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{{Short description|Chain of grocers based in London}}
⚫
{{Infobox Defunct company
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
⚫
| company_name = International Tea Co. Stores
⚫
{{Infobox company
⚫
| company_logo = [[Image:Internatlogo.jpg|200px]]
⚫
| name = International Tea Co. Stores
⚫
| logo = Internatlogo.jpg
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| slogan =
| slogan =
| company_type =
| fate = Acquired
| fate = Acquired
| Predecessor =
| predecessor =
| successor = [[Somerfield (UK retailer)|Somerfield]]
| successor = [[Somerfield (UK retailer)|Somerfield]]
| foundation = 1878
| foundation = 1878
| defunct = 1994
| defunct = 1994
| location = [[London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| location = [[London]], England
| industry = [[Retail]]
| industry = [[Retail]]
| products = [[Groceries]]
| products = [[Groceries]]
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}}
}}


'''International Tea Co. Stores''' were a leading chain of [[grocers]] based in [[London]]. It was a constituent of the FT30 index of leading companies listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]].
'''International Tea Co. Stores''' was a leading chain of [[grocers]] based in [[London]]. It was an original constituent of the [[FT 30]] index of leading companies listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]].


==History==
==History==
The business was founded in 1878 by Hudson Kearly (later [[Hudson Kearley, 1st Viscount Devonport|Viscount Devonport]]) and Gilbert Augustus Tonge as the International Tea Co., with the objective of selling tea direct to consumers rather than through wholesalers.<ref name="tea">[http://www.internationalstores.co.uk/ International Tea history]</ref>
The business was founded in 1878 by Hudson Kearley (later [[Hudson Kearley, 1st Viscount Devonport|Viscount Devonport]]) and Gilbert Augustus Tonge as the International Tea Co., with the objective of selling tea direct to consumers rather than through wholesalers.<ref name="tea">{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalstores.co.uk/ |title=Unofficial history of International Tea Co. Stores |publisher=Ray King}}</ref> International's main blenders were Ridgways,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1950_1959/fulltext/019c05.pdf|title=Competition Commission report (1950s)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613114846/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1950_1959/fulltext/019c05.pdf|archive-date=13 June 2007}}</ref> which became part of the group with the acquisition of [[Star Supply Stores]] in 1929.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://buildingourpast.com/2017/06/14/star-supply-stores/|title=Star Supply Stores|date=14 June 2017 |publisher=Building our past|access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>


⚫
Soon, most towns in [[Southern England]] had their own International Tea Co. store,<ref name="tea"/> as immortalised in a verse from [[John Betjeman]]'s poem ''Myfanwy'':<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnbetjeman.com/poetry.html|title=Myfanwy|publisher=John Betjeman.com|access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>
Their main blenders were Ridgeways.<ref>[http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1950_1959/fulltext/019c05.pdf Competition Commission report]</ref>

⚫
Soon most towns in the South of [[England]] had their own International Tea Co. store,<ref name="tea"/> as immortalised in a verse from [[John Betjeman|John Betjeman's]] poem "Myfanwy":


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
''Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,''</br>
''Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,''<br />
''Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,''</br>
''Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,''<br />
''[[Home and Colonial]], [[Star Supply Stores|Star]], International'',</br>
''[[Home and Colonial Stores|Home and Colonial]], [[Star Supply Stores|Star]], International'',<br />
''Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.''</br>
''Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.''<br />
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


International Tea Co. Stores fell out of the FT30 index in 1947 to conform with market developments at the time.<ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/78c12166-0773-11db-9067-0000779e2340.html FT.com]</ref>
International Tea Co. Stores fell out of the FT 30 index in 1947 to reflect market developments since the index was originally compiled in 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/78c12166-0773-11db-9067-0000779e2340.html|title=FT 30 - the UK's oldest surviving stock market index |publisher= FT.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301182435/http://www.ft.com/cms/78c12166-0773-11db-9067-0000779e2340.html| archive-date=1 March 2007}}</ref>


