- John James Sainsbury
John James Sainsbury (born c.1844, died c.1928) founded the
Sainsbury's supermarket chain, now the largest part ofJ Sainsbury plc .Early and private life
John James Sainsbury was born on 12th June 1844 at 5 Oakley Street, Lambeth. During his childhood his family moved house several times between rented rooms. The area in which they lived was close to the Thames wharves and to Waterloo station, which opened in 1848.
John James started work at the age of 14. He may have stayed at school beyond the normal leaving age of 10 or 11, possibly helping out as a 'monitor'. His first job was with a grocer in the New Cut, Lambeth.
In 1863 John James's father died and John James took on the additional responsibility of helping to support his mother and two sisters.
At the age of 24, he married Mary Ann Staples and they set up a dairy shop together at 173 Drury Lane, Holborn. The couple had probably saved a few pounds with which to buy shop equipment but their circumstances were extremely modest. They shared the cramped accommodation above the little shop with three other families.
Business career
Throughout his life John James avoided personal publicity and little evidence remains of his character. It is clear, however, that he had grown up in a poor family, as he was determined to offer pure food at prices everyone could afford. He was also a shrewd and energetic businessman and understood the opportunities offered by the growth of London for his trade.
From one store in
Holborn ,London , opened at 173 Drury Lane in 1869, Sainsbury built a chain of supermarkets which numbered 128 when he died in 1928. Sainsbury’s remained a family business during his whole life. At the time of the firm’s incorporation in 1922 John James took on the title of Chairman and Governing Director, a position which he held until his death in 1928. His last words were "Keep the shops well lit."Today the group owns over 820 stores but no family member has been involved in management since the 1990s. They do, however, continue to control approximately 15% of the shares.
External links
* [http://www.sainsburys.com Sainsburys website]
* [http://www.jsainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=214 History of Sainsurys]
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