Londis (United Kingdom)
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 Logo used since 2009 | |
_-_20_October_2025_(2).jpg) A Londis store in Chatham Waters, Kent | |
Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1959 |
Number of locations | 1,833 (2024) |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Groceries |
| Parent | Tesco[1] (via Booker Group[2]) |
| Website | londis |
Londis is a British chain of convenience stores operating as a symbol group in the United Kingdom with over 2,400 stores nationwide.[3] Founded in 1959, the brand serves as a voluntary wholesaler and chain for independent retailers. Since 2018, it has been a subsidiary of Tesco PLC following the acquisition of its parent company, Booker Group. Although it was formerly a subsidiary, the Londis brand in Ireland is no longer related to Londis (UK).
Foundation
The name Londis is taken from “London District Stores”, combining parts of “London” and “district” into a shorter, more convenient form.[4]
The brand was founded in 1959 by Kevin Stanley-Adams and John Leach[5] as a communally owned company, with each retailer owning a share in the parent company.[6]
Acquisition by Musgrave Group
In June 2004, the parent company was sold to the Irish Musgrave wholesale chain with a payment of £31,000 being made to each retailer who owned a stake,[7] bringing it under the same ownership as Budgens, which has now adopted a similar franchise based business model. This acquisition proved controversial,[8][9] with the CEO of Musgrave in the United Kingdom, Eoin McGettigan, steering through the choppy waters of member revolts and counter offers from others backed by Icelandic banks.[10] A separate, but wholly owned subsidiary company, Musgrave Retail Partners GB Ltd. was formed to supply the stores, until it was sold to Booker Group in 2015.[11] In May 2015, Londis' parent company Musgrave Group confirmed it had reached an agreement to sell Budgens and Londis for £40 million to the wholesaler Booker Group, subject to regulatory approval.[2]
Acquisition by Booker Group
Since May 2015, the company has been owned by Booker Group, which purchased Londis and its sister company Budgens from the Musgrave Group for £40 million.
Tesco plc acquired Booker Group in 2018.[1]
