Sainsbury’s launches new city convenience format
Sainsbury’s has unveiled a new city convenience store format with the opening of a shop in London’s Mansion House.
The shop is the retailer’s first ‘On The Go’ store which offers freshly made and prepared in-store food and drink together with access to wider a range of Sainsbury’s products.
Nine more On the Go stores will open across Edinburgh, Bristol, Glasgow and London over the coming months as the retailer tests the format. Sainsbury’s has over 130 Local convenience stores in busy urban areas that it says could be converted into On the Go stores if the format is successful.
Customers can choose to eat-in by using perch tables at the front of the store. Food on offer includes freshly made and baked food from an in-store pizza oven and bakery as well as products from a Sushi Gourmet concession. Shoppers can also buy hot porridge and drinks from a self-service coffee machine and orange juicer.
The products have been clustered together on counters in a ‘grab and go’ station at the front of the store. The ranges will be changed three times a day and will include items for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
Sainsbury’s said almost 90% of the products available in the store have been picked specifically to meet the needs of Mansion House customers who are likely to be busy city workers. Along with a wider selection of fresh food and floral products, some top-performing specialist and premium brands from Sainsbury’s supermarkets have been added to shelves.
The shop also offers a range of digital services. Customers can shop till-free using the SmartShop mobile app or can use rapid exit checkouts. Argos and Tu clothing click and collect services will also be available.
Graham Biggart, Sainsbury’s director of commercial operations, said:“Convenience is a growing part of our business and we have greater capability than ever to truly tailor Local stores to local needs – across our products, formats, services and operations. Our new On the Go Mansion House Local is a great example, bringing a new kind of convenience to busy local workers with limited time and delivering the curated range and fast experience that will enable them to get exactly what they want at pace.”
