Our founder, George Thomas Jempson—affectionately known as GTJ embarked on a journey that began in June 1935 when he purchased a small bakery shop in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, from Mrs. Dunster. What started as a humble bakery has since flourished into one of the largest family-owned food supermarket groups in the UK. Today, Jempson’s encompasses not only the original store but also two additional supermarkets, two convenience stores, six cafés, five Post Office counters, a petrol station, and a pharmacy. Honouring our rich heritage, we proudly offer a range of G.T. Jempson-branded products in-store, each featuring a replica of our original logo from 90 years ago—a testament to our legacy of quality and tradition.
This is where Jempson’s began. When George Thomas Jempson purchased this small bakery in 1935, he had never baked a loaf of bread in his life. Determined to succeed, he set up shop with his wife, Winnie, and wisely retained the experienced baker. Today, baking remains at the heart of our business. We continue the tradition by crafting thousands of loaves each week all made from scratch across 20 different varieties, keeping our passion for quality and freshness alive.
This is one of our earliest photos, predating 1935, when George Jempson purchased the bakery in Peasmarsh. When he acquired the business for just £250—a significant sum at the time—it came complete with all the bakery equipment and delivery vans. In those early days, hard work was a way of life. Deliveries were made in wicker baskets to customers across the surrounding villages. George was committed to quality, insisting on using only natural ingredients in his bread. He never allowed his bakers to use part-baked or, in later years, frozen bread, an uncompromising standard that remains at the heart of our bakery to this day.
During the war years, G.T. Jempson ensured that fresh bread was delivered to all the surrounding villages. This is one of the earliest delivery vans he purchased, operated by two local lads from Peasmarsh, Nigel and Denis. Their days began at 3 a.m. and didn’t end until 6 p.m., working tirelessly from Monday to Saturday. The most popular loaves at the time were the traditional cottage loaves and Jempson’s famous crusty farmhouse loaves, both of which are still baked fresh every day at our Peasmarsh bakery. In those days, there were no cheques or credit cards, just good old-fashioned cash. The delivery men carried satchels to collect payments as they made their rounds, keeping the community well-stocked with fresh bread through even the most challenging times.
This is the original Jempson’s shop in 1968. At the time, George continued to run the business alongside his wife, Winnie, and their son, Harold. As Harold became more involved, he brought fresh ideas that helped the business grow. Traditionally, all goods were sold over the counter, but Harold convinced his parents to start displaying products on shelves (what we now call gondolas) allowing customers to browse and select their own items. This modern approach helped drive the business forward. The store also joined the VG symbol group, giving access to lower-priced grocery items, further fuelling its expansion. Adjacent to the shop was the old bakery and storeroom, which, though no longer standing, played a key role in Jempson’s history. Today, our bakery remains at the heart of everything we do, continuing our proud tradition of quality and craftsmanship.
George’s son, Harold, joined the family business in the early 1950s after completing his National Service overseas with the RAF. With a keen eye for innovation, he expanded the business by introducing mobile grocery stores, bringing convenience to customers in surrounding areas. In late 1968, Harold took on full-time responsibility for Jempson’s following George’s retirement. Over the decades, he guided the company through significant growth and navigated numerous challenges, ensuring its continued success. Even after his own retirement in 2002, Harold remained deeply involved, taking a paternal interest in the business until his passing in 2016.
After joining the VG Buying Group, Jempson’s replaced the old shop with a small, purpose-built supermarket. Under Harold Jempson’s leadership, the business embraced innovation by introducing the self-service shopping model—an entirely new concept at the time. Jempson’s was also among the first in the country to implement scanning checkouts, pioneering a modern shopping experience. At the heart of it all stood the family’s small cottage, where the next generation of the Jempson family grew up. Behind it, a modest garden provided space to play—though little did they know that, in just a few years, the garden would make way for yet another supermarket expansion.
In the early 1990s, brothers Andrew and Stephen Jempson took over the business from their father, Harold. To remain competitive against increasingly aggressive rivals, Jempson’s joined NISA (National Independent Supermarkets Association), quickly establishing itself as a leading player within the group. Their efforts were soon recognized, as Jempson’s won the coveted Independent Grocer of the Year Award in 1994 upon first entry. Since then, we have been honoured with numerous awards and accolades, including Independent Supermarket of the Year, Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year, Seafood Retailer of the Year, and, most recently, Independent Forecourt Retailer of the Year for our Petrol Filling Station and Jempson’s Express Convenience Store.
Here are Stephen and Andrew Jempson, alongside their father Harold and colleagues from Peasmarsh, celebrating their 1994 success. At Jempson’s, being part of the team feels like being part of a family. Many of our staff members have been with us for years, contributing to the business’s growth and success. In recognition of their hard work, the £10,000 prize awarded for this achievement was shared equally among all employees at the time, along with a well-deserved champagne celebration!
By 1998, Jempson’s had expanded significantly, growing from a modest 225 sq. ft. shop into an 11,000 sq. ft. supermarket with parking for 100 vehicles. The photograph of the site, taken in the early 1990s, captures the landscape just before construction began on the Petrol Filling Station. At the time, it resembled more of a quarry than a supermarket site. The Local River Board played a crucial role in the development, assisting in clearing vast amounts of earth, which was repurposed to reinforce riverbanks along the Rother and other flood defence areas, a process that took over three years. Once the site was levelled and ready, the next major milestone followed, the construction of a brand-new superstore in 2002. With the exception of the residential property on the left, all buildings in the image were demolished to make way for a modern facility, ensuring Jempson’s was well-equipped to serve its community in the 21st century.
Jempson’s is owned and managed by Stephen Jempson, who is always on hand to hear any comments or suggestions you may have. It’s not often you see him dressed in a dinner jacket and bow tie, only when they are picking up some award for excellence perhaps! Most of the time he is pleased to welcome the customers at the entrance to the store or working on the shop floor, very much a hands on approach to business, working with the staff and colleagues alike.
The 35,000sq ft Peasmarsh Superstore was opened in January 2002 on the same site (albeit considerably extended) chosen by George Thomas Jempson 85 years earlier. What was once a village store is now a shopping complex, with 280 parking spaces a post office and petrol station.
The Peasmarsh Superstore in 2010 – Our 75th Anniversary. Much has changed since 1935, but certain values remain constant and they find expression in Jempson’s 3 generations and 90 years on.
Our Mission Statement:
Jempson’s proud to serve Peasmarsh and the local community since 1935.
