The move will create over 1,000 local jobs, providing a welcome boost to communities in the capital and the surrounding area as it builds on the current portfolio of 150 convenience stores in London and the South East.Sainsbury’s convenience business is enjoying over 18 per cent year on year growth with over five million customers a week visiting its ‘Local’ stores. In September, Sainsbury’s was named Convenience Retailer of The Year for the third year running at the Retail Industry Awards.
Simon Twigger, Sainsbury’s Convenience Director, said: “Our convenience business is going from strength to strength as customers continue to enjoy the benefits of regular top up shopping and the ability to walk to a local store. Sainsbury’s has an unrivalled history in London and the South East with our first store opening in Drury Lane in 1869 and these new stores carry on this tradition. The new ‘Locals’ will be located on high streets and in the heart of communities, providing access to healthy, quality food at fair prices. They will also give a real boost for other retailers as they bring increased footfall and trade.”
“The new stores will also benefit the wider economy. Over 1,000 new jobs will also be created, with the overwhelming majority coming from the local communities close to the stores they serve. These are jobs that set you up for a great career with Sainsbury’s with fantastic opportunities for progression and training.”
“All of these new convenience stores will be supported by a new state of the art distribution centre at Thameside. This new facility is dedicated to supporting our convenience store business and will create 350 jobs when fully operational, again most of which will go to local people, something we’re very proud of.”
In 2012/13 Sainsbury’s announced plans to open 1-2 convenience stores a week. So far the retailer has opened 87 convenience stores during the year. Sainsbury’s now has 523 convenience stores nationwide.
Sainsbury’s opened its first convenience store in Hammersmith in 1998. Last year Sainsbury’s announced that the continued growth of its convenience stores across the UK would create 10,000 jobs over the next three years.
