Sainsbury's petrol station struggles as payment system fails to meet demand

In the United Kingdom, a significant milestone was achieved as Sainsbury's celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first petrol station on January 10, 1975. The station was located on Coldham's Lane in Cambridge and is noteworthy for being the first such facility introduced by a supermarket chain in the country. The opening was met with substantial enthusiasm, causing long queues of drivers eager to fill up at what was positioned as a modern, self-service facility equipped with six 'space-age' pumps. Customers had the convenience of making payments without leaving their vehicles, a novel approach at the time. Initially slated to launch on December 3, 1974, the station faced delays due to manufacturing issues with the pumps, which pushed the opening date to January. When it finally opened, the petrol was unbranded four-star and available at 68p per gallon (approximately 15p per litre), translating to about £1.14 per litre in today's currency. The supermarket chain, having established its presence in Cambridge since 1925, had ambitious plans for expansion. However, their development proposal for the forecourt was initially rejected by Cambridge City Council, only to gain approval on appeal. On its opening day, significantly heightened demand led to substantial wait times, sometimes reaching ten minutes as the electronic payment system struggled to handle the volume of customers. George Cooban, an archivist at the Sainsbury Archive, noted that many were shopping in anticipation of the Christmas season, amid national shortages of certain staple foods, which contributed to the influx of shoppers. The car park, boasting 376 spaces, filled to capacity within minutes, highlighting the substantial interest from the local community. The significance of the petrol station extended beyond fuel; it allowed Sainsbury's to explore new retail avenues by incorporating non-food items, including household goods, electrical appliances, and DIY products, reflecting a shift in the supermarket landscape towards a more comprehensive shopping experience. The Coldham's Lane petrol station effectively represented a pioneering venture, merging supermarket convenience with fuel retailing, and set a precedent for the integration of such services in future supermarket chains.