Sainsbury Family; Sainsbury's Director
James joined the company in 1926, taking responsibility for the production of cooked meats and bacon and cheese buying. The son of Arthur Sainsbury, who had managed the original factory at Blackfriars, one of James Sainsbury's early responsibilities at the company was to oversee the design of a new model factory at Blackfriars, which opened in 1936. He insisted that the factory be equipped with quality control laboratories to ensure the goods could be regularly tasted and analysed. James was famously particular about the quality of the sausages and pies produced. He visited the factory every day to sample products, including the tasting of pies from every single batch, and claimed to have known which worker had prepared a particular sausage mix. James overlooked the factory until its closure in 1972.
He was also responsible for the development of Haverhill Meat Products, which was built on the site of his uncle Frank's farm business in Suffolk.
James was awarded a CBE for services to the pig industry in 1960. He retired in 1974.
DS/UK/151
1909-1984
Related content
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The man on the left is unidentified. The man in the centre is James Sainsbury. The man on the right is Joe Barnes, a Sainsbury's director. Kodachrome Transparency, processed by Kodak. Slide date stamped 'Aug 72' [processing date] and numbered 35
Image of Cambridge (44 Sidney Street) opening day: unidentified man, James Sainsbury, Joe Barnes
SA/BRA/7/C/4/2/117
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Photograph showing members of the Sainsbury family who were directors of the Sainsbury's business at Chelsea branch. The family directors visited the store to be photographed for a Sunday Times magazine article on the centenary of the business - that photograph (see SA/FAM/10/2/4) showed the family directors at each of the checkouts. Brian Shuel (photographing on behalf of Sainsbury's) took pictures of the directors arriving in the store, walking around it and chatting with each other, and of the photograph at the checkouts being taken. This photo shows from left to right: Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane (Alan); Robert; John Davan; James; Simon; Timothy; and David Sainsbury. Photograph by Brian Shuel (reference SO11 frame [33?]).
Image of Sainsbury family directors at Chelsea branch: at the checkouts
SA/FAM/10/2/23
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Photograph taken at Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane's 80th birthday dinner held at the Dorchester. The event was attended by Sainsbury's directors (including members of the Sainsbury family) and some retired senior managers and directors. Photo ref. 2509/3/5
Image of Lord Alan Sainsbury's 80th birthday dinner: James Sainsbury and Sir John Sainsbury
SA/FAM/3/33/4/53
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Certificate appointing James Arthur Sainsbury an Ordinary Commander of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Contains the Queen's signature (Elizabeth II), Philip the Duke of Edinburgh as Grand Master and the seal of the said Order. Booklet entitled 'Statutes of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire' 1957. Enclosed is a memo from the secretary at the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St James's Palace concerning the Order.
James Arthur Sainsbury's Order of the British Empire
SA/FAM/9/1
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Portrait photograph by Lotte Meitner-Graf, Old Bond Street, London (reference 2680-R). The picture is part of a series of photos by Lotte Meitner-Graf of Sainsbury's company directors which featured in the book 'JS 100: The Story of Sainsbury's' - this picture is included on page 52. Proof prints of other portrait shots of James Sainsbury taken in this photoshoot are also included which feature various different poses (references 2680 A, B, C, D, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, Q, R, S, T, U, W, W, X, AA, BB, CC - there are two different pictures labelled 2680 W). There is also an alternative version of the print (2680 R) included which has the caption "Lotte Meitner-Graf London" printed in the bottom-left corner.
Image of James Sainsbury (by Lotte Meitner-Graf)
SA/FAM/9/3/1/3
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Papers concerning: Mr James (1992:246). Generally relates to his death, obituary, funeral and letters of condolence. Mr Simon (1992:247). General business correspondence from 1976 - 1979. Mr Timothy (1992:248). General business / private correspondence from 1970 - 1992. Mrs Jennifer Jenkins (1992:245). General private papers concerning her time as a Director of J Sainsbury (and after).
