The number of Sainsbury’s Local convenience stores will this week overtake the number of supermarkets run by the company, reflecting the changing habits of consumers in the UK.
Sainsbury's will open its 594th Local store this Thursday in Coventry. "We know the trend among customers is to shop little and often as this helps them stick to their budget and cut down on food waste," said Sainsbury's Mike Coupe.
"Our Local stores, with their convenient locations and emphasis on fresh food, something very much part of our heritage, are in a fantastic position to help customers do this.
"There is no sign of this trend abating and, with only 6% of the population living within a 15 minute walk of a Sainsbury's Local, there's plenty of opportunity for us to to grow, creating jobs for local people and helping to revitalize high streets and communities across Britain as they bring increased footfall and trade," he added.
Sainsbury’s sales growth slowed to 0.2% on a like-for-like basis in the run-up to Christmas, its slowest pace in nine years. However, sales in its convenience stores rose by almost 18% and similarly online sales rose by more than 10%.
© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine by Enda Dowling
