L&F Jones

L&F Jones is a family-founded business group based in Westfield, Somerset, England. Its origins lie in a shop established by Catherine Lucy Jones at Stratton-on-the-Fosse in 1911. The name L&F Jones was formed from the names of two of her daughters, Leona and Frances. From this local retail beginning, the company developed into a diversified regional operator with convenience stores, a wholesale and catering foodservice business, and the Best Western PLUS Centurion Hotel and Centurion Health Club near Westfield. The original shop expanded in 1929 into larger premises that included a function room used for catered dinners and wedding receptions. Management passed to Catherine Jones's eldest son, Basil Leo Jones, in 1936. During the 1960s, four of Basil's sons—Laurence, Christopher, Peter and Richard—joined the company and each managed a local shop. This family-management structure supported the transition from a small shop network into a wholesale-led operation. The Stratton-on-the-Fosse premises became the area's first wholesale cash-and-carry operation. The wholesale business subsequently moved to Radstock, while the original shops were sold so the family could concentrate on expanding cash-and-carry activities. A catering depot was acquired in Shepton Mallet in 1977, and the company joined Landmark Wholesale in 1973, becoming one of that buying group's longest-standing members. In 1983, the cash-and-carry operation moved from Radstock to its current Westfield site, which later developed into Jones Food Services and Jones Food Solutions, supplying catering and foodservice customers principally in Somerset and Wiltshire. The retail estate grew to 16 shops within roughly 30 miles of the Westfield head office by 2010. The group later reduced the estate, including the closure of its Peasedown St John shop in 2008 after the arrival of a Tesco Express and the marketing of four stores for sale in 2018. By 2016, the chain was reported to have twelve shops across Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol. This contraction reflected a strategic emphasis on a smaller convenience estate and investment in wholesale foodservice. Hospitality became another important part of the group. L&F Jones acquired the Best Western PLUS Centurion Hotel, formerly the Fosseway Country Club, near Westfield. The Centurion Health Club was added in 2000. The hotel has hosted events including the 2002 World Professional Billiards Championship, while its restaurant and culinary team have received regional recognition. The group also created Fifth Avenue Coffee, an American-style coffee shop in Trowbridge in 2011. Its name was linked to the family's historical connection with Fifth Avenue in New York through Basil Jones's stained-glass work for St Patrick's Cathedral. The foodservice division has developed its own product and service identity. It acquired the Radstock butcher Paul Loader in 2010, introduced online ordering, joined SALSA in 2019 and received recognition from Landmark Wholesale, Unitas Wholesale and Taste of the West for both its business development and food products. In April 2020, the wholesale and butchery divisions were acquired by Devon-based RD Johns Foodservice, marking a significant change in the structure of the group's food operations. L&F Jones has also maintained a visible community and charitable role. Its centenary in 2011 was marked by a celebration in Bath attended by current and former employees, including a former worker who had joined the company in 1939. The business has organised annual charity events and supported Kidney Research UK, the Royal United Hospital Cancer Care Campaign through The Forever Friends Appeal, and the Nicola Corry Support Foundation. The available reference material does not establish the current ownership structure, exact store portfolio, current executives or an official corporate website. The business is therefore best understood as a regional, privately held enterprise w…

L&F Jones began in 1911 when Catherine Lucy Jones established a shop at Stratton-on-the-Fosse in Somerset. The trading name referred to her daughters Leona and Frances. In 1929, the shop moved into larger premises with a function room suitable for catered events. Catherine's eldest son, Basil Leo Jones, assumed management in 1936, and four of his sons later joined the business during the 1960s. The company gradually shifted from a purely retail model toward wholesale distribution. The Stratton-on-the-Fosse premises became the area's first wholesale cash-and-carry operation. The business moved to Radstock, and the family's four shops were sold to allow concentration on wholesale growth. A catering depot was purchased in Shepton Mallet in 1977. L&F Jones had joined Landmark Wholesale in 1973 and remains identified as one of the consortium's oldest members. In 1983, the cash-and-carry operation moved from Radstock to Westfield, where it developed into Jones Food Services and later Jones Food Solutions. The retail business expanded to 16 shops within approximately 30 miles of the Westfield head office by 2010. It also experienced competitive pressure: the Peasedown St John shop closed in 2008 after a Tesco Express opened nearby. The estate later contracted to twelve shops, and four outlets were put up for sale in 2018 as the group chose to focus on fewer stores and develop wholesale activities. The company broadened its activities through hospitality. It acquired the Best Western PLUS Centurion Hotel, formerly the Fosseway Country Club, and added the Centurion Health Club in 2000. The hotel hosted the World Professional Billiards Championship in 2002. The group also opened Fifth Avenue Coffee in Trowbridge in 2011, using a name associated with the family's historical connection to Fifth Avenue in New York. Jones Food Solutions expanded its catering offer through the acquisition of Radstock butcher Paul Loader in 2010. Its products received Taste of the West awards and commendations between 2017 and 2019, while the division received recognition from Landmark Wholesale and Unitas Wholesale. Online ordering was introduced for foodservice customers, and the business joined SALSA in 2019. In April 2020, RD Johns Foodservice acquired the wholesale and butchery divisions. Alongside its commercial activities, L&F Jones developed a long-running charitable programme. It supported Kidney Research UK in 2011, The Forever Friends Appeal and the Royal United Hospital Cancer Care Campaign in 2015 and 2016, and the Nicola Corry Support Foundation in 2018. The available sources do not provide a confirmed current executive roster, current ownership details or a verified official website.

