Transport: early days

When Sainsbury's Blackfriars was established in 1890, its transport fleet for delivery to branches was made up of three two-horse vans, five single-horse vans and a pony and cart to collect weekly takings.

In 1907 Sainsbury's bought two Foden steam wagons than ran on cheap coke and were used for longer journeys. The machines proved costly: they required both a driver and a stoker, neither of whom could handle foodstuffs. They also needed to be housed in separate garages because they produced so much dirt.

Despite this they were the most efficient form of transport until 1911 when Arthur Sainsbury lobbied for the purchase of seven 11/2 to 2 ton Milne Daimler lorries.

The most distant deliveries still had to be made by rail and this was very unreliable. Goods often arrived on the wrong days, both earlier and later than planned. 

In some cases, alternative means of delivery had to be sought. The Norwich branch, which opened in 1913, received its deliveries through an arrangement with Caley's, the chocolate manufacturer. The Caley's vans would regularly deliver to London, and return to Norwich loaded with Sainsbury's goods.