Sainsbury’s released well-received results this week. What was your reaction? We were all extremely proud of the results. In the current climate we performed really well. We weren’t surprised, because we knew we were having a good year, but it was nice to have it confirmed. 

How was the recent surge over Easter and the Royal Wedding? The success of that spell surprised the whole industry. We knew it was going to be big but it was absolutely amazing. We coped with it really well – we had done our planning a long time in advance. We had one of our best Easters ever in terms of sales. BBQ and party food sold extraordinarily well, along with wine and beer, but we had plenty of stock in and we widened out the displays. We also planned to make sure that our colleagues could see as much of the wedding as possible. We had a bit of a party in the staff restaurant. 

What is selling well in store at the moment? We are doing very well on clothing, which is currently up about 12% y-o-y. We have put a lot of work into making the area more shoppable; for example, we put a break in the long gondolas. And we also have a new TV advert which helps immensely. One of the best selling pieces is the Summer Shift dress – it is one of the key lines on the TV advert. 

Do you get involved in staff training? Oh yes. Big style. I get involved in as much training as I can find time for. My belief is that if people are motivated to do well then they will do an exceptional job for you. Why wouldn’t you want to get involved at all levels? I take part in new starter inductions, we have workshops for department managers, which I lead, and I try and sit in on as many sessions as I can. I think that is a big part of the store manager’s role. 

What is the most challenging thing about your job?I think most store managers would say cost control, working with eversmaller cost budgets, but that is part and parcel of the job. It can be a challenge but it’s very rewarding when you hit those targets! 

What do you like about working for Sainsbury’s?I like the freedom to manage my team within a framework built on core values of honesty and respect. I love working with people and seeing them develop. That is one of the proudest moments in any store manager’s career – seeing someone move up to the next level. It gives me a really good buzz. 

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