The company was founded by John Wesley Hillard in 1885, in the West Yorkshire town of Cleckheaton.[1] The first shop was opened in Lion Chambers there, and shortly after 1900, there were twenty shops operating as Lion Stores.[1] By 1951, there were over seventy stores, and by 1968, it had warehouse size stores in Wakefield, Lincoln and York.[1]
In 1970, the trade name Lion Stores was dropped in favour of Hillards and in 1972, the company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange.[1] Peter Hartley, a grandson of the founder, became executive chairman in 1983 and in May 1987, following a hostile bid, the business was acquired by Tesco for £220m.[2][3][4]
Hillards in
Ilkley in 1983
Former Hillards in
Cleckheaton, now a Tesco
Tesco in
Oakwood,
Leeds was scheduled to open as a Hillards but opened as Tesco as the chain was acquired mid construction.
Former Hillards in
Pontefract, now a Tesco
_(geograph_2797818).jpg)
.JPG)
_001.jpg)
.svg){kind=small}