12 January 1948: Britain’s first supermarket opens

The self-service supermarket came to Britain on this day in 1948, when the London Co-operative Society opened a store in Manor Park.

London's first 'help-yourself' supermarket store at Wood Green
(Image credit: Harry Shepherd/Fox Photos/Getty Image)

It's 12 January 1948. You're walking down the road in Manor Park, east London, when you pass a shop that's just opened. Curious, you venture inside. At first you're puzzled by the lack of service. Then you notice other shoppers picking items off the shelves. You shrug and pick up a basket.

You peruse the aisles and see that baked beans are on offer – you've never seen them so cheap. But as you pick up a can and squirrel it away into your basket, you can't shake the feeling that the shopkeeper is watching you.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up
Chris Carter
Wealth Editor, MoneyWeek

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

You can follow Chris on Instagram.