Tesco’s takeover of Adminstore would mark the end of one of the leading c-store chains in and around London.
MD Jitu Patel started out in 1979 when he began to build a chain of seven stores trading as Crispins Food and Wine and joined Nisa-Today’s four years later. In 1986 he established Adminstore and acquired the Europa Foods chain.
Further growth came from acquisitions of other small chains, including Market Stores Food and Wine and finally in 1997 when Adminstore purchased Cullens for a reported sum of £7.4m.
Patel said on announcement of the offer: “Tesco’s knowledge and skills will take our stores to even greater heights.”
Adminstore is ranked ninth in The Grocer’s Top 50 ranking of independent retailers with 70 stores under the Europa, Cullens, Harts the Grocer, Crispins and Olivers fascias mostly within London. However, Tesco is only buying 45 stores and the current owners will retain other stores and continue as a separate business.