodstuffs. During the war he served on a number of Ministry of Food committees as chief representative of the multiple grocers and as chairman of the ministry's import committees for poultry and rabbits. This facet of his interests was reflected in his operation of the stores, where he encouraged his employees to consider their work as service in the national interest and ran advertising campaigns advising the public how to cope with wartime food restrictions and similarly encouraging them to view these as part of the communal war effort. He was made a life peer as Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane in 1962.
Post-war he travelled to America to research self-service shopping and was responsible for its introduction into Sainsbury's stores starting with the branch at 9-11 London Road Croydon. Linked to this, he also gave the new self-service stores a new image, moving away from his grandfather's house style and appointing Leonard Beaumont as design consultant. One American shopping practice which Alan Sainsbury vehemently opposed was the Trading Stamps movement; under his aegis the company led the campaign opposing the spread of trading stamps and at the same time using his position in the House of Lords to sponsor a bill restricting advertising which ultimately passed into law in a more limited form as the Trading Stamps Act (1964). It was also under Alan Sainsbury that the first shop, at 173 Drury Lane was closed due to safety concerns prompted by the number of customers using the shop; it was replaced with a new self-service shop in a different premises.
DS/UK/149
1902-1998
Related content
-
Contains: The Courtwary Cup (hallmarked) with plinth with engraved names of Rownsons 1958, J.S. 1959-1961; Shield from the six teams from the British Isles competing at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Perth, Western Australia 1962; Sainsbury Staff Association Chess Group Club Championship (engraved with names 1955-1974; Globe trophy presented to Lord Sainsbury due to his presidency of the C.I.E.S. 1965-1968 (hallmarked); Trophy stand with dates from 1947-1982, names engraved include C. & T. Harris (Darts, Dulwich and Calne); J. Sainsbury (Dulwich and Calne).
Awards (sports and other)
SA/AWA/165
-
Photocopy of a letter from Alan J Sainsbury announcing the new grade of branch official called the Superintendent. Originally attached to bulletin no. 800/3.
Letter from Alan J. Sainsbury about superintendents
SA/BRA/3/1/3/4
-
The photograph is featured in JS Journal January 1956 page 2 with the caption "Mr. Alan Sainsbury exchanges a few words with Mrs. Newman, the last customer at 194, who had done her shopping there for 13 years". There are two differently cropped versions of this picture (SA/BRA/7/K/4/4/8 is cropped more on the left and SA/BRA/7/K/4/4/9 is cropped more on the right).
Image of Alan Sainsbury talking to the last customer at 194-196 Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town branch
SA/BRA/7/K/4/4/9
-
Signed and sealed agreement made between A.J. Sainsbury Esq., R.J. Sainsbury Esq., Davan Securities Limited (Mr Alan's Company)and Westmoreland Securities Limited (Mr Robert's Company) for option as to certain Ordinary Shares of J. Sainsbury Limited.
Agreement regarding Ordinary Shares
SA/CO/9/3
-
Lord Alan's speeches - House of Lords: HL63 5.10.1976 Structural Reform - Dairy Sector (C.A.P.) HL63a 19.7.1977 Ethyl Alcohol HL64 17.3.1977 Labelling Debate HL65 15.11.1977 Prescribed Quantities and Unit Pricing Introduction of Report Sub - Committee D HL66 22.11.1977 Doorstop Selling (Contracts Negotiated Away from Business Premises) HL67 20.3.1978 Farm Prices 1978 / 79 HL68 17.7.1978 Sheepmeat - Proposed Regime (36th Report of European Communities Committee) HL69 20.7.1978 Unstarred Question on Overseas Students - Future Government Policiy & Proposed Commission HL70 28.11.1978 Misleading Advertising HL71 13.3.1979 Sunday Trading Bill HL72 27.3.1979 Sunday Trading Bill - Presentation of Amendments HL73 12.6.1979 Farm Prices 1979 / 80 HL74 6.12.1979 Draft Directive on Consumer Credit HL75 17.4.1980 Common Agricultural Policy HL76 22.10.1980 Fisheries Policy: EEC Report
Lord Alan Sainsbury's speeches in House of Lords, Oct 1976-Oct 1980
SA/FAM/3/19
-
Includes 3 files: A list of and including press cuttings relating to Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane, (Mr Alan) when he was awarded his life peerage in 1962. The other two relates to arrangements for Mr Alan's 90th Birthday party. It includes attendees, location, speeches and cards and letters of thanks sent after the event.
