Oral history recording and transcript of Lord Sainsbury of Turville

Oral history recording and transcript of Lord Sainsbury of Turville (1960, joined company; 1966-1971, Director; 1971- 1973, Director and Financial Controller; 1973-1990, Finance Director; 1988-1992, Deputy Chairman; 1992-1997, Chairman). Interviewed by Bridget Williams (Sainsbury's Archives). Topics include his early days working for the company, training, various events in the company's history, expansion of the company (eg takeover of Shaw's), and changes in the company and its stores.

119A Tape 1
1950s: early visit to Sainsbury's.
1940s: memories of grandfather.
1960s: early days in work study department. Layouts. Opening in Islington. Distribution. Stamford House. Basingstoke. Introduction of self-service. Colonel Welham. Coventry. Self service. Training programmes. Family - Simon, Timothy. Personnel. JD. Wine department. General. Training programmes. A-level trainees. Peter Snow. Qualities of being a manager. Packaging. Research. Columbia Business School.
1960s/1970s: Columbia. Company finance. becoming Finance Director. Going public. Simon.
1974: Cash flow forecasting. Derek Pretty. Financial appraisal. Introduction of Direct Product Profitability. Frozen foods and cabinets. DTF appraisals. Going public.
1970s: Green Shield Stamps. Shaw's. Roy Griffiths. JD. Process of buying Shaw's. Ewan Davidson. Roy Griffiths. BPM- scanning.
1980s: Buying Shaw's. 1987 General Election.
1980s/90s: Buying Shaw's. JD. Diversification. Savacentre. Homebase. New stores. Financial Plan.
1980s: Tesco expansion and competition. Kempston. Large stores.
1970s/80s: Own contribution. Savacentre. Homebase.
1990s: Overseas expansion. Petrol stations. Coffee shops. Transition from JD. Family business. Family. Graduate intake. The business generally. Taking over. Context. Asda. Tesco. Warehouse Clubs. Christmas. New Finchley Road store. Hammersmith Local.

118A Tape 2
1990s: Product ranges. Changes in consumer requirements. Italian ranges.