Sainsbury's to revamp c-stores

Supermarket Sainsbury’s has kicked off a range improvement programme across its convenience store estate as part of its plan to revamp the smaller stores.

According to recent reports, the supermarket will carry out a full range review, where it will assess which items are performing well in its convenience arm Sainsbury’s Local stores. This will include whether particular lines need to be removed or added, including its selection of “dine in” or “food-to-go” products. Sainsbury’s kicked off the initiative last weekend and is set to run over the next few months.

The supermarket will also be looking at how it can better use the space in its convenience. Sainsbury’s has previously announced plans to open between 20 and 25 convenience stores annually to increase its presence on the high street.

As of June 2024, Sainsbury's has 834 convenience stores in the UK. Sainsbury's stores are different from other supermarkets in terms of their size, product range, and target market. Sainsbury's Local stores are carefully selected to serve the needs of each community. Some stores are specifically designed for busy customers looking for food on the go.

In its financial report published earlier this year, Sainsbury's said: "In total, for 2024-25, we expect to open three supermarkets and around 25 new convenience stores, with four supermarkets and three to five convenience stores to close. In addition, we expect to open around ten Argos stores inside Sainsbury’s and close around 15-20 Argos stand-alone stores."

It comes as Sainsbury's and Argos confirmed plans to hire 18,000 people at Sainsbury’s and 2,000 workers at Argos to help cover the busy Christmas period. The supermarket chain will hire staff on fixed-term contracts ranging from three weeks to three months.