For many anglers, Fosters of Birmingham was one of the UK’s most recognisable fishing tackle retailers. Based in Birmingham, the company built a reputation for carrying an enormous range of tackle across carp, coarse, match, predator, sea and game fishing, becoming a favourite destination for anglers from across the country.
Its large superstore and successful mail-order and online business made Fosters one of the biggest tackle retailers in Europe, with a reputation for competitive pricing, knowledgeable staff and a huge selection of products from all the leading brands. The retailer also played a significant role in promoting specialist fishing tackle and was closely associated with the growth of several well-known brands, including MAP Fishing in its early years.
History
Fosters of Birmingham traded for more than 30 years and grew from a regional tackle shop into one of the UK’s largest independent fishing tackle businesses. Operating from its 17,000 sq ft superstore in Witton, Birmingham, the company held over £1 million worth of stock and served anglers throughout the UK via its website and mail-order operation.
In October 2017, the business was acquired by Angling Direct in a deal worth £3 million. At the time of the acquisition, Angling Direct chose to continue operating the Fosters website separately while gradually integrating the business and its customer service into the wider Angling Direct group. Around a year later, the Fosters website was merged into Angling Direct, bringing the long-running standalone brand to an end while ensuring existing customers could continue shopping through the larger retailer.
Although the Fosters name has now disappeared from the high street and online, many anglers still remember it as one of the great tackle shops of the 1990s and 2000s. For countless carp anglers, a trip to Fosters was every bit as exciting as a fishing session itself, and the brand remains a fond part of UK angling history.