William Morrison Supermarkets
William Morrison Supermarkets Limited, trading as Morrisons, is the fifth largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. As of 2021, the company had 497 supermarkets across England, Wales and Scotland, and one in Gibraltar. The company is headquartered in Bradford
1899 Founded by William Morrison, who started the business as an egg and butter merchant in Rawson Market, Bradford
1952 His son Ken Morrison took over the company
1958 Opened a small shop in the city centre. It was the first self-service store in Bradford, the first store to have prices on its products, and it had three checkouts.
1961 The company opened its first supermarket, "Victoria", in the Girlington district of Bradford
1967 Became a public limited company
2004 Acquired Safeway supermarkets group
Originally 52 shops were to be compulsorily divested after the takeover. Two closed for other reasons, John Lewis Partnership purchased 19 to be part of its Waitrose chain, Sainsbury's purchased a further 14, and Tesco bought 10 in October 2004.