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STORIES HIGHLIGHTS

Self-Service

STORIES HIGHLIGHTS

Working Lives

41 results

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Shopping Patterns

Over the last 149 years the way we shop for food has changed dramatically, reflecting other social changes. Since its establishment in 1869, Sainsbury’s has adapted to meet the changing needs of its customers.

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Trick or Treat?

To celebrate Halloween we're treating you to a selection of 1960s sweet packaging.

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Store Highlight: 173 Drury Lane

A description of what it was like to shop in Sainsbury's first branch and the changes it went through before closing its doors for the last time in 1958

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Store Highlight: Croydon

Description of first suburban shop in Croydon and all the amazing innovations it went through over the years.

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A History of Innovation

Sainsbury’s has always had a flair for innovation, right from the day the first store opened.

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Tastes Better Than It Looks?

A look back at some unappetising finds

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We're Gonna Party Like It's 1979

It’s party time at Sainsbury Archive

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A Brief History of Wine

Sainsbury’s began selling own-brand wines in the 1960s. Enjoy a few digitised items from our collection charting the rise of this important department.

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Easter Advertising

Egg-xamine archive material showing how Easter at Sainsbury’s has changed over the last hundred years.

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Household Goods

Nowadays Sainsbury’s sells lots of non-food products but for much of its history it focussed almost exclusively on groceries. The earliest exceptions were 'household goods', an offering which has changed significantly over time.

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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?

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Fairy Tale Tea Cards

At the beginning of the 20th century Sainsbury’s gave out collectible cards to promote its new range of teas. Find out more about this colourful and charming part of our collection.

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Quick Change

The impact of Decimalisation on Sainsbury’s

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Store Highlight: Guildford

On 16th November 1906, Sainsbury's opened its store at 148 Guildford High Street.

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Summer

I scream, you scream we all scream for ice cream

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Life's a Picnic

Selected packaging that we'd like to take with us when eating al fresco

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Carriers of History

Discover how the items customers carry their Sainsbury’s shopping in have changed over the years, from 19th-century paper egg bags to the modern 'bag for life'.

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Breakfast of Champions

A quick look at some of the Own Label breakfast items

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Halloween Feast

A collection of recipes for you to create a vintage Halloween meal

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Just Desserts

A selection of classic pudding packaging