From The Grocer to the Morning Advertiser, to our growing 21st-century digital portfolio, here are some of the milestones from the first 150 years of the William Reed Business Media story.
21st century
2009
We acquire Decision News Media – publisher of FoodNavigator.com and 16 other websites serving the food, drink, nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries – to support the expansion of William Reed Business Media’s online brands.
We launch The Food & Drink Logistics Show for 2010, to run alongside Foodex, Baking Industry Exhibition, Food & Drink Expo, Convenience Retail Show, Cafe+, the Off Licence Show and the International Forecourt & Fuel Equipment show at Birmingham's NEC in March.
We launch William Reed E-Learning - our online learning division.
ProWholesaler is relaunched as Wholesale News.
2008
We acquire Harpers, including the Harpers Directory and website. The magazine is merged with our existing Wine and Spirit title and re-launched as Harpers Wine & Spirit Trades Review.
We change our name from William Reed Publishing to William Reed Business Media, as we grow our online portfolio with the launch of:
- TheRightInfo.co.uk
- BigHospitality.co.uk
We also redesign British Baker and the Morning Advertiser and start publishing The Subpostmaster (on behalf of the National Federation of SubPostmasters).
2007
We launch 2 websites:
- Convenience-Store.co.uk
- BakeryInfo.co.uk
We expand our range of magazines with the acquisition of Food Ingredients, Health and Nutrition (subsequently incorporated in Food Manufacture).
We launch Baking Industry Exhibition.
2006
We add MeatInfo.co.uk and MorningAdvertiser.co.uk to our growing portfolio of websites and start publishing Wine & Spirit.
2005
We extend our portfolio of products significantly by buying:
- Foodex Meatex
- British Baker
- Meat Trades Journal
- The Restaurant Show
- Restaurant Magazine
- International Wine Challenge (IWC)
- Frontier (subsequently sold)
- Drinks International (under licence to Agile Media Ltd)
Food Manufacture is named Business Magazine of the Year by the PPA.
We also start publishing Pro Wholesaler (on behalf of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors), and launch ForecourtTrader.co.uk.
2004
We expand into conferences while also growing our magazine base with the launch of Scottish Local Retailer (under licence to 55 North Ltd).
2002
We are accredited as Investors in People.
We also launch the online version of The Grocer –TheGrocer.co.uk.
2001
We launch The Grocer Today email news service.
2000
We trial GrocerTV, a television channel on Sky Digital aimed at independent retailers, covering news, prices, deals and other issues.
We buy:
- The Morning Advertiser
- Food Manufacture
WR Exhibitions acquires:
- Food & Drink Expo
- Convenience Retailing Show (CRS)
- International Forecourt & Fuel Equipment Show (IFFE)
1990s
1999
We launch GrocerJobs online and redesign Off Licence News.
1998
The Grocer is named Business Journal of the Year by the PPA, the association of UK magazine and periodical publishers.
We launch The Knowledge Store – our database marketing and data management division.
1996
Forecourt News is incorporated into Forecourt Trader.
1991
Monthly magazine Forecourt Trader is acquired.
1990
Our directories division begins with the purchase of Food from Britain Buyers’ Guide.
1980s
1985
Independent Grocery News is re-launched as Convenience Store.
1981
Independent Retailer and Caterer replaces Cash and Carry News
1970s
1974
We buy Cash and Carry News from Grocers Gazette.
1970
The Wine and Spirit Trade Review is renamed as Off Licence News.
The Early Years
1954
The Grocer Buff List is launched to provide a comprehensive listing of manufacturers' suggested retail prices for the supermarket industry. In 1976 it is renamed The Grocer Price List.
1935
The Wine and Spirit Trade Review is first published as a separate title and later becomes Off Licence News, which is still published fortnightly today.
1800s
1863-1870
5 new titles join The Grocer, including:
- Tobacco Trade Review
- Brewers Journal 1864
- Hop & Malt Trades Review (a supplement in Brewers Journal)
- The Oil Trade Review
- The Wine Trade Review (a supplement in The Grocer) 1863
1862
William Reed begins publishing The Grocer.
1861
Founder William Reed launches his publishing business.
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