Our Story

Egg and butter merchant William Morrison begins his business, set to become the company we know today.

Sir Ken Morrison, aged 21, took over the small group of Bradford market stalls from his father.

The first Morrisons shop opens with three checkouts.  It is the only store in Bradford to offer self-service and to have prices on its products.

Sir Ken opens his first supermarket in Bradford, Victoria, selling fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and other provisions.

Ongoing expansion and plans for further growth lead the company to go public. The share offer is 174 times over-subscribed as more than 80,000 investors try to purchase shares.

It gave the supermarkets a ‘market’ feel, creating the illusion that each department eg. Butchers or Fishmongers, had their own ‘stall’.

Woodheads, one of the best known names in the British meat industry, became one of Morrisons first vertically integrated suppliers.

Morrisons expands, opening its first store in the South of England in Erith, and also opens its 100th store, in Nelson.

Ken Morrison is knighted for services to the Retailing Industry.

The manufacturing portfolio is expanded with the acquisitions of Rathbones Bakery, Rushden Produce and Turriff abattoir.

Spalding abattoir becomes part of Morrisons and offers 100% British meat.

After 55 years of service Sir Ken Morrison retires after being honoured with an award for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Retail’.

Morrisons acquires Flowerworld in Derby, where trained florists make fresh flower bouquets.

Morrisons launches its own-label children’s clothing range, Nutmeg, making quality and affordable clothing available.

Morrisons wins ‘Employer of the Year’ for the fourth year in a row at The Grocer Gold awards.

Morrisons launches its online food delivery service and begins a national roll-out starting with homes across the Midlands. 

The first Morrisons Daily launched at a petrol station in Crewe.

The partnership allows customers access to a wide range of Morrisons ambient, fresh and frozen products.

Our second seafood processing site opens. Three times the size of Morrisons first site, it processes over 10,000 tonnes of salmon a year!

Through Chippindale Foods, Morrisons reached the target to sell 100% free range own brand eggs, five years ahead of plan.

Morrisons becomes the first UK supermarket to use the large US-style paper grocery bags that are reusable, can be recycled, and are sourced responsibly.

Falfish, a family-owned wholesaler of sustainably sourced seafood based in Cornwall is acquired. The acquisition represents another significant investment in fresh food.

Customers are encouraged to use a sniff test to help to reduce food waste in the home and stop millions of pints of its own brand milk from being thrown away.

Carbon neutral eggs are launched as part of the commitment to be directly supplied by ‘zero emission’ British farms by 2030, five years ahead of the rest of the supermarket industry.

As part of the deal, Morrisons acquired over 1,100 Convenience stores, enhancing its footprint in the convenience retail sector. 

Myton encompasses all of Morrisons unique food manufacturing assets and delivers high quality products with innovation, value and pride.

Morrisons celebrates 125 years of serving our customers, marking a significant milestone since its founding in 1899 as a market stall in Bradford. Over the years, Morrisons has grown from being a small market trader into being one of the UK's largest supermarket chains.