Our story is one of success, growth and development
We are proud of our history, our staff and our achievement of serving people with high quality, low priced groceries. Our first store opened in 1979 on Holderness Road in Hull and proved to be an immediate success with local people. Further stores were opened in quick succession throughout Hull and the East Riding and then further afield in Lincolnshire and South and North Yorkshire.
A new era
In February 2003 the Company changed hands, but remained a family business and was acquired by the present management team.
We now trade from over 250 stores, employ over 3000 people and are constantly striving to expand and spread our message of quality and value throughout the country.
Heron Foods was ranked twelfth by turnover in The Grocer magazine’s survey of the top fifty independent grocery retailers (The Grocer magazine 13th March 2014) based on turnover in the year to 31st March 2014.
In 2009 we moved away from our ageing cold store and warehouse operation in West Hull to a purpose built facility measuring 270,000 square feet at Melton in East Yorkshire, just to the West of Hull, which has been designed to enable the Company to continue with its ambitious growth plans.
1979
First shop corner off Field Street Holderness Road
1980
Gillett Street cold store opens
1983
Neptune Street cold store opens
1986
Head Office relocated to Walcott Street
1988
Reached 15 stores, first 18 ton fully liveried HGV delivered
1989
July, turnover reaches £100,000 per week
1991
November, ambient grocery turnover reaches £100,000 per week
1992
December, opened 30th store in Hornsea, customers reach 100,000 per week
1993
February, turnover reaches £300,000 per week
1995
March, acquire first 3 stores in the North East of England from Quayside
1996
April, turnover reaches £500,000 per week
1998
April, acquire 10 Snow City stores in Manchester and Liverpool area from Yearsleys, total stores 71, turnover reaches £1,000,000 per week
1999
June, acquire 16 First Freeze stores in the Newcastle Area, company reaches 102 stores
2000
First 44 ton articulated HGV acquired
2002
Company now employs 1,000 people, serving 500,000 customers per week
2003
Malcolm Heuck retires, management buyout by Michael, David and Andrew Heuck
2006
Turnover reaches £2,000,000 per week
2009
September, company move to purpose built distribution centre at Melton, East Yorkshire
2012
September, acquisition of 53 Cooltrader Stores from Iceland
2015
New Endike store opens
2016
Our 250th store opens in the Merrion Centre in Leeds