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Sainsbury’s is a Public Limited Company (PLC). This means that the general public are able to purchase shares in this company from the stock exchange. Such companies may at times elect to offer an issue of shares for sale (called a rights issue) in order to acquire fresh capital for expansion or to fund new projects or takeover bids etc.  PLC’s tend to be in "the big league". "Money makes money" and many PLC’s take the form of multiples - companies with many branches, stores or outlets - that have steadily grown over the years by acquiring other companies or by building new factories or shops.

Sainsbury’s started off as a dairy shop at 173 Drury Lane London in 1869. John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury’s owned it. The area in which they started was one of the poorest areas in London. Soon after opening it began extremely popular for offering quality products at affordable prices. Due to this they were able to open further branches in Stepney, Islington and Kentish town this was the start of their empire.

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John James also opened a depot in Kentish Town to supply this growing chain and on the same site built bacon kilns, which produced Sainsbury’s first brand product. In 1882 John James opened his first branch in the suburbs of Croydon. This shop sold “high class” products and was more sophisticated than previous shops.

Towards the end of the Victorian period competition from large national multiple retailers such as Lipton’s almost caused the Sainsbury’s downfall. John James found it necessary to increase his rates of expansion so he would be able to by goods as competitively as companies like Lipton’s. ...

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