Long Read

For over a century Sainsbury’s offered its staff a place to live as well as a job. Make yourself at home and read more here.

Long Read

Although home delivery of supermarket shopping may seem like a recent innovation, Sainsbury’s has a long history of supplying goods directly to customers’ front doors. This story delivers the details, from the days of horse-drawn carts to the internet age.

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Look back at the evolution of barcodes which revolutionised retail and brought massive technological advances to our everyday lives.

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The magazine ‘JS Journal’ contains a wealth of information about Sainsbury’s and its staff spanning eight decades. Find out more about its contents and how to access them digitally here.

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The first Homebase store opened in Croydon in 1981. We tell the story of this former Sainsbury's subsidiary here.

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The Archive has digitized a large quantity of staff registers compiled between the 1890s and 1929, containing information about thousands of Sainsbury’s employees. Find out more here.

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We take a look at the career of Sainsbury’s former chairman and chief executive John Davan Sainsbury, Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG.

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A look back at evolution of one of Sainsbury's first own brand products and the nation's favourite - tea.

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A look back to Sainsbury's headquarters, factory and training school in SE1.

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A look back at a chain of pioneering hypermarkets which sold Sainsbury’s food and much more besides.

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Sainsbury's were a leader in the development of self-service supermarkets in Britain after the Second World War.

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Butter was one of just three products sold in the first Sainsbury's store, and remained a key product during Sainsbury's development into a national chain. We look here at the history of butter, margarine and spreads at Sainsbury's.

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Many branches have included public artworks as a prominent feature in their design, from murals and mosaics to concrete hippos. Discover more and see images of them here.

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The early range of fresh provisions sold by Sainsbury’s was weighed and wrapped individually, and any packaging was simple.

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We look back at the 150 year history of one of Britain's biggest retail firms.

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In the weeks before Christmas, the old-style counter service branches would have window displays of seasonal products like mincemeat, Christmas puds and dried fruit. Poultry and ham displays at Sainsbury’s were famous. Enjoy this festive read from everyone at the Sainsbury archive.

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Before the First World War, over 75% of the butter, cheese, eggs and bacon consumed in the UK came from overseas. The outbreak of war brought an urgent need to cut down on imports to save foreign currency, and to reallocate shipping to the war effort. Food shortages therefore became a serious issue.

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During the 19th century, shop keeping was generally regarded as an unsuitable job for women, not least because of the long working hours and heavy lifting it entailed. However, it was both common and acceptable for female family members to work in smaller shops.

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The market streets were the ideal location to trade from and the surrounding businesses complimented the sale of Sainsbury’s goods.

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When, in 1869, a young couple of set up a small dairy shop in a small property they rented on London’s Drury Lane, no one could have predicted that this would go on to become a nation-wide retailer, known to families right across the country.