Sainsbury's Freezer Centres
Encyclopedia
Sainsbury's Freezer Centres was a former frozen food chain, operated by the then largest UK supermarket chain (now the third largest supermarket chain) Sainsbury's.
The company decided to open the shops in response to competition from specialist frozen food chains, such as Bejam
. It also allowed Sainsbury's to make use of its valuable freehold counter service stores (that were too small for conversion to self-service).
The first shop opened at Southbourne
near Bournemouth
in 1974. It was not an immediate success as many of the elderly residents living in the area did not own a freezer. Only 11% of households at that time owned freezers. Nine other branches that followed suit in that year, however, had greater success. They sold about 3,000 lines, many with deep discounts.
In 1975, new build stores or refurbished ones had frozen food departments built into them. Chippenham
was the first branch to have this integrated.
By 1980, there were 21 freezer centres, and by 1982, 49% of households owned a freezer.
Sainsbury's sold Sainsbury's Freezer Centres to Bejam in 1986. In 1989, Bejam became part of the Iceland
chain.
The company decided to open the shops in response to competition from specialist frozen food chains, such as Bejam
Bejam
Bejam was a British frozen food retailer which was founded by John Apthorp in 1968, based in Stanmore. The concept of selling only frozen foods was a novel idea at the time, and Bejam grew out of Apthorp's existing family business of E. A. D. Apthorp, who were potato merchants specialising in local...
. It also allowed Sainsbury's to make use of its valuable freehold counter service stores (that were too small for conversion to self-service).
The first shop opened at Southbourne
Southbourne, Dorset
Southbourne is a suburb of Bournemouth. It is the most easterly part of the borough, between Boscombe and Christchurch, Dorset. The area was previously known as Stourfield....
near Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
in 1974. It was not an immediate success as many of the elderly residents living in the area did not own a freezer. Only 11% of households at that time owned freezers. Nine other branches that followed suit in that year, however, had greater success. They sold about 3,000 lines, many with deep discounts.
In 1975, new build stores or refurbished ones had frozen food departments built into them. Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
was the first branch to have this integrated.
By 1980, there were 21 freezer centres, and by 1982, 49% of households owned a freezer.
Sainsbury's sold Sainsbury's Freezer Centres to Bejam in 1986. In 1989, Bejam became part of the Iceland
Iceland (supermarket)
Iceland is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Iceland's primary product lines include frozen foods, such as frozen prepared meals and frozen vegetables - hence the name of the company...
chain.