Somerfield Company Profile

Somerfield Company Profile
Somerfield is a high street supermarket chain with stores in many prominent locations throughout the UK. Offering high quality food with a particular emphasis on fresh foods and convenient shopping, the stores provide a modern retail environment in a convenient location with friendly and efficient service.In the current competitive food retail market Somerfield has focused on its clear strength: providing shoppers with an easy alternative to the larger out-of-town supermarkets whilst maintaining a commitment to fresh quality foods.The Somerfield Group support centre is located at Somerfield House in Whitchurch, Bristol.
Call 0117 935 7833 for pre-recorded directions to Somerfield House.Click here for a map and directions.
Somerfield GroupSomerfield HouseWhitchurch LaneBristolBS14 0TJtel: 0117 935 9359fax: 0117 978 0629telex: 44313
Registered in the UK 1162517

Overlay of the Company

1875A small family grocery store was opened by J H Mills in Bristol.1900J H Mills became a limited company with 12 stores.1950J H Mills Ltd was turned into Gateway, when a Bristol finance house, Tyndall, became the major shareholder. The 14 J H Mills shops were then converted to become self-service type supermarkets. The name 'Gateway' was chosen because Bristol is the 'gateway to the West Country'.1964Frank Dee took over the wholesaler which was part of the original Mills company. This led to 70 "Frank Dee" supermarkets being opened in the North.1970Frank Dee become part of the Linfood Holdings Group.1977Gateway was taken over by Linfood Holdings Limited increasing the number of Gateway stores to 100 throughout the country.198370 Frank Dee stores were under the Gateway banner and Linfood Holdings was renamed The Dee Corporation.1983-1987The Dee Corporation continued to expand with a series of mergers and acquisitions including; Keymarkets, Lennons, International Stores, Fine Fare and Carrefour Hypermarkets.1988The Dee Corporation was renamed The Gateway Corporation. 1990Launch of the first Somerfield store, with the first Somerfield own-label products being launched in August.1991In August, the first Food Giant was launched in Bullwell, Nottingham. The food giant were larger, discount stores, similar to a wholesaler.1994Gateway Foodmarkets became Somerfield Stores in May.1996Somerfield Stores floated on the Stock Exchange in August.1998Somerfield plc and Kwik Save Group plc announced the merger of the two companies on March 20.1999Launch of Somerfield Direct Ltd - the home shopping business division in MarchIn July the company announced the creation of the Somerfield 24-7 identity for its home shopping business, available to customers via catalogue, internet and digital television.In the same month Somerfield plc announced the restructure of the company into three further separate business units - Somerfield Stores, Kwik Save Stores and Somerfield Convenience Stores.Somerfield began work on its first regional distribution centre in August as part of a £100 million investment to modernise the group's distribution network.In November Somerfield announced a further restructure to provide increased focus on the company's core neighbourhood stores and the intention to sell around 500 Somerfield and Kwik Save stores which did not fit with the company's new direction.2000In January, Somerfield announced the sale of 46 of its larger stores.In April the board announced that it was withdrawing from the sale of its remaining larger Somerfield stores and that the company would retain the Kwik Save brand and all 700-plus stores.On 2 May John von Spreckelsen joined the board as executive chairman.In June, Somerfield plc announced that it was to cease development of its 24-7 home shopping service.In October and November, Somerfield opened two new city concept stores in London's Old Street, Shoreditch and Berwick Street, Soho.2001On 7 March, Somerfield's new flagship store in Kingswood, Bristol opened - this represents the company's focus on quality fresh foods and ready to eat meals in a modern shopping environment.Somerfield's new top-level food range, So Good, was launched on 31 October to rave reviews from the national press. The Times described So Good as 'as good as it sounds'.2002On February 4, the creation of a new Somerfield Business Unit was announced with a new management team to drive the recovery programme and replicate the success of the Kwik Save Business Unit.Also launched this year was Somerfield's 'Local Life' policy - a commitment to increasing the range and availability of locally and regionally produced foods. 2003Somerfield raised over £1 million for the Meningitis Trust at the largest Charity Ball ever held in the UK.Somerfield launched a revolutionary new biodegradable carrier bag nationwide.2004Somerfield acquired 114 Safeway stores from WM Morrison in OctoberSomerfield opens its first state-of-the-art Market Fresh store in Wanstead.2005Somerfield completed the conversion of the former Safeway stores to the Somerfield fascia.In March Somerfield agreed a sale and leaseback deal with Palmer Capital Partners for the potential development of 118 Texaco forecourt convenience stores and in April Somerfield announced the conditional purchase of 22 petrol forecourt convenience stores from Fuelforce Ltd. Once redeveloped Somerfield will operate these as 'Essentials' stores.On 21 December Somerfield plc was acquired by a consortium consisting of Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, Barclays Capital and the Tchenguiz Family Trust. Somerfield shares are no longer listed on the London Stock Exchange. John Lovering has replaced John von Spreckelsen as chairman.2006February sees Somerfield announce the sale of the Kwik Save brand to become a single fascia retailer.In September Somerfield launches new Simply Value range; basic everyday products replacing Makes Sense, with over 190 lines from fruit juice to pizzas