Papers relating to Alan Sainsbury
SA/FAM/3/4
-
Lord Alan's speeches - General: G2 13.9.1956 Self-Service Development Association G3 22.11.1956 London Chamber of Commerce - College for the Distributive Trades G4 January 1956 20 year Club - 'Development and Organisation of J.S.' G5 3.4.1958 Fabian Society Easter School, Dorking - 'The Consumer's Choice.' G6 7.3.1961 Union of Shop Distributive & Allied Workers (USDAW) meeting - 'Self-Service and the Worker.' G7 12.10.1961 MAAF Annual Conference for Divisional Offices - 'Modern Trends in Marketing.' G8 8.5.1962 Federation of Wholesale and Multiple Bakers AGM G9 16.10.1962 Holborn Chamber of Commerce Lunch G10 5.12.1962 National Dried Fruit Trade Association: Annual Dinner and Dance G11 22.4.1963 Southwark Rotary Club Lunch G12 22.4.1963 Southwark Chamber of Commerce - 'Retailing and the 5 Day Week.' G13 22.10.1963 Marketing Society Lunch - Trading Stamps Promotion G14 24.10.1963 AGM of Self-Service Development Association 'The need for Retail Management Education.' G15 6.11.1963 British Bakers' Annual Management Conference.
Lord Alan Sainsbury's speeches, Sep 1956-Oct 1963
SA/FAM/3/6
-
Lord Alan's speeches - General: G28 6.5.1964 Agricultural Central Co-operative Association - 'Marketing of Farm Produce.' G29 13.5.1964 Central London Fabian Society - 'Competition In Retailing.' G30 3.6.1964 Ely's Staff Dinner - General History of J.S. G31 21.7.1964 Ministry of Education National Course for Teachers - 'Retail Distribution.' G32 25.9.1964 Lunch - Secretaries Club - 'Retailing and its Importance in the Economy.' G33 3.11.1964 Adwomen Luncheon - 'The Sainsbury Story.' G34 9.12.1964 International Poultry Show Dinner G35 19.3.1965 Eastern Counties Farmers G36 1.4.1965 Industrial Co-Partnership Association lunch - 'The Customer: The Third Partner.' G37 18.5.65 L.S.E. Seminar - 'J.S. Ltd. - 10 Years On.' G38 21.5.1965 Cambridge Productivity Association - 'Trends in Food Marketing and Consumption.' G38a 1965 CIES 6th General Assembly.
Lord Alan Sainsbury's speeches, May 1964-May 1965
SA/FAM/3/8
-
Recording and transcript of BBC interview of T.R. Welham and G. Harrison relating to their employment in Sainsbury's stores from the 1920s to 1950s and experiences as store managers. Summary of content: 202A: 1920s: Christmas preparations. Working in shop as 14 year old. Egg boy. Game. Market shops. Biscuits. 1927/28: Biscuits. Huntley and Palmers. Peek Freans. Chiltonians. Grocery. 1928: Luton branch. Description of interior. Training at Blackfriars [Sainsbury's head office complex]. Meat department, chopping meat. Working hours. Wages. Discipline. Cutting down meat. Window dressing. Dairy window displays. Sales of lamb. Selling butter, margarine. Weekend trade. Payment of wages. 1928 (approximate): Weighing up 56lbs of butter and lard. Selling to customers. Sales technique. Product knowledge. Sardines. Tea. First hand. Staff pecking order. Female workers. 1928: References to Frosts, Home & Colonial, Maypole Hygiene [other food stores]. 202B: 1920s/1930s: Layout of shops, description of foods. Working hours. Start of pension scheme. meals at work. Christmas. Unions. Rates of pay. Mr JB Sainsbury. Mr Jones supervisor. SE Smith. Mr Alan Sainsbury. Mr RJ Sainsbury. Staff numbers. Cooked meat departments. York hams. 1930s: Living in. Oxford, Cambridge colleges. Deliveries. 1940s/50s: Change to self-service. Marylebone, Croydon, Eastbourne, Debden. 1950s: Marylebone, 9-11 Croydon. Self service. Mr RJ Sainsbury. Mr Alan Sainsbury. Self service training. Lewisham. Oxford. Lewisham. Bristol. Tommy Reeves. Skills. Meat in self service stores. Maypole. Co-op. 1930s: Competition. Thoroughgoods [food retailer taken over by Sainsbury's]. Norman Hayes. 1950s: Competition. Tesco. 9-11 Croydon. Early self service. Trolleys. Car parks. 1930s: Christmas. Holloway Rd. Frank Sainsbury. Gants Hill. Mr JB Sainsbury. Berkhamsted. Wages. various dates: Trading stamps. Start of self service. Refrigeration. York of Shipley. Customer loyalty. Tipping. Departments in manual shop.
