Millets the business we see today was formed by various companies coming together over the years.
However, the origins can be traced back to 1893, when J.M. Millet opened a drapery and outfitting business in Southampton and Bristol. The Bristol store was passed to his grandson, JB Spielman, in 1923 and he increased the range to include more clothing, boots, shoes and other products.
By 1939, the business had grown to include five stores. The Second World War brought bomb damage and stock shortages, and two stores had closed by 1951. However, the company picked itself back up and there were 11 stores by 1961. The early 1970s saw them acquire Henderson Sports and Marcus Stores Limited, providing Millets with 54 units in total.
In 1979, the business was taken over by Foster Brothers Clothing plc. The Millets story is complicated somewhat by Morris Millett, who had opened a haberdashery shop in Croydon in 1920. By 1948, his business had eight stores and Morris Millett was joined by his son, A.C. Millett. A few years later, A.C. Millett formed his own business, A.C. Millett & Co (ACM).
By 1962, the business had grown to include 35 shops, including 13 acquired that year when ACM bought E. G. Millett & Co, a company owned by his distant cousin. More stores were acquired and, in 1978, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange as Milletts Leisure plc.
Then, in 1986, Foster Brothers Clothing acquired Milletts Leisure plc and joined Millets and Milletts together to create Millets Leisure Limited. It became the Outdoor Group in 1996, while Blacks Leisure Group acquired it in 2009. In 2012, JD Sports Fashion plc bought Blacks out of administration and Millets today has 97 stores nationwide.
