The purchasing power of the proposed fi fteen hundred shop outlets would
have meant excellent price reductions to customers across Britain and the
United States. The fl agship, Harrods, had never been integrated with the
rest and would demerge to retain its particular character and choice.
It’s often written, as a handy journalist’s tag, that I suffered from an
obsession to control the splendid Knightsbridge store. It would be a very
static and limited aim, I think. For Lonrho’s purpose, it could have been any
well-spread stores group. It was chance, and also roulette, that brought
Hugh Fraser, the seller, and Lonrho, the buyer, together in 1977.