Bejam was a British frozen food supermarket chain founded by John Apthorp in 1968, based in Stanmore, London. The business grew to become the biggest frozen food retailer and largest seller of freezers and microwaves in Britain. [1] The business was purchased by smaller rival, Iceland, in a hostile takeover in 1989.

Bejam’s pioneering approach to frozen food retail played a significant role in shaping the UK’s supermarket landscape. It paved the way for the widespread adoption of frozen foods and freezers in British households.

Dec 2, 2021 · Bejam was a frozen food retailer founded in 1968 in Stanmore, and the concept of selling only frozen foods was a novel idea at the time. Bejam also sold electrical appliances with the Bejam brand name, including freezers, refrigerators, microwave ovens and dishwashers.

May 11, 2023 · In January 1989, Bejam was bought by its rival Iceland, despite still being a success and being three times bigger than the Iceland chain. The shops were rebranded to carry the "Iceland" name. Clearly though the Bejam days …

Oct 13, 2024 · The popular supermarket chain Bejam is a place where many will have fond memories of following parents around with a shopping trolley. But beyond nostalgic memories , the store was also unique at the time for only selling frozen foods and offered some great deals to help families save money.

Apthorp first enjoyed success as a founding member and managing director of the family business of frozen food stores Bejam, which became a market leader in the United Kingdom, trading from hundreds of stores across the country.

Bejam was a British frozen food retailer founded by John Apthorp in 1968, based in Stanmore. The concept of selling only frozen foods was a novel idea at the time, and Bejam grew out of Apthorp's existing family business of E. A. D. Apthorp, potato merchants who delivered in and around Edgware and Stanmore.

Home freezers really started to take off in the 70s and this continued with the establishment of specialist shops, often stocking huge packs of foodstuffs for freezers. Bejam was founded in 1968 and continued until January 1989 when it was gobbled up, pardon the pun, by rival firm Iceland.

More great memories from former Bejam Manager Cyril Rutland 'So having been in the attic and found my Bejammer, issue one 1983 I can finish my story. After 8 months in Woking was offered the...

John Apthorp, who has died aged 89, was the founder of the Bejam frozen foods chain and the force behind the emergence of Majestic Wine as one of Britain’s leading high street wine merchants.