Farewell to independent supermarket after 78 years

For shoppers in the seaside town of Scarborough, Proudfoot is a name that has been known for generations.

Sunday marked the final day of trading for three grocery stores that have been sold to Tesco, reducing the high street presence of a brand that has been a go-to for nearly 80 years.

The closure of the shops at Newby, Manham Hill and Seamer means that Proudfoot now retains only its Eastfield site.

A director at the firm said the decision had been "carefully considered" and expressed thanks to customers, staff and suppliers.

Customers visiting for the final time told the BBC they would miss the family-run business, which was founded in 1948 by Wilf Proudfoot, a returning serviceman, with his demobilisation grant.

Jodie Wilson, leaving the flagship Newby store, says it will be "strange" seeing it go.

"It's been our local shop for about 20 years, my kids used to come down here and it was so convenient. We loved the shop and it's such a shame.

"It was a family-run place, so it had that family appeal."

Jodie, who lives in Newby, will miss the seasonal items on the upper floor of the shop most.

"It had the quaint little figurines, ornaments for Christmas and Halloween and all those sorts of things that Tesco probably won't do."

Peter was also visiting the Newby site, which opened in 1965 and is around the corner from his home.

"I shop here pretty much every day, I spend too much as well," he says.

Peter adds that Proudfoot was a convenient option because he is unable to walk very far due to a health condition.

"Now I'm going to be getting a taxi or a bus to get my shopping."

However, the dad is looking forward to a Tesco opening in its place.

"My daughter's gluten-free, which Tesco does, whereas Proudfoot only had a small aisle for gluten-free products."

Proudfoot's first shop opened on Main Street in Seamer in 1948. Part of the original building did not have electricity and half had a soil floor.

Wilf Proudfoot was inspired by the self-service model of grocery shopping he had seen while visiting the US, and introduced it to his shops.

Valerie Aston, a director at Proudfoot, said: "We are pleased to pass on our established award-winning stores on to Tesco.

"We have carefully considered this decision and we believe these stores will continue to flourish, offering market-leading services to the local communities they serve."

The Proudfoot store on Eastfield's High Street will continue operating as normal, as the brand's only remaining supermarket.

"I would like to take a moment to express our gratitude for the loyal support of our colleagues, suppliers and customers and we would like to thank them wholeheartedly for being part of our story for over 75 years," Aston added.

The Seamer and Manham Hill stores will reopen as Tesco Express stores later this year and the Newby store will reopen as a Tesco Superstore early in the new year.

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