Many have shared their fond memories of the lost supermarketKwik Save store in LiverpoolA former Kwik Save shop, Liverpool(Image: Trinity Mirror Copyright)

A Kwik Save receipt from 30 years ago has sparked memories for former Liverpool customers – many who would love to see the popular supermarket make a comeback. A common site in Britain after the first store opened in Rhyl in 1959, many generations in our city and beyond remember the days of Kwik Save.

Famous for its “No Frills” line of own brand, cheaper generic products, by the mid-1990s, Kwik Save had more than 800 stores spanning the country. But by 2007, Kwik Save said it was to close 79 of its stores with immediate effect.

A month later it announced plans to close a further 20 stores to keep the company from going into administration, but the company went into administration soon after. The 56 remaining Kwik Save were sold to a new company, FreshXpress, which itself went into administration in March 2008.

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But Kwik Save certainly hasn’t been forgotten. Back in 2023, Chris Eyres, from Prenton, discovered an old Kwik Save receipt in a box which belonged to his late mother.

Printed on October 26, 1995 just before 2pm at a branch on Stanley Road in Birkenhead, Chris’ mum purchased 38 items for the price of £24.79 with cash. We recently re-shared a photo of the receipt on our Facebook page – which is now 30 years old this year – and a number of ECHO readers have since shared their memories of Kwik Save and how life used to be

A receipt Chris Eyres, from Prenton, found in his late mum's belongings. A receipt Chris Eyres, from Prenton, found in his late mum’s belongings, from 1995(Image: Chris Eyres)

Cath Harvey said: “Worked in Kwik Save in the 70s – we had to remember every price of everything in store. Every Monday we had to do price check before opening. Only thing I remember now was cornflakes for 37p.” Kit Jones said: “I remember 1995 as being the year of the baked bean wars when they were 3p a tin, it must’ve been the year after though.”

Jennifer Kavanagh commented: “Those were the days when you’d get dragged round lots of shops with your mum because she didn’t just buy everything in one shop! Kwik Save, Lennons, butchers – then get the bus home!.” Ivy Rose Jones commented: “Remember the no frills range, all black and white.”

Jay Harris posted: “Proper random comment here but can anyone remember the biscuits you could get from Kwik Save that was like a Viennese biscuit with two stripes on them? Yellow & black/pink & black/yellow & pink…” David Ford said: “Got dragged round Kwik Save, Walton Vale store in the 80s by my mother they all shopped pushing the trolly, ciggy in hand.”

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Jane L Ward posted: “I remember being amazed at the cashiers knowing all the prices and tapping them in really quickly, before barcodes, etc. Kwik Save was a really good supermarket.” GD Bathrooms commented: “They used to sell no frills beans for 7p a tin! What a time to be alive!”

Jennifer Forsyth-Tidswell wrote: “I’ve still got a 3p bag x.” Martin Heelis said: “I miss Kwik Save but basically only for the sausage & onion lattice pie and also their sausage casserole.”

Shirley Andrews said: “I suppose receipts are easily thrown away, but amazing to look at 30 years later.” Colette Dunkley posted: “Pearl drops were great!”

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Lynn Travis said: “I miss Kwik Save. It was a fabulous supermarket.” Tracey Deakin commented: “Would love to take the receipt to a shop and replicate the purchase to see how much it is now.”

Lou Brookes posted: “My mom and dad used to go shopping every Thursday night & get fish and chips for tea, on their way home! The 70’s were and still are….the best years of my life!.” Debs Kinsley-Smith Turner wrote: “I worked in a few Kwik Saves. Happy day.”

Claire Selsby said: “No frills Swiss rolls 18p – I had one nearly every night My dad pulled out a Wade Smith carrier bag the other week, God knows where he got that from.” James Whitaker said: ” Bring back Kwik Save.” And June Lucas commented: “I loved Kwik Save, bring back those prices.”

Items on the list include toothpaste for 78p, Heinz Baked Beans for 23p, Flora 48p, Pot Noodle for 67p and penguin Biscuits for 66p. The most expensive item on the list was Ovaltine for £2.25, but you can also see the likes of Oxo Cubes costing 64p and Pearl Drops for 69p.

Chris previously told the ECHO: “My first reaction was how many items were on the list for a relatively small amount of money. I remember my mum used to go every Thursday when I was a kid and I’d be waiting eagerly what she’d brought me back as a treat.

“I’d run to the car boot to see what was in all the bags. Really friendly people worked there and everyone was polite. Need a payday loan these days to buy 30 odd items.”

These prices reflect the time and what the items cost in the mid-90s. But that doesn’t mean we don’t feel nostalgic looking at it, with some wishing it was still like that today.