This article commemorates the 50th anniversary of Sainsbury's opening its first petrol station. It details the opening day challenges, the innovative 'space-age' pumps and self-service payment, and the store's expansion into non-food products.
JS Journal, Sainsbury's staff magazine, said petrol was 68p a gallon when 'the average price of four-star in the area is 73p'. It is 50 years since a supermarket chain opened its first petrol station - proudly describing the pumps as 'space-age'. On the new Sainsbury's forecourt in Coldham's Lane , Cambridge, the unbranded four-star petrol was 68p a gallon, or 15p a litre.
Sainsbury's had planned to open it on 3 December 1974, when it unveiled its first store on the outskirts of an established city, but delays manufacturing the pumps pushed the launch back to 10 January 1975. Drivers 'sometimes faced a 10-minute wait as the electronic payment system struggled to keep up with the high demand', according to George Cooban,Sainsbury's said the six pumps at the on-site, self-service petrol station were 'space-age', adding that 'unlike most service stations' customers could pay 'without getting out of a car'. The supermarket chain had had a branch in the centre of the university city since 1925, but was keen to expand. Its initial planning application to build at Coldham's Lane was turned down by Cambridge City Council, but Sainsbury's won on appeal.Conservative MP Jim Prior (right) and company chairman John Davan Sainsbury welcomed shoppers as the doors opened Assistant archivist Mr Cooban, who is based at the Sainsbury Archive at London Museum Docklands, said long queues appeared outside the branch when it was opened in December.so 'bread hunters and sugar-seekers' contributedThe shop was large enough for the supermarket chain to start selling electrical goods, kitchenware, cosmetics and gardening toolsMr Cooban said: 'The size of the store allowed Sainsbury's to experiment with non-food products it had not sold before, including electrical goods, kitchenware, household linens, cosmetics, stationery and even gardening and DIY tools.' On opening, it was the chain's fourth largest branch, with a sales area of 2,271sq m (24,000sq ft), and a freezer centre next doo
Supermarket Petrol Station Sainsbury's Anniversary Expansion
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sainsbury's opens first ever airport store in Edinburgh following major revampTravellers will find Sainsbury's first airport store located before security in the former M&S Simply Food Unit.
Read more »
Sainsbury's Doncaster Petrol Station Named Britain's CheapestAnalysis by Tiger.co.uk reveals Sainsbury's in Doncaster as the most affordable supermarket petrol station in the UK. Asda follows closely with six stores in the top 10 cheapest. This information is particularly relevant as millions of drivers prepare for the Christmas getaway with busy roads predicted.
Read more »
Woman walks into Sainsbury's pretending it's her first dayPrankster Hally Galletta recorded footage of herself tricking a member of staff into believing she was a new-starter – and it was all going to plan until she stumbled on an issue
Read more »
Sainsbury’s has opened its first-ever store inside a UK airport It's the first Sainsbury's store to be located at an airport, and its arrival is part of a ‘major revamp’ of shopping options available.
Read more »
New heartache for Kate Garraway as she shuts down another company owned with late Derek DraperEmotional Kate Garraway opens up on spending first wedding anniversary without Derek Draper
Read more »
Belfast special school opens first esports classroom in NIStudents at Cedar Lodge school are also able to study for a BTEC qualification in esports.
Read more »