Frank Dee Supermarkets

Frank Dee Supermarkets was a British supermarket chain formed in the 1950s, based in Kingston-Upon-Hull, East Yorkshire. An early adopter of the new style of self-service grocery store, the chain grew to over 100 stores through mergers and acquisitions before adopting the Gateway fascia in 1983.

Trading names

Stores traded initially under the name of Frank Dee, then Frank Dee Foodmarkets and from 1980, Frank Dee Supermarkets, along with a number of stores operating a lower price, no frills, limited range concept from the late 1970s which traded as Dee Discount. Often referred to by customers in the Tyne-Tees area as 'Frankie Dee's'.

Style

Stores were brightly lit with bulk displays, low price was emphasised with extensive use of 'Day-Glo' posters. Shop front fascia varied over the years, with Frank Dee's name continuing to feature until the change to Gateway in 1983.

History

Early years

The business was started in 1933 [1] when the founder Frank Dee opened a grocers shop at 773, Hessle Road in the area of West Hull known as Gipsyville [2] . Shortly after WW2 shops were opened in Beverley and elsewhere in Hull.[3]

1950s

Frank Dee was an early proponent of self-service and in the 1950s converted Hessle Road to self-service and opened 6 more small supermarkets in Hull whilst retaining a counter service shop in Beverley. Frank Dee Ltd was incorporated in 1959.[4]

1960s

During the early 1960s more shops were opened in Hull and in 1965 a large ‘superstore’ was opened in Middlesbrough. In 1967 a new supermarket replaced the counter service shop in Beverley. In the mid 1960s Frank Dee Ltd merged with local wholesaler Jarman & Flint Ltd (Jarmans). Frank Dee Ltd became a subsidiary, and the retailing arm, of Jarmans. Stores in Hull, Brough, Bridlington, York and Thorne previously run by Jarmans were converted to the Frank Dee format.

In 1969 Jarman & Flint Ltd merged with Associated Food Holdings plc.

1970s

In the 1970s Frank Dee stores were opened across the North East of England including in Durham, Hessle, Redcar, South Shields, Leeds, Scarborough, Saltburn, Berwick Hills, Northallerton, Eaglescliffe and Filey.[5] In the mid 1970s, Associated Food Holdings became part of Linfoods plc,[6] and Jarman's took over the retail arm of the Manchester-based wholesaler Wright & Green Ltd. This prompted expansion into the North West of England, and Frank Dee stores now began trading in Stockport, Liverpool, Farnworth, Marple and on the Wirrall.

1980s

During the early 1980s, Linfood plc disposed of its wholesale businesses, and rapidly expanded its retail operation mainly by acquisition of other businesses. In 1982 the Jarman & Flint Ltd name was changed to Frank Dee Supermarkets Ltd.[7] Sheffield based Challenge Supermarkets and Doncaster based Fairways Supermarkets chains were acquired by Linfood extending the Frank Dee name further into South Yorkshire. More Frank Dee stores opened in Tyne-Tees including in Consett and Houghton-le-Spring. Yorkshire openings included Mexborough, Driffield and Maltby. Lancashire based Lennons was acquired by Linfoods and stores converted to Frank Dee format. At the end of 1982 Frank Dee Supermarkets operated from over 75 locations across the North of England.[8]

In early 1983 Linfood plc announced Frank Dee Supermarkets and all of its other recent acquisitions (including Big Dee, Fine Fare, KeyMarkets and International) would change name and trade under the Gateway fascia, whilst Linfood itself changed its name to Dee Corporation plc.[9][10] Frank Dee took on a non-executive Director role at Gateway Supermarkets Ltd,[11] and by 1984, Dee Corporation was ranked third in size by revenue in the UK grocery market, behind Tesco and Sainsbury's.[12][13]

Frank Dee retired in 1987, and The Dee Corporation changed name to The Gateway Corporation in 1988 [14]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Dee Supermarkets.
  1. ↑ The Grocer, (1986) 'This man gave the Corporation a name & identity' report by A. de A., 8 November 1986
  2. ↑ Hullwebs(UK) (2003), Hullwebs History of Hull: Hessle Road - Between The Wars
  3. ↑ BT Yellow Pages Archive, available from Berkshire Record Office
  4. ↑ Companies House, Company number 00077304
  5. ↑ BT Yellow Pages Archive, available from Berkshire Record Office
  6. ↑ Thomson Gale, (2006) 'The Gateway Corporation Ltd.', Encyclopedia.com
  7. ↑ Companies House, Company number 00077304
  8. ↑ Staff Writer, (2008) ‘Netto strengthens senior management team’, Talking Retail, 11 February 2008
  9. ↑ The Grocer, (1986) 'This man gave the Corporation a name & identity' report by A. de A., 8 November 1986
  10. ↑ Martin, R. (1983) ‘City Comment – Confusing’, Glasgow Herald, 23 August 1983, p. 11
  11. ↑ 1983 Linfood plc Report and Accounts
  12. ↑ The Financial Times, (1984) 'Climbing up the league table' report by David Churchill, 23 November 1984
  13. ↑ New York Times, (1989) 'Wasserstein Group raises Gateway Bid' 24th June 1989
  14. ↑ Thomson Gale, (2006) 'The Gateway Corporation Ltd.', Encyclopedia.com
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