Mary Ann Sainsbury
Mary Ann Sainsbury | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Ann Staples 30 June 1849 |
| Died | 1927 |
| Known for | businesswoman, wife of Sainsbury's supermarket chain founder John James Sainsbury |
| Parent | Benjamin Staples |
| Relatives | Edward Staples (brother) |
Mary Ann Sainsbury (née Staples) was the wife of John James Sainsbury, the founder of the Sainsbury's supermarket chain.
Early and private life
Mary Ann Staples was born on 30 June 1849 at 4 Little Charles Street, St Pancras. Her father, Benjamin Staples, was originally a woodcarver, but in 1863 he opened a small dairy shop at 87 Chalton Street, Somers Town, Euston. Mary Ann and her two younger brothers probably helped out in this shop.
At the time of her marriage to John James Sainsbury, Mary Ann Staples was working in the dairy shop of a family friend, Tom Haile, at 32 Strutton Ground, Victoria.
In 1873 the family moved to live above the second shop at 159 Queen’s Crescent, Kentish Town. The area in which this branch was located was newly developed and much less overcrowded than Drury Lane. Mary Ann continued to work in the shop, but her role diminished as the size of her family grew.
By the 1880s the firm’s success had made the Sainsbury family extremely prosperous. When the family moved again, in 1886, it was to a smart villa in the fashionable suburb of Highgate. Mary Ann was now devoting herself entirely to family life and none of her five daughters needed to enter the business.
Business career
John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury opened a dairy shop at 173 Drury Lane, Holborn, which became the first branch of the British supermarket chain Sainsbury's. It is said that Mary Ann ran the shop at 173 Drury Lane by herself for the first few weeks it was open. This was probably so that she and her husband could rely on his wages while they built up their own trade.
Meanwhile, her father, Benjamin Staples, continued to expand his chain of grocery stores. The Staples chain later grew to around six branches, many of which were sold to Sainsbury's. A former Staples branch, at 68 Watney Street, Stepney, was sold to Sainsbury's in 1881 after John James Sainsbury purchased it from his brother in-law (Mary Ann's brother) Edward Staples. This store was the first Sainsbury's store to trial round-the-back deliveries, which was started so as to not upset an Irish competitor, Mike Drummond. The original Euston store was sold to Sainsbury's in 1882.
Mary Ann continued to take an interest in the business, however and accompanied John James on inspections of the shops almost until her death in 1927.
References
- ^ "Lord Sainsbury and family". Sunday Times Rich List 2008. The Sunday Times. 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2009-04-20.