John Lewis Partnership
of London and around 35 other places
1864 John Lewis opened a drapery shop at 132 Oxford Street, London. Initially traded as John Lewis and Co
1906 Bought a controlling interest in the Sloane Square-based business Peter Jones
1929 John Spedan Lewis signed a deed of settlement, which transferred shares in John Lewis and Co. Limited and Peter Jones Limited to trustees. The profits of the combined business would be distributed to its employees, either as cash or as fixed-interest stock in the new company: John Lewis Partnership.
1933 Acquiring other retail businesses including Jessop and Son of Nottingham, and Lance and Lance of Weston-super-Mare.
1934 Acquired Knight and Lee in Southsea, and Tyrrell and Green in Southampton. It also started rebuilding Peter Jones to a modern design.
1937 Acquired Waitrose who consisted of ten shops and 160 employees.
1940 Acquired Selfridge Provincial Stores which owned 16 shops: John Barnes in Hampstead, Blinkhorn and Son in Gloucester and Stroud, Bon Marche in Brixton, Buckleys in Harrogate, A. H. Bull in Reading, Caleys in Windsor, Cole Brothers in Sheffield, Holdrons in Peckham, Jones Brothers in Holloway, George Henry Lee in Liverpool, Pratts in Streatham, Quin and Axten in Brixton, Robert Sayle in Cambridge, Thomsons in Peterborough and Trewin Brothers in Watford, substantially increasing the size of the business.
1953 The company old several small stores but acquired two large ones: Heelas in Reading and Bainbridge in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
1960 The rebuilt store on Oxford Street was reopened
2018 See also 2018 UK Factory List