Londis shoppers have made a rather epic discovery, as they have only just learned what the store's name actually means. This revelation comes 67 years after the chain first opened its doors to the public.
How the Discovery Came About
The topic recently surfaced on Reddit when a user asked about the correct pronunciation of Londis, sparking a wide-ranging conversation. One area that social media users began to discuss was the origin of the name, which turns out to be a much simpler story than many might have imagined.
A user posed the question: "Londis. Do you pronounce it ‘Londiss’ or ‘Londies’? I ask because I’ve heard someone call it ‘Londies’ and it’s blown my mind. We’ve always said ‘Londiss’."
Another quickly replied: "Definitely 'Londiss'. Used to help out in my aunt and uncle's corner shop back in the day." Someone else added: "I refuse to believe anyone calls it ‘Londies’."
The History Behind the Name
It was when someone brought up the store's history that the topic really began to pique people's interest. They explained: "It’s from London and District I believe, so 'Londiss' is right." To this, another quipped: "In that case, 'Lundiss'. Surely?"
A different person was totally blown away by the news, writing: "Well blow me down." One more said: "'Londiss'. Think this is the first time I’ve heard or read an alternative pronunciation."
The topic got a lot of people talking, but what became clear is that few people know the history behind the name. When broken down, it is actually quite straightforward.
What Does Londis Mean?
According to reports, the store first began in 1959. At the time, the company website states it was made up of "a group of progressive independent retail grocers who had the aim of establishing a fully operational delivered wholesale company owned jointly by the retailers it served."
This is why it perhaps makes sense that the name is in fact a contraction of London District Stores. If you never realised this before, you are probably not the only one.
Londis Today
The chain of convenience stores now has over 2,000 shops. Since 2018, it has been a subsidiary of Tesco PLC following the acquisition of its parent company, Booker Group. Despite formerly being a subsidiary, the Londis brand in Ireland is no longer related to Londis in the UK, which can make matters a little confusing.
However, after six decades of seeing the shop name, at least you now know what it means. You really do learn something new every day.
