Londis
TypePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded1959
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsGroceries
ParentTesco[1] (via Booker Group[2])
Websitewww.londis.co.uk

Londis is a symbol group in the United Kingdom with over 2,000 stores nationwide. Tesco owns the brand, following its 2018 purchase of Booker Group.[3][2][1]

Although it was formerly a subsidiary, the Londis brand in Ireland is no longer related to Londis (UK).

Etymology

The name Londis is a contraction of "London District Stores".[4]

History

Foundation

A Londis in London in 2007

Londis was established in Great Britain in 1959 by Kevin Stanley-Adams as a communally owned company, with each retailer owning a share in the parent company.[4]

Acquisition by Musgrave Group

However, in June 2004, the parent company was sold to the Irish Musgrave wholesale chain with a payment of £31,000 being made to each retailer who owned a stake,[5] bringing it under the same ownership as Budgens, which has now adopted a similar franchise based business model. This acquisition proved controversial,[6][7] with the CEO of Musgrave in the United Kingdom, Eoin McGettigan, steering through the choppy waters of member revolts and counter offers from others backed by Icelandic banks.[8] A separate, but wholly owned subsidiary company, Musgrave Retail Partners GB Ltd. was formed to supply the stores, until it was sold to Booker Group in 2015.[9] In May 2015, Londis' parent company Musgrave Group confirmed it had reached an agreement to sell Budgens and Londis for £40 million to the wholesaler Booker Group, subject to regulatory approval.[2]

Acquisition by Booker Group

Since May 2015, the company has been owned by Booker Group, which purchased Londis and its sister company Budgens from the Musgrave Group for £40 million.

Tesco plc acquired Booker Group in 2018.[1]

Operations

The current Londis retailer network is in excess of 2,200 stores and forecourt shops located throughout England, Scotland and Wales.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tesco and Booker merger". 29 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Booker Group to buy Budgens and Londis". BBC News. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  3. "Booker Retail Partners (GB) Limited". Endole. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Londis - Grocery.com". Perpetual Media Group. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. Muspratt, Caroline (23 June 2004). "Londis retailers back Musgrave's windfall takeover". Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. Pratley, Nils (19 January 2004). "Trouble in store". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  7. "Anger over Londis directors' payout". Manchester Evening News. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  8. "Londis deal sees shopkeepers ring up £30,000 each". The Guardian. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  9. "Booker Group completes £40m acquisition of Londis and Budgens". Retail Week. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  10. "Exclusive: Londis reaches 2,000 stores after fall of Conviviality". betterRetailing. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
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