Sainsbury’s has launched two new Neighbourhood Hub stores, its larger convenience store format, bringing the total number to seven.
The retailer has brought the new store model, which was first introduced in 2019, to Whitstable in Kent and Penwortham in London.
Neighbourhood Hub branches differ from Sainsbury’s Local c-stores by being larger, at between 5,000 sq ft and 7,000 sq ft, and offering a wider assortment of products.
The stores provide more space for categories including meat and fish, as well as a wider selection of vegetarian and vegan food. Most of them also have Argos click & collect facilities.
“Our newest Hub stores look great and I’m sure our customers will enjoy doing more of their shopping closer to home,” said Sainsbury’s property director Patrick Dunne.
Read more: Inside a new Sainsbury’s ‘Neighbourhood Hub’ store
“We’re continually investing in our store network and adapting our estate to ensure it best reflects our customers’ changing shopping habits and local demand.”
Sainbury’s plans to open another 18 Neighbourhood Hubs over the next three years, as well as converting some of its existing c-stores to the format.
“Our Neighbourhood Hubs have proved extremely popular and that has really motivated the team to open more for our customers through a combination of acquiring new sites and upgrading current stores,” Dunne said.
Sainsbury’s c-store estate sales fell 9.4% last year as the pandemic impacted footfall in city centres and some high street locations.
The new Penwortham and Whitstable Hubs join the existing ones in Billingshurst, Melbourne Derby Road, Bishop’s Waltham, Midhurst and Woodhall Spa.
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