The International Stores.

The International Stores.

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Where the Cookham Arcade is now located only a few of Cookham’s older residents would remember it as “The International Stores.” Being one of two grocers shops in the village, the other of course being “Budgen’s.”

Again, very few people will know the fact that it was one of the first grocery store chains, as we know them today. The idea came to Hudson Ewbanke Kearley, a young man who had failed his civil service exam, so turned his thoughts to commerce and obtained a position in the office of E. Tetley & Sons, Tea Merchants. From the general office he went into the Sales Department and started traveling on the road taking orders. While on his rounds he noticed that a lot of customers were being missed, due to the fact that their orders were not big enough. So he persuaded Tetley’s to be able to sell on his own account provided that he bought all his tea from them. This was so successful that another member of the Tetley staff, a Mr. Heseltine offered to back Kearley and so, Heseltine, Kearley and Co was born. The first retail store came into existence in Brentford, and known as The International Tea Company, later this name was changed to The International Stores. Within ten years the business had grown to 200 retail stores, one of which was in Cookham. Kearley, s idea was to buy direct from the producer wherever possible and had engaged agents around the world to achieve his aim.

During this period Mr. G.A. Tonge joined the firm from Tetley’s with whom he been an apprentice. Becoming the third partner in the firm. Eventually Mr. Heseltine retired and the company became Kearley and Tonge.

The store in Cookham remained in operation until it was purchased by The British American Tobacco Company, who was taken over by Gateway Stores, who then became Somerfield’s, which bought out the chain and the Cookham Store was closed after being in existence for over 50 odd years. I can still remember their famous slogan: “The worlds largest grocers.”