1. 2020Foodservice divisions acquired by RD Johns

   RD Johns Foodservice acquired the company's wholesale and butchery divisions.

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2. 2011Centenary and Fifth Avenue Coffee launch

   The group marked its 100th anniversary and created the Fifth Avenue Coffee shop in Trowbridge.

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3. 2010Paul Loader butchery acquired

   Jones Food Solutions acquired the Radstock butcher Paul Loader.

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4. 2000Centurion Health Club added

   The health club was added to the Centurion hospitality premises near Westfield.

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5. 1983Wholesale operation moves to Westfield

   The cash-and-carry business relocated from Radstock to its present Westfield site, later becoming Jones Food Services.

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6. 1977Shepton Mallet catering depot acquired

   The company purchased a catering depot in Shepton Mallet to support wholesale expansion.

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7. 1973Joins Landmark Wholesale

   L&F Jones joined the independent-wholesaler consortium Landmark Wholesale.

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8. 1936Basil Leo Jones takes over management

   Management passed to Catherine Jones's eldest son, Basil Leo Jones.

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9. 1929Larger premises opened

   The original shop was replaced by larger premises that included a function room for catered dinners and wedding receptions.

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10. 1911Business founded at Stratton-on-the-Fosse

    Catherine Lucy Jones established the shop that became L&F Jones, naming the business after her daughters Leona and Frances.

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A regional, family-originated operator serving local communities through convenience retail, foodservice distribution and hospitality rather than a national mass-market retail brand.

• L&F Jones convenience shopsConvenience retail1911

  The company's original retail activity consists of local convenience shops serving communities across Somerset and nearby counties. The estate reached 16 stores by 2010 and was later reduced to twelve, with selected outlets offered for sale in 2018 as the group concentrated on wholesale and foodservice growth.

• Jones Food SolutionsWholesale foodservice1983

  Jones Food Solutions is the group's wholesale and catering foodservice operation, based at Westfield and serving customers mainly in Somerset and Wiltshire. It supplies catering customers with meat and other food products, introduced online ordering, and gained recognition for sausages, burgers, faggots and meatballs. The wholesale and butchery divisions were acquired by RD Johns Foodservice in 2020.

• Best Western PLUS Centurion HotelHospitality

  The Centurion is a hotel near Westfield operated within the L&F Jones business group after the acquisition of the former Fosseway Country Club. Its facilities include a restaurant and event space, and the property has been associated with culinary and hospitality awards.

• Centurion Health ClubHealth and leisure2000

  Added to the Centurion premises in 2000, the health club provides the group's fitness and leisure offer. It received regional recognition, including silver health-club awards and a ranking among the leading gyms in South West England.

• Fifth Avenue CoffeeCoffee shop2011

  Fifth Avenue Coffee was an American-style coffee-shop concept created by L&F Jones in Trowbridge in 2011. The name reflected the family's historical connection with Fifth Avenue in New York through Basil Jones's stained-glass work associated with St Patrick's Cathedral.

• 2018Nicola Corry Support Foundation charity gala

  United Kingdom

  The company's annual charity gala supported the Nicola Corry Support Foundation. The event brought together employees, customers, suppliers and representatives of the charity.

  Outcome. The annual gala programme was reported to have raised more than £100,000 for charities over its history.

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• 2015Forever Friends Appeal and RUH Cancer Care Campaign

  Bath and surrounding communities

  Employees organised fundraising events, including a gala, in support of The Forever Friends Appeal and the Royal United Hospital Cancer Care Campaign.

  Outcome. The campaign was reported to have generated just over £15,000, including more than £5,000 from the gala.

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• 2011Kidney Research UK fundraising

  United Kingdom

  L&F Jones supported two charity events that raised more than £13,000 for Kidney Research UK and set a larger fundraising target for the remainder of the year.

  Outcome. The reported initial events exceeded £13,000 in donations; achievement of the later target is not established in the available source.

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• 2020Sell wholesale and butchery divisionsM&A

  L&F Jones's wholesale and butchery activities operated as its foodservice arm, Jones Food Solutions.

  What changed. The divisions were acquired by Devon-based RD Johns Foodservice in April 2020.

  Aftermath. The transaction changed the structure of the group's foodservice operations; transaction value and subsequent operating arrangements are not stated.

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• 2018Reduce convenience-store estateStrategy

  The group decided to focus on a smaller number of shops while investing more heavily in wholesale business.

  What changed. Four convenience stores were put up for sale.

  Aftermath. The available source does not specify the final disposition of all four stores.

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• 2008Close Peasedown St John convenience shopStrategy

  The shop faced increased local competition after a Tesco Express opened in the village.

  What changed. L&F Jones closed the Peasedown St John outlet.

  Aftermath. The closure illustrated the competitive pressure on the group's local convenience-store estate.

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• 2020RD Johns Foodservice acquires wholesale and butchery divisions

  The group's wholesale and butchery operations were acquired by Devon-based RD Johns Foodservice in April.

  M&A
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• 2019Jones Food Solutions joins SALSA

  The foodservice division became a member of SALSA, a food and drink approval scheme.

  Regulation
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• 2018L&F Jones puts four convenience stores up for sale

  The group offered four shops for sale as it focused on a smaller retail estate and increased investment in wholesale operations.

  Other
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• 2017Jones Food Solutions receives foodservice recognition

  Landmark Wholesale named Jones Food Solutions its Out of Home Development Member of the Year, while several of the division's meat products received Taste of the West recognition.

  Other
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• 2011L&F Jones marks its centenary

  The company celebrated 100 years of trading with an event in Bath attended by current and former workers.

  Other
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1. L&F Jones