Store of the week: Sainsbury's Livingston

This store has a great record in The Grocer 33 - why does it always do so well? It has a great atmosphere and great ­colleagues. Morale is high and colleagues are very engaged with customers.

How do you encourage great customer service and store standards? I am on the shop floor a lot. I make a point of going on to the tills and serving customers, or going on to the customer service desk. Because of this, I can get feedback straight from customers and act on it. I also think that if my colleagues see I’m working alongside them on the shop floor, especially when it’s busy, it is very good for morale.

How has your career progressed at Sainsbury’s? I started out in October 1999 as a part-time worker on the checkouts. I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did and I started to move up through the ranks. I’ve now been a store manager for seven years and at this store for nine months.

How do you develop talent at Sainsbury’s? Having started out as a checkout operator myself, I think it is so important to develop talent. When I first started out, I never thought I would go on to be a store manager, and sometimes I think some people can be left behind. So I’ve been helping team leaders develop into department managers.

How does it feel watching those people you have mentored progress? I absolutely love it. My current general merchandise manager worked at another store with me three years ago. He’s now managing all the non-food at this store. Another colleague is now a trainee manager.

And what plans do you have for your store this year? I want to continue to grow online, which is doing really well for us, and also to continue to improve the store. I want to continue to improve customer service, support for local charities and also to continue to develop my colleagues.