==Demise of the business==
==Demise of the business==
The company was subsequently rebranded International Stores and was acquired by [[British American Tobacco|BAT Industries]] in 1972.<ref>[http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1985/fulltext/182c04.pdf Competition Commission]</ref> After acquiring the large foot print Mac Food Centres from [[Unilever]]'s closure of [[Mac Fisheries]],<ref>[http://www.macfisheries.co.uk/page2.htm Mac Fisheries: History]</ref> in 1984 it was sold on to The Dee Corporation.<ref>[http://cep.lse.ac.uk/seminarpapers/24-05-04%20-%20Background%20paper%20by%20Geoffrey%20Owen.pdf Corporate Strategy in UK Food Retailing]</ref> This became Gateway Corporation in 1988, and then [[Somerfield]] in 1994.<ref>[http://www.somerfieldgroup.com/download/history/historyofsomerfield.pdf Somerfield history]</ref>
The company was subsequently re-branded International Stores and was acquired by [[British American Tobacco|BAT Industries]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1985/fulltext/182c04.pdf |title=Competition Commission report (1985) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519011902/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1985/fulltext/182c04.pdf| archive-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> In 1973, the Price Rite chain was purchased, adding stores to the International brand. This was further increased by the purchase of Wallis Supermarkets in 1977, which added a further 100 stores.<ref name="beta.industrydocuments.library.ucsf.edu">{{cite web|url=http://beta.industrydocuments.library.ucsf.edu/documentstore/k/h/w/h//khwh0208/khwh0208.pdf|title=BAT Industries - useful dates|publisher=Industry Documents Library, University of California|access-date=23 April 2015}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After acquiring the large footprint Mac Food Centres from [[Unilever]]'s closure of [[Mac Fisheries]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macfisheries.co.uk/page2.htm|title=History of Mac Fisheries|publisher=Mac Fisheries|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420073930/http://www.macfisheries.co.uk/page2.htm|archive-date=2010-04-20}}</ref> in 1979, the chain created a new brand, [[Mainstop]], to develop the new superstore division in 1980. However, BAT decided to sell any business that failed to progress and so the company was sold off in chunks. Former Price Rite stores in the south of England were sold off in 1980 to [[Fine Fare]], with the remaining 67 branches sold to [[Argyll Foods]] in 1982.<ref name="beta.industrydocuments.library.ucsf.edu"/>

In 1984, International Stores was sold to the Dee Corporation.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://cep.lse.ac.uk/seminarpapers/24-05-04%20-%20Background%20paper%20by%20Geoffrey%20Owen.pdf |author=Geoffrey Owen |publisher=London School of Economics |date=2003 |title=Corporate Strategy in UK Food Retailing, 1980&ndash;2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227193609/http://cep.lse.ac.uk/seminarpapers/24-05-04%20-%20Background%20paper%20by%20Geoffrey%20Owen.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2008 }}</ref> The company became the Gateway Corporation in 1988, and then [[Somerfield|Somerfield plc]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somerfieldgroup.com/download/history/historyofsomerfield.pdf |title=History of Somerfield |publisher=Somerfield plc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920161645/http://www.somerfieldgroup.com/download/history/historyofsomerfield.pdf |archive-date=20 September 2008}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Defunct UK grocers}}
{{Defunct UK grocers}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Companies established in 1878]]


[[Category:Companies based in London]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1878]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 1984]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in London]]
[[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 1984]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Defunct companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct supermarkets of the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 03:45, 29 October 2023

International Tea Co. Stores
Company typePublic
IndustrieEinzelhandel
Gegründet1878
Defunct1994
FateAcquired
SuccessorSomerfield
HauptsitzLondon, England
ProdukteGroceries

International Tea Co. Stores was a leading chain of grocers based in London. It was an original constituent of the FT 30 index of leading companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

History

[edit]

The business was founded in 1878 by Hudson Kearley (later Viscount Devonport) and Gilbert Augustus Tonge as the International Tea Co., with the objective of selling tea direct to consumers rather than through wholesalers.[1] International's main blenders were Ridgways,[2] which became part of the group with the acquisition of Star Supply Stores in 1929.[3]

Soon, most towns in Southern England had their own International Tea Co. store,[1] as immortalised in a verse from John Betjeman's poem Myfanwy:[4]

Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,
Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,
Home and Colonial, Star, International,
Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.

International Tea Co. Stores fell out of the FT 30 index in 1947 to reflect market developments since the index was originally compiled in 1935.[5]

Demise of the business

[edit]

The company was subsequently re-branded International Stores and was acquired by BAT Industries in 1972.[6] In 1973, the Price Rite chain was purchased, adding stores to the International brand. This was further increased by the purchase of Wallis Supermarkets in 1977, which added a further 100 stores.[7] After acquiring the large footprint Mac Food Centres from Unilever's closure of Mac Fisheries,[8] in 1979, the chain created a new brand, Mainstop, to develop the new superstore division in 1980. However, BAT decided to sell any business that failed to progress and so the company was sold off in chunks. Former Price Rite stores in the south of England were sold off in 1980 to Fine Fare, with the remaining 67 branches sold to Argyll Foods in 1982.[7]

In 1984, International Stores was sold to the Dee Corporation.[9] The company became the Gateway Corporation in 1988, and then Somerfield plc in 1994.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Unofficial history of International Tea Co. Stores". Ray King.
  2. ^ "Competition Commission report (1950s)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2007.
  3. ^ "Star Supply Stores". Building our past. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Myfanwy". John Betjeman.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ^ "FT 30 - the UK's oldest surviving stock market index". FT.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007.
  6. ^ "Competition Commission report (1985)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2011.
  7. ^ a b "BAT Industries - useful dates" (PDF). Industry Documents Library, University of California. Retrieved 23 April 2015.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "History of Mac Fisheries". Mac Fisheries. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010.
  9. ^ Geoffrey Owen (2003). "Corporate Strategy in UK Food Retailing, 1980–2002" (PDF). London School of Economics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ "History of Somerfield" (PDF). Somerfield plc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2008.
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