Littlewoods Plc

Sectors:

  • Distribution - retailing Department store retailing
  • Recreation activities Gambling, bookmaking, etc
  • Distribution - retailing Mail order & catalogue retailing

Notes:

Traced origins to 1923 when (Sir) John Moores, 1896-1993, established a football sport betting 'pools' business which he and friends operated in their spare time. Soon joined by Cecil Moores. Started to prosper in late 1920s and by mid 1930s Littlewood Pools a nationally recognised brand. Diversified into mail order retailing in 1932 and department stores (Blackpool) in 1937. 1939-45 made wartime materials, notably parachutes. 1960s installed IBM computers in order to develop the pools business. In decline from 1990s. Post 2000 business disposed of through sales of its constituents, eg pools in 2000 and mail order / retail in 2004. By 1980s, when still owned by Moores family, reckoned the largest private company in Europe [2023]

Groups: