The J. Sainsbury Grocery Shop is one of the harder pieces to track down in North America. Flair made it for the UK market only (item 4510, around 2010) and sold it exclusively through Sainsbury's supermarkets in Britain, so it never reached the shelves here. Imported directly from England.
This one is complete and in excellent condition. The plastic is clean and bright with no yellowing, cracks or sun fade, and every printed label is crisp and unlifted - the J.SAINSBURY shop sign, the arched "Purveyor of High Class Provisions" panel on the side, and the little framed produce price board inside the shop. The shopkeeper bear has lovely even flocking on his head, ear backs, tail and feet, with only a small thin spot right at the tip of his nose. His original orange apron, red check shirt and green trousers are all present, unfaded and free of tears or fraying. The underside of the base still carries its original moulded EPOCH CO., LTD. maker stamp, shown in the photos.
He comes with his whole shop: the two-tier produce crate stocked with fruit and vegetables, the wooden barrel, the wicker basket, the counter block, the red weighing scales, the wall shelf, and the full run of branded J. Sainsbury boxes - the Sugar Coated Corn Flakes carton, tea, coffee, the giant Soap Suds packet and the household soap boxes. The branded grocery packaging is what collectors chase with this set, and it is all here.
There is no original box, and the shop is sold exactly as photographed.
I have plenty more vintage Sylvanian Families and Calico Critters in my shop, including other shops and shopkeepers.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions!
