* New multi-million pound technology will help speed up shopping, saving customers nearly 500,000 hours each year * Self check-outs to be rolled out to all stores to increase customer choice of check-out * Double sided printing on receipts will help reduce the amount of paper used by two fifths, equivalent to over 350 tonnes annually – a first for a UK retailer As part of its drive to offer customers greater choice Sainsbury’s has today announced a multi-million pound investment in cutting... ...Read more »

Peter Marks, the boss of UK retailer The Co-operative Group, yesterday (18 March) issued a “bring it on” rallying cry as the company prepares for competition from the likes of Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in the convenience sector.Speaking to just-food as the Co-op issued a 20% rise in annual profits this morning, Marks was unconcerned about the prospect of fierce competition in the UK convenience channel. Last week, Morrisons, which is opening smaller stores than it has historically... ...Read more »

As Fairtrade Fortnight concludes in the UK, Ben Cooper takes a look at the way big business has moved into the Fairtrade sector and asks whether this has created reputational risks for the movement.With Fairtrade Fortnight in the UK drawing to a close, those who support the idea of a more ethical marketplace and a fairer deal for farmers will no doubt be pausing to pay tribute to those bastions of the Fairtrade sector – companies like Nestlé, Kraft Foods and Tesco. Not the names you might... ...Read more »

UK supermarket Sainsbury’s today announced its position as the largest retailer of Fairtrade products in the world, with sales of £218m, up 10% from last year. Sainsbury’s stocks more than 800 different Fairtrade products, including bananas, clothing and Sainsbury’s-brand tea, coffee and sugar. It is estimated that almost a quarter of Britain’s Fairtrade spending is done at Sainsbury’s. In addition to paying a growers a fair price, sales of these products generate an... ...Read more »

In the wake of concerns about the waste created by ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ offers (BOGOFs), UK retailer Sainsbury’s has introduced a new, but similar offer, to tackle such concerns. The ‘buy now free next time’ deal allows customers to get the product free next time they are in store and it will be initially offered on nappies and baguettes. “Following feedback from our customers, we learnt that whilst ‘buy one get one free’ promotional offers on nappies... ...Read more »

UK retailer Sainsbury is pitting its own-brand products with branded equivalents as part of a major in-store sampling spree for its Switch and Save campaign. ‘Taste Test Challenge’ stalls will be set up at 400 of Sainsbury’s supermarkets across the UK, at which a selection of own-brand products will be pitted against branded equivalents to see which customers prefer. Customers will be asked to put a token in one of two corresponding tubes so people can see whether own-brand or branded... ...Read more »

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has rid their private label cereal of cardboard boxes, a move which could be followed by some of the sector’s heavyweights. The decision will help to cut packaging on its entire range of products by a third, with the retailer to simply use recyclable plastic packaging commonly used by potato chip makers. Australia’s Sanitarium and the world’s largest cereal maker, Kellogg’s, have both indicated they were also contemplating the idea as... ...Read more »

First there was wind and solar energy, now UK supermarket operator Sainsbury’s is opening a store where the checkouts will be powered by people.In a European first, Sainsbury’s is installing a revolutionary invention which creates green energy every time a customer simply drives into the car park to do their shopping. The system ensures that whenever a vehicle passes over the ‘Kinetic Road Plates’ in the car park, energy is captured which would otherwise be wasted. Sainsbury’s... ...Read more »

UK retailer Sainsbury’s is to become the first British retailer and largest employer to offer its entire workforce of 150,000 colleagues the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications, supporting the UK Government’s strategy to boost skills amongst the workforce. The supermarket’s chief executive, Justin King and Secretary of State for Skills, John Denham, launched the nationwide initiative which is open to all new and existing colleagues. The Level 1 numeracy and... ...Read more »

Sainsbury’s has opened its flagship “green” store, built with consideration for the use of energy, water, waste, timber and land. The store is aiming to be one of the first supermarkets to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for its commitment to sustainable construction, and has been specifically designed to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The pioneering store will save 40% of its overall CO2 emissions. This will be achieved by using cutting edge technology... ...Read more »