[3] The company went on to buy Allied Suppliers from Cavenham Foods in 1982: this brought with it the Presto, Liptons, Galbraith and R & J Templeton chains.

The Lo-Cost banner was used in the rest of England and in Wales on the smaller stores: a new Presto logo was launched and plans made for new Presto regional distribution centres in Bristol, Wakefield, Bathgate and Welwyn Garden City.

In 1986 Argyll hoped to buy Distillers plc but were hindered by the infamous Guinness share-trading fraud.

Argyll eventually secured it for the sum of £681m, with £600m raised through a rights issue that was three times over-subscribed.

In July 1996 Argyll conducted a share buyback and then renamed itself Safeway plc.