Cumbria Family Business Expands to 11 Sites as Third Generation Joins Firm
A Cumbrian family business founded in 1968 is expanding across northern England, with the third generation now taking on responsibilities within the company.
M&L Richardson and Sons Ltd began when Malcolm and Lyndis Richardson took over a garage at Low Row, beside the A69. Nearly six decades later, the business has grown into an operator of 11 convenience stores and forecourts across Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham. Its development reflects the family's long-term involvement in the retail and fuel sector, with successive generations contributing to the company's growth and expansion.
The company is currently run by four brothers, David, Martyn, Kevin and Paul Richardson. They took on full-time roles during the late 1990s and early 2000s, building on the business their parents had established. Their involvement helped move the company beyond its original petrol station and workshop operation towards a wider network of community stores and forecourts.
A new chapter has begun with David Richardson's daughter, Ellie, becoming the first member of the next generation to join the family business. She is training to become an area manager while overseeing the Low Row store, which has recently undergone a refurbishment and an expansion of its food service facilities.
Ellie's route into the company began after the pandemic, when she decided to pursue a Level 2 retail apprenticeship rather than continue with academic study. She said the practical experience helped her discover an interest in the industry, where customer service, daily operations and the variety of responsibilities have become important parts of her working life.
Her experience has included washing vehicles, covering shifts at the tills and helping manage the workshop at Low Row. She is now developing management skills, with her immediate focus on the refurbished SPAR store and its expanded kitchen. She has also highlighted the importance of food hygiene and safety as the business increases its food service offering.
Ellie said customers regularly describe Low Row as the garage with the nice view on the A69. She explained that hearing this from regular visitors was particularly rewarding, reflecting the site's established reputation as a stopping point for people travelling between Cumbria and Northumberland.
The Low Row premises have changed considerably since Malcolm and Lyndis first took over in 1968. Martyn Richardson recalled that the former owner, Mr Cates, continued living in a bungalow beside the forecourt after the sale, as part of the original agreement. Over time, the site became more established among passing motorists and underwent several expansions to meet the needs of customers.
The four brothers were involved in the business from an early age, working shifts after school and during holidays. When they eventually joined full time, they recognised the potential to develop the company beyond its original location. The decision to expand marked an important stage in transforming a family-run garage into a wider retail operation.
A significant milestone came in 2003, when the family joined the SPAR retail network. The move followed the acquisition of a forecourt and store at Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland. The brothers recognised that a well-known retail brand could help them develop community stores and strengthen the company's position in the convenience retail market.
The family has since maintained its relationship with SPAR for more than two decades. The brand itself is marking 70 years since arriving in the UK from the Netherlands in 1956. The Richardson family said the partnership has supported the company's development while allowing it to maintain its family-business values and focus on local customers.
Further expansion has taken place in recent years. The company opened a store on English Street in central Carlisle and acquired the Edens Lawn forecourt site in Haltwhistle in 2024. These developments added to its existing network and strengthened its presence across communities in Cumbria and neighbouring areas.
Plans have also been approved for an expanded community store and a new forecourt in Frizington, West Cumbria. The development will provide another stage in the company's growth, with the family preparing to modernise its facilities and extend the services available to local residents and passing motorists.
In addition to the Frizington project, the family intends to redevelop its Crossways forecourt and store in Gretna. The planned improvements form part of a wider programme of investment across the business, following the recent work at Low Row and the expansion of its retail locations.
The company's supply relationship with James Hall and Co Ltd has also played a role in its retail operations. The Preston-based, fifth-generation family wholesaler supplies the Richardson business and distributes SPAR products across the North of England. Martyn said the two family-owned businesses shared similar values and a culture that made the partnership a natural fit.
As the company continues to develop, the arrival of Ellie represents an important generational transition. Her training is intended to help her understand different parts of the operation before taking on wider management responsibilities. The family has emphasised the importance of maintaining established customer service while also welcoming new ideas and adapting to changes in the retail sector.
From a single A69 garage to 11 sites across three counties, M&L Richardson and Sons has undergone significant change since 1968. With new developments planned in Frizington and Gretna, and the next generation becoming involved in day-to-day management, the family business is preparing for its next phase of growth.
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