1875
A small family grocery store was opened by J H Mills in Bristol.
1900
J H Mills became a limited company with 12 stores.
1950
J H Mills Ltd was turned into Gateway, when a Bristol finance house, Tyndall, became the major shareholder. The 14 J H Mills shops were then converted to become self-service type supermarkets. The name 'Gateway' was chosen because Bristol is the 'gateway to the West Country'.
1964
Frank Dee took over the wholesaler which was part of the original Mills company. This led to 70 "Frank Dee" supermarkets being opened in the North.
1970
Frank Dee become part of the Linfood Holdings Group.
1977
Gateway was taken over by Linfood Holdings Limited increasing the number of Gateway stores to 100 throughout the country.
1983
70 Frank Dee stores were under the Gateway banner and Linfood Holdings was renamed The Dee Corporation.
1983-1987
The Dee Corporation continued to expand with a series of mergers and acquisitions including; Keymarkets, Lennons, International Stores, Fine Fare and Carrefour Hypermarkets.
1988
The Dee Corporation was renamed The Gateway Corporation.
1990
Launch of the first Somerfield store, with the first Somerfield own-label products being launched in August.
1991
In August, the first Food Giant was launched in Bullwell, Nottingham. The food giant were larger, discount stores, similar to a wholesaler.
1994
Gateway Foodmarkets became Somerfield Stores in May.
1996
Somerfield Stores floated on the Stock Exchange in August.
1998
Somerfield plc and Kwik Save Group plc announced the merger of the two companies on March 20.
1999
Launch of Somerfield Direct Ltd - the home shopping business division in March
In July the company announced the creation of the Somerfield 24-7 identity for its home shopping business, available to customers via catalogue, internet and digital television.
In the same month Somerfield plc announced the restructure of the company into three further separate business units - Somerfield Stores, Kwik Save Stores and Somerfield Convenience Stores.
Somerfield began work on its first regional distribution centre in August as part of a £100 million investment to modernise the group's distribution network.
In November Somerfield announced a further restructure to provide increased focus on the company's core neighbourhood stores and the intention to sell around 500 Somerfield and Kwik Save stores which did not fit with the company's new direction.
2000
In January, Somerfield announced the sale of 46 of its larger stores.
In April the board announced that it was withdrawing from the sale of its remaining larger Somerfield stores and that the company would retain the Kwik Save brand and all 700-plus stores.
On 2 May John von Spreckelsen joined the board as executive chairman.
In June, Somerfield plc announced that it was to cease development of its 24-7 home shopping service.
In October and November, Somerfield opened two new city concept stores in London's Old Street, Shoreditch and Berwick Street, Soho.
2001
On 7 March, Somerfield's new flagship store in Kingswood, Bristol opened - this represents the company's focus on quality fresh foods and ready to eat meals in a modern shopping environment.
Somerfield's new top-level food range, So Good, was launched on 31 October to rave reviews from the national press. The Times described So Good as 'as good as it sounds'.
2002
On February 4, the creation of a new Somerfield Business Unit was announced with a new management team to drive the recovery programme and replicate the success of the Kwik Save Business Unit.
Also launched this year was Somerfield's 'Local Life' policy - a commitment to increasing the range and availability of locally and regionally produced foods.
2003
Somerfield raised over £1 million for the Meningitis Trust at the largest Charity Ball ever held in the UK.
Somerfield launched a revolutionary new biodegradable carrier bag nationwide.
2004
Somerfield acquired 114 Safeway stores from WM Morrison in October
Somerfield opens its first state-of-the-art Market Fresh store in Wanstead.
2005
Somerfield completed the conversion of the former Safeway stores to the Somerfield fascia.
In March Somerfield agreed a sale and leaseback deal with Palmer Capital Partners for the potential development of 118 Texaco forecourt convenience stores and in April Somerfield announced the conditional purchase of 22 petrol forecourt convenience stores from Fuelforce Ltd. Once redeveloped Somerfield will operate these as 'Essentials' stores.
On 21 December Somerfield plc was acquired by a consortium consisting of Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, Barclays Capital and the Tchenguiz Family Trust. Somerfield shares are no longer listed on the London Stock Exchange. John Lovering has replaced John von Spreckelsen as chairman.
2006
February sees Somerfield announce the sale of the Kwik Save brand to become a single fascia retailer.
In September Somerfield launches new Simply Value range; basic everyday products replacing Makes Sense, with over 190 lines from fruit juice to pizzas.
2009
The Co-operative Group acquires Somerfield.