Knowledge, Experience, Service
Shopping Basket
Your shopping basket is currently empty.

Knowledge, Experience, ServiceKnowledge, Experience, Service

The many specialist activities of A. Andrews & Sons (Marbles & Tiles) Ltd have been divided into three divisions:

SalesContractingManufacturingSales, Contracting, Manufacturing

Tile Suppliers, Commercial Tiling, Ceramic Tiling, Terrazzo Flooring, Granite Worktops, Precast Terrazzo Manufacturers, Marble Flooring, Marble Wall Cladding, In-situ Terrazzo Layers.

Project Photo

The cashiers are unlike anything you would normally expect to see in a supermarket environment

Project Photo

The appreciation of stone is taken to an even greater level thanks to the impressive walls within the store

Project Photo

Natural stone is shown here seamlessly in conjunction with oak flooring

Project Photo

The store has an unusual but highly attractive display system for its locally sourced produce

Click on images for larger versions (opens in new window)

The Stone Age Supermarket

This article originally appeared in the October 2005 issue of TileUK.

Supermarket design is not as revered as upmarket hotels or bars, but for one chain in Cumbria, the use of trendy natural stone flooring was an obvious fit with its upmarket ethos. TileUK reports on one of the UK's most attractive food stores...

It's not every day you come across a food store with an interior as appealing as the products being sold within, but that is the case with Artisan, the latest offering from supermarket chain Booths, in Kendal. Booths is a regional supermarket company and with Artisan, it is championing quality local foods.

Supporting a concept that represents a first in the supermarket industry, Artisan features a host of interior products from locally based Burlington that have been integrated into the overall design scheme to stunning effect. Showcased alongside a host of top quality local foods and drinks from local suppliers is a combination of Burlington natural stone flooring, interior walling stone, skirtings and step treads and risers.

Serving to help create an overall mellow and comfortable ambience within which customers can browse at ease amongst displays of local delicacies is a natural stone floor that centres on a combination of Burlington's mid green Broughton Moor, olive green Bursting Stone and silver/grey Brandy Crag natural stone in a variety of finishes.

Accessed via a staircase that features Burlington step treads in honed Bursting Stone, inlaid with aluminium anti-slip nosings, and risers in the same material, the floor design centres on circles and ribbons as a means of emulating Lakeland rivers that flow down and around a number of table displays: such fluidity of design encouraging the visitor to meander amongst the best of what Artisan has to offer.

Installed by flooring contractors, Andrews of Leeds, the floor has been laid using a standard mix of 300, 400 and 500mm length floor tiles with random widths, many of which have been intricately cut. Its design has also been subtly accentuated through the use of a combination of honed, flamed and water jet finishes, not to mention inlays of oak to exude feelings of further intimacy.

Burlington's natural stone works in harmony with oak within the floor of Artisan, and it also plays its part in adding further life to the vibrancy of display units that have been designed and constructed in the same wood. Here, Burlington's pale green Elterwater stone was used to create a feature wall between the discreetly illuminated displays.

Says Coordinating Interior Architect, Helen Baldwin: "Whilst our aim was to create a permanent and solid feel to the interior of Artisan, we remained focused on delivering an environment that best reflects the quality and nature of the foods and produce that are on offer. We are delighted to have had access to products such as Burlington's natural stone to help us achieve this, which in itself is one of the most sought after of interior finishing materials."

She adds: "By using a combination of Burlington's natural stone in terms of colours, textures and shapes, we believe we have been successful in delivering an exceptional floor design and overall interior theme that will stand the test of time."

Booths' Artisan represents an exciting move forward for the leading regional supermarket as it serves to reaffirm its commitment to sourcing products that are fresh and native of the counties it services. With at least 25% of all products being locally produced, it is a sourcing strategy that serves to give Booths a strong point of difference from its competitors.

Other favourites from the tile and stone industry were also active in the success of the project. The flooring was laid over a Rapid-Set K screed that was allowed to cure for seven days prior to the floor tiles being laid. The screed was installed by B&K Systems of Leeds on behalf of the flooring contractor A.Andrews & Sons.

The floor tiles were fixed using a BAL single part flexible adhesive, while the grout was BAL grey floor grout. A Burlington recommended natural stone sealer was used to finish the floor, while for the movement joints, Schluter-Systems Dilex Aksn was specified. The eight man installation team also used Schluter Trep E for the nosings on the treads to create a contrasting anti-slip finish within the staircase area.

In addition to this, a large percentage of the curved cuts needed to enable the floor design to be created in-store were carried out on-site by the flooring contractor.