The lost Hull supermarket that sold shark steaks for 82p
Shoppers flocked to Grandways in the 1980s and 1990s
Hull was once home to a “low-cost” supermarket where shoppers could get their hands on shark steaks for just 82p.
Grandways was the supermarket brand for Jacksons convenience stores, a local business founded over a century ago by William Jackson in 1891. The company went on to have 114 convenience shops across Yorkshire and the Midlands.
In 1983, Grandways opened a supermarket at Boothferry Park, costing £2 million. To celebrate the opening, the company had arranged a star attraction - a huge hot air balloon. Unfortunately, due to high winds, Grandways had to come up with an alternative to wow its new customers, as our pictures below show.
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What did they come up with? A 27ft-long basking shark caught near the shore of Scotland. The shark was cut into steaks and sold to shoppers for 82p a pound. It ended up being a rather fitting star attraction for the opening of the supermarket, as the Boothferry Park store was the first Grandways to have a wet fish counter.
Hull was also home to Grandways' fish depot where staff in 1988 once had to get to grips with a 20-stone Porbeagle shark caught off the west coast of Iceland. The 15ft-long shark went on sale at Grandways supermarkets across the city.
In the 1990s, Grandways stores were closed down. Some became Presto or Kwik Save stores, while others were renamed Jackson’s. The photos below show Grandways staff with the sharks, as well as photos of the Hull branches of the supermarket in the 80s and 90s.
Staff at the Grandways fish depot in Hull with a 20-stone Porbeagle shark. Left to right: Mark Jameson, Keith Gray, Jim Brocklesby, Jim Lee, Colin Rimmer and Steve McCall. October 1988.
(Image: Hull Daily Mail)1 of 7
Store manager Mr Dennis Robson pictured with some of his staff at the refurbished Grandways store at Boothferry Park, May 1989
(Image: Hull Daily Mail)2 of 7
The Grandways shop on Princes Avenue, Hull. April 1990
(Image: Hull Daily Mail)3 of 7![Customers at the Grandways superstore in Hull came across a 6ft 6ins tall bottle containing 185 litres of scotch. It was commissioned by Grants for their centenary celebrations. Pictured: store assistant Mrs Julie Monkman. November, 1988.]()
Customers at the Grandways superstore in Hull came across a 6ft 6ins tall bottle containing 185 litres of scotch. It was commissioned by Grants for their centenary celebrations. Pictured: store assistant Mrs Julie Monkman. November 1988
(Image: Hull Daily Mail)4 of 7
