As the prices rise on shelves across the country, we’re looking back to some of the long gone supermarkets that once kept us fed. When someone tells you they’re off to the shops, they’re probably talking about one of the ‘big four’ - Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, or Sainsburys.
Sounds strange now, but these shops weren’t always at the top of the food chain. Stores like Kwik Save, Presto or Somerfield were once the bargain stops that served the country.
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Since the 60s, when the supermarket began to take over in favour of smaller independent grocers, popular shops have come and gone - and many are sorely missed. We’ve had a look at some of the long gone supermarket chains from days gone by, that Edinburgh once enjoyed.
Kwik Save
Kwik Save became a common site in Britain after the first store opened in 1959. By the mid 90s, they had more than 800 stores up and down the country. They opened their first Scottish shop in 1993 - though only lasted in the north for around a decade.
In May 2004, Kwik Save announced they’d be leaving Scotland. 650 jobs were lost when they closed stores across the country, including three in Edinburgh.
Safeway
In terms of supermarkets, the mention of Safeway stirs up a lot of memories. The chain emerged in the 80s, and served Scotland for just over two decades before Morrisons offered to buy them over.
Many will remember the big Safeway store at the Gyle, which stands as a Morrisons today.
SavaCentre
This store first opened in 1984, at Cameron Toll where the giant Sainsbury’s stands today. Sainsbury's actually owned SavaCentre, with the trademark orange logo placed above its sign for more than three decades. They battled with Safeway, before the latter's eventual closure in 1997.
If you were lucky enough to head to SavaCentre at Cameron Toll, you’ll remember the excess of greenery in the centre.
SavaCentre folded in 2005, and groans were heard across the city.
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Somerfield
Owned by the same company as Kwik Save, Somerfield was taken over by the Co-operative Group in March 2009.
The company originated in Bristol from a grocer named JH Mills, who had developed a brand under the name Gateway Foodmarkets. After Gateway began to decline, the decision was made to rebrand as Somerfield.
The first Somerfield in Somerset was a huge success, and the company began to spread through the country.
Many will remember the Somerfield slogans, such as ‘Shopping in the real world’ or ‘Good Food Made Easy.’
By 2011, the Co-op had rebranded all of the Somerfield stores.
Presto
In the late 60s, Moores supermarkets were popular up and down the country - though were swallowed up by Presto in the mid 70s.
In 1995, the Argyll Group announced the closure of 18 Scottish Presto stores. 250 jobs were lost in Scotland, 59 of those from the Wester Hailes store.
The final stores operating as Presto were closed or sold by 1998, while many had been swallowed up by Safeway - which also met its end.
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