The business was founded in 1872 by John Budgen,[2] who opened the first shop in Maidenhead, Berkshire and was incorporated as a private limited company on 28 May 1962.

The company is a subsidiary and retail fascia[further explanation needed] of Booker Group, part of Tesco plc.

By June 1998, it was clear that the name was not popular with customers[citation needed] and the 30 shops that were outside London began trading under the 'Budgens' fascia.

[citation needed] Other shops were divested to independent retailers, including Jempsons & Tout and CT Baker, which continued as franchises under the 'Budgens' name.

According to retail analysts TNS Worldpanel, Budgens ranked 13th in the grocery sector in the United Kingdom in December 2004, with a market share of 0.4%.

The approved rebuilding plans required the shop to be of a size and design to match the destroyed building; the internal layout has been significantly altered with a change in services offered, but still includes a sub-post office counter.

A distinctive logo was also used for the 'Budgen' branding, which incorporated a tulip (symbolising freshness) depicted in orange and white on a brown rounded square background.

Photographic reference of the beginning of 1969 'Budgen Supermarket' corporate identity – 2 Hitchin Street, Biggleswade, 1 January 1970: https://web.archive.org/web/20140429220441/http://www.historypin.com/attach/uid81/map/#!/geo:52.086119,-0.265336/zoom:15/dialog:9162/tab:details/