Mixed family correspondence
SA/FAM/GEN/11
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Audio recording of speeches made a dinner held (at Grosvenor House) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company. The dinner appears to be for Sainsbury's employees. Contents: 1. introduction by male speaker 2. Mr R.J. [Sir Robert Sainsbury, Chairman of Sainsbury's] 3. toast to colleagues past and present 4. Mr James [James Sainsbury] reading Mr Alan's [Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane] speech (Mr Alan was unable to attend due to illness) 5. toast to the future of the firm 6. Mr J.D. [John Davan Sainsbury, Vice-Chairman of Sainsbury's]
Audio recording of Sainsbury's centenary dinner speeches, 1969
SA/HIS/JS100/18/4
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Includes property and development director Gurth Hoyer Millar, retired director James Sainsbury and retired director William Maxwell "Max" Justice. Included in 'JS Journal' Mar 1982, p.5
Image of evening reception held at 62 Wandsworth Road, Nine Elms branch on eve of its opening
SA/BRA/7/N/12/245
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Mounted black and white portrait photographs of Alan and James, John Davan, Simon and Timothy Sainsbury. There are also portrait photographs of Fred Salisbury and two unidentified directors who were probably WM Justice and NC Turner. The photographs were taken by Douglas Glass. Some of the photographs are duplicates.
Images of Sainsbury and non-Sainsbury Board directors
SA/CO/7/IMA/8
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Photograph showing members of the Sainsbury family who were directors of the Sainsbury's business at Chelsea branch. The family directors visited the store to be photographed for a Sunday Times magazine article on the centenary of the business - that photograph (see SA/FAM/10/2/4) showed the family directors at each of the checkouts. Brian Shuel (photographing on behalf of Sainsbury's) took pictures of the directors arriving in the store, walking around it and chatting with each other, and of the photograph at the checkouts being taken. This photo shows from left to right: Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane (Alan); Robert; John Davan; James; Simon; Timothy; and David Sainsbury. Photograph by Brian Shuel (reference SO11 frame [32?]).
Image of Sainsbury family directors at Chelsea branch: at the checkouts
SA/FAM/10/2/22
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The photograph depicts the seven members of the Sainsbury family who were on the company's board of directors. They are all sat by the till at a checkout in Sainsbury's Chelsea store. Front to back: Alan Sainsbury, R.J. Sainsbury, J.D. Sainsbury, James Sainsbury, Simon Sainsbury, Timothy Sainsbury, and David Sainsbury. The photograph was taken for a Sunday Times magazine article on the centenary of the business (possibly by David Steen?). This photograph is featured in 'The Best Butter in the World' page 155. See SA/IMA/4/SO/8 for photographs showing the photo shoot for this photograph.
Image of seven Sainsbury family members at checkouts of Chelsea store
SA/FAM/10/2/4
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Photograph taken at an unidentified dinner and social event which was attended by various members of the Sainsbury family. Photograph by Tomas Jaski Ltd, London, WC2B (reference C5545/34).
Image of an event attended by Sainsbury family members and others: James Sainsbury, Simon Sainsbury and others
SA/FAM/10/2/40
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Photograph showing (left) James Sainsbury (a former chairman of London Provision Exchange) and (right) Edward Shephard (chairman of British Bacon Curers Federation) at the London Provision Exchange annual dinner held at Grosvenor House, London on 18 February 1964. The photograph appears in JS Journal April-May 1964 page 2. Photograph by Grosvenor House Photographic Service (reference 182662).
Image of James Sainsbury and Edward Shephard at the London Provision Exchange annual dinner
SA/FAM/9/3/3/3
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Photograph showing three men, on the right appears to be James Sainsbury. Another photograph which appears to be from the same event shows this was an event attended by members of the Sainsbury family and some company directors. It is unclear but the filing of the two pictures in the James Sainsbury folder may indicate this event was in some way connected specifically with James Sainsbury (or it may have been placed here just because James Sainsbury was identified in this picture). Photograph by Rawood Ltd, London (reference 3699/7).
Image of unidentified party: three men including James Sainsbury talking
SA/FAM/9/3/3/6
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Photograph showing guests at tables at a dinner party including members of the Sainsbury family and some company directors. In the back row some people can be probably identified (this may not be fully correct, as some people cannot be seen clearly): Robert Sainsbury, Lady Sainsbury of Drury Lane (wife of Alan, Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane), James Sainsbury? (possibly - partially obscured), unidentified woman, unidentified man, Anya Sainsbury (wife of J.D. Sainsbury), Roy Griffiths (a Sainsbury's director), unidentified woman, J.D. Sainsbury (chairman; later Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover), unidentified woman, Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane (Alan Sainsbury), unidentified woman, unidentified man, and Simon Sainsbury. On the near table (back row, second from left) is Peter Davis (a Sainsbury's director). The filing of this picture (and another which appears to be of the same event) in the James Sainsbury file may indicate this event was in some way connected specifically with James Sainsbury but this is unclear and it may instead have been misplaced. Photograph by Rawood Ltd, London (reference 3699/17).
Image of unidentified party: guests including family members and some company directors
SA/FAM/9/3/3/7