ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
People are just finding out what B&M stands for and it's blowing their minds
Home>Lifestyle>Food & Drink
Published 15:40 28 Mar 2024 GMT

People are just finding out what B&M stands for and it's blowing their minds

What we thought B&M stands for couldn't be further from the truth.

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

People are only just finding out what B&M stands for and it's really not what you think.

The B&M we all know and love is great for - well - a bargain.

With a whopping 703 stores in the UK, the company is well known for its below retail garden furniture, homeware, toys, sweets, drinks and beauty products... you name it, they will have it.

From its first store in Blackpool in 1978, B&M now employs over 35,000 staff and is valued at a multi-billion pound company.

Advert

Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

But while most shoppers have forever assumed that B&M stands for 'Bargains & More', but it's completely untrue.

Before revealing the real name of the brand, you've first got to look back at its origins.

The owners, who founded the business in Luxembourg, were relatively unknown until Bobby and Simon Arora from Phildrew Investments acquired the company in 2004 and made it what it is today.

But even Simon didn't know what B&M stood for.

In an interview with McKinsey Alumni Center, he said: "Someone once told me that it was obvious - it stands for 'Bargains and More'.

"That's good enough for me."

Taking to social media, fans have also been confused for years, as one person wrote: "I thought B&M was bargains & more!"

"What wait, this can't be true!" a second penned, while third added: "My mind is blown."

John Keeble/Getty Images

Without further ado, B&M is named after its original owners - Malcolm Billington and Brian Mayman.

The company was originally named Billington & Mayman, based on their names, but it was soon shortened to B&M.

One for your quiz night that.

This comes after the bargain retail giant left their customers very happy indeed when they brought back one of the most nostalgic treats ever.

Opal Fruits sweets were gradually phased out in the UK, followed by Ireland, way back in 1998.

The rebrand was part of an effort to standardise the fruit chews and match what the same sweets were being packaged as in the US at the time - Starburst.

B&M/X

Opal Fruits boasts the OG flavours of lemon, orange, strawberry, and lime, while Starburst also included a mixed lemon and lime sweet as well as a blackcurrant flavour.

While the name change took place over two decades ago - it's clear that Brits still kept the good old Opal Fruits branding in their hearts

Posting a photo of the packet of the once-retro sweets next to a '£1' sign, they posted on X: "We have Opal Fruits if anyone is interested?"

Featured Image Credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images/John Keeble/Getty Images

Topics: Shopping, Food And Drink, UK News

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Recommended reads

Italian Prime Minister shares explicit AI photos of herself in harrowing warning to publicAntonio Masiello/Getty ImagesMortal Kombat II stars are “down” for an accent swap in potential sequelWarner Bros.British hantavirus patient has 'no idea' how long he will be in hospital for as he is removed from cruise ship(Martin Antsee/Facebook)Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged suicide note revealed for first time after judge orderNeil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

12 hours ago
14 hours ago
17 hours ago
  • TikTok/@venusinvestigations
    12 hours ago

    Private investigator shares 'weird' habit most unfaithful men do

    One in five Brits have admitted to cheating on their partner at some point

    Lifestyle
  • Instagram/@kimhartnett_
    14 hours ago

    Woman shares photos of botched nose jobs as she issues stark plastic surgery warning

    Love Island Australia star Kim Hartnett shared the results of her multiple nose job operations

    Lifestyle
  • CBS
    17 hours ago

    Woman who had face torn off by dogs shares surgery update four years after attack

    Jacqueline has now had 31 surgeries and shares updates with her service dog as she continues to recover

    Lifestyle
  • Galderma
    17 hours ago

    Identical twins shared huge impact after one used £1,000 filler and other didn’t

    The experiment saw the difference between one twin who received facial filler injections and the other who had no treatment

    Lifestyle
  • What happens if there are food shortages in the UK as government warns it's stepping up plans
  • People are just finding out what McDonald’s Grimace actually is
  • B&M product urgently recalled over fears it could cause scalding
  • People are only just realising what Boxing Day actually means