Audio recording and transcript of interview with Sainsbury's veterans Mr T.R. Welham and Mr G. Harrison for BBC TV 'History of Retailing'
SA/HIS/1/1/4
-
Frames include: 28: Mr J.D. Sainsbury and Mr Timothy Sainsbury 31: Mr R.J. Sainsbury holding hand of his grandson James Clark and talking to Lord Sainsbury. In the background on the left Mrs Elizabeth Clark (daughter of Mr R.J. Sainsbury) talking to Mr Timothy Sainsbury. 32: Gertrude Hermes (sculptor and engraver) on left 34: Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane (Alan Sainsbury) with Mrs May Taylor (first customer of the new branch)
Images of Chelsea branch on opening day
SA/IMA/4/SI/31A
-
Correspondence between Mather & Crowther Ltd [advertising agents for Sainsbury's] and Sainsbury's. Consists of 3 letters: (1) dated 10 Jul 1939 from the Executive Director of Mather & Crowther Ltd. to Alan Sainsbury informing him that all the forms of copy used in the recently completed "70th anniversary" advertising scheme have been printed on special paper and bound together to give a complete and permanent record; (2) dated 12 Jul 1939 from J.B. Sainsbury (Chairman) to the Chairman of Mather & Crowther Ltd. voicing his pleasure at seeing the the folder enclosing the series of advertisements prepared by the advertising agency to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Firm and his conviction that this publicity has had a beneficial effect upon Sainsbury's public relations and that "there is throughout every evidence of the closest possible co-operation between our two houses"; (3) dated 13 Jul 1939 from the Chairman of Mather & Crowther Ltd. to Mr J.B. thanking him for his kind comments about the advertising agency's services and "happy relations" between the two firms.
Correspondence between Mather & Crowther Ltd and Sainsbury's about 70th anniversary advertising campaign
SA/MARK/ADV/4/1/14
-
Letter from T.D. Morison, Esq. of Mather & Crowther Ltd [advertising agents for Sainsbury's] to Alan Sainsbury, Esq. concerning the advertising agency's revised cost and date plan for Sainsbury's "70 Years" Advertising Campaign. Attached are two date plans within which Mather & Crowther Ltd. suggests running the campaign adverts in four London papers on different days of the week with the lower class papers towards the end of the week, apart from during Easter where all the adverts need to be run earlier in the week to avoid being too close to Good Friday. For the Provincial Papers, Mather & Crowther Ltd. plans to run them all on Thursday night. In his letter T.D. Morison explains the reasons behind these decisions, vouches that the distribution of the "large spaces" as indicated in the plans are satisfactory, and asks for Mr Alan's approval so that Mather & Crowther Ltd. can proceed with the necessary bookings.
Letter from Mather & Crowther Ltd relating to Sainsbury's '70 Years' advertising campaign
SA/MARK/ADV/4/1/9
-
Front cover features a picture of the reconstruction of Paddington branch as a self service store. Speech made by Mr Alan Sainsbury's at the College for the Distributive Trades Prizegiving (includes picture) pgs 1-4; Article on Sainsbury's Aberdeen Angus herd by Mr F. W. Salisbury (includes pictures) pgs 5-11; History of Cross and Blackwell (includes pictures) pgs 12-19; Southbourne branch is too popular since conversion to self service with queues in and out (includes pictures) pg 22; Mr Allan (Bob) Turner and Ms Potter's retirements (includes pictures) pgs 36-37, 40-43; Picture of 296 Holloway branch in 1907.
'JS Journal', February 1957
SA/SC/JSJ/11/2
-
Keywords: modernisation and conversion of old Guildford branch (with photographs) pp.2-6; new Catford branch (with photographs) pp.7-9; new Northampton branch (with photographs) p.10; new Chatham branch (with photograph) p.11, new Victoria Street branch (with photographs) p.11; depot and warehouse at Basingstoke (with photographs) p.12; Mr Alan as President of the Institute of Certificated Grocers (with photograph) p.13; Redfin Angling Club (with photographs) pp.20-21; Griffin Sports Report p.24; staff trip to Calais (with photographs) pp.25-30; J.S. Veterans (with photographs) p.31. Warning: This issue of the journal contains offensive or inappropriate language or images. The material has been digitised and is made accessible as part of a complete historical record. Sainsbury Archive does not endorse the views that are being expressed.
'JS Journal', July 1963
SA/SC/JSJ/17/4
-
Photograph showing Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane (Alan Sainsbury, chairman of Sainsbury's, on the left) with another man (facing away from the camera; possibly Willoughby R. Norman of Boots, who jointly opened the precinct with Lord Sainsbury) greeting the crowds waiting to enter the precinct in King's Road, Chelsea on opening day. The new shopping precinct included a branch of Sainsbury's (122 King's Road). Photograph by Brian Shuel (reference SI28 frame 29).
Image of shopping precinct at King's Road, Chelsea: Alan Sainsbury and (Willoughby R. Norman?) meet customers waiting to enter on opening day
SA/BRA/7/C/14/2/31