Sainsbury’s unveils new convenience store format
Sainsbury’s has unveiled a refreshed look for its Local convenience stores
Sainsbury’s has unveiled a refreshed look for its Local convenience stores, marking the debut of its new format at the recently reopened Pudsey Town Local store in Leeds.
The supermarket’s store, which opened in late February, is the first to feature the updated design and layout, and is being followed by similar changes at two new London locations, Sainsbury’s Bermondsey Square and Sloane Avenue.
This update is a key element of Sainsbury’s broader Next Level strategy, which aims to enhance its convenience store offering in line with evolving customer needs.
According to The Grocer, the new Pudsey format builds on the successful elements seen in the company’s Cobham, Surrey, supermarket refit, incorporating features like a closed refrigeration system and multiple digital screens.
Additionally, Pudsey is trialling Sainsbury’s first-ever self-serve locker for on-demand deliveries, a step forward in its convenience strategy.
The changes at Pudsey include a reorganised layout and new aisle signage, designed to improve the shopping experience and increase product availability. The store’s updated offer includes a 5% increase in the range of products, achieved through space optimization and the addition of energy-efficient enclosed refrigeration units.
This has allowed the supermarket chain to expand core categories like food-to-go, alcohol, and breakfast items. For example, Pudsey now stocks four different own-label bacon products, up from just one before the refit.
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The store has also introduced new meal solutions, such as a £12 Dine in For Two Taste the Difference offer, and additional ready-to-eat items. Aldi Price Match branding remains prominent, though the number of matched products has been reduced recently.
One of the key changes in Pudsey is the introduction of a dedicated “food on the move” breakfast hub at the front of the store, designed to cater to busy customers looking for quick meal options.
Further updates to the layout include category-focused gondola ends, with dedicated sections for breakfast items, world foods, stocks, condiments, and food cupboard essentials.
Sainsbury’s has also introduced a self-serve locker for on-demand deliveries, a new service for the company. The locker, located near the store’s entrance, allows customers to pick up orders placed through services such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, and Sainsbury’s Chop Chop.
The system, which is linked to the store’s picking systems, ensures that orders comply with cold chain regulations. A similar service is being trialled at the Sloane Avenue