The origin of modern supermarkets in the UK can be traced back to the beginnings of the Co-operative movement in the 19th century
April 13, 2007 (Press Release) --
Trends in Food Shopping Market Assessment 2006
The origin of modern supermarkets in the UK can be traced back to the beginnings of the Co-operative movement in the 19th century, when a group of independent local retailers joined forces to sell food at affordable prices. However, for decades, there remained a greater degree of self-sufficiency, while post-war Britain was accustomed to stretching meagre supplies with many foodstuffs still in short supply.
This started to change in the late 1950s, as the country recovered economically and food was no longer rationed as supplies returned to normal. The 1960s saw a proliferation of self-service supermarkets, which, in turn, led to huge out-of-town superstores, encouraging one-stop bulk buying. The abolition of Retail Price Maintenance (RPM) — which was phased out over a number of years — meant that consumers benefited from the lower prices brought about by competition and from the timesaving and convenience associated with a one-stop shop. This, of course, was at the expense of smaller independent operators on the high street, many of which were forced out of business, unable to compete on price or extent of choice. Corner shops, which traditionally had an advantage of longer opening hours, suffered too, as supermarkets extended their opening times, now sometimes opening for 24 hours.
Once `a nation of shopkeepers', the retailing of food in the UK is now dominated by the four major grocery chains: Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's and Wm Morrison, which all cannibalise each other's sales in a fairly saturated market. Their out-of-town superstores still flourish, but they are also increasingly encroaching on the convenience sector, with small formats on the high street.
The origin of modern supermarkets in the UK can be traced back to the beginnings of the Co-operative movement in the 19th century, when a group of independent local retailers joined forces to sell food at affordable prices. However, for decades, there remained a greater degree of self-sufficiency, while post-war Britain was accustomed to stretching meagre supplies with many foodstuffs still in short supply.
This started to change in the late 1950s, as the country recovered economically and food was no longer rationed as supplies returned to normal. The 1960s saw a proliferation of self-service supermarkets, which, in turn, led to huge out-of-town superstores, encouraging one-stop bulk buying. The abolition of Retail Price Maintenance (RPM) — which was phased out over a number of years — meant that consumers benefited from the lower prices brought about by competition and from the timesaving and convenience associated with a one-stop shop. This, of course, was at the expense of smaller independent operators on the high street, many of which were forced out of business, unable to compete on price or extent of choice. Corner shops, which traditionally had an advantage of longer opening hours, suffered too, as supermarkets extended their opening times, now sometimes opening for 24 hours.
Once `a nation of shopkeepers', the retailing of food in the UK is now dominated by the four major grocery chains: Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's and Wm Morrison, which all cannibalise each other's sales in a fairly saturated market. Their out-of-town superstores still flourish, but they are also increasingly encroaching on the convenience sector, with small formats on the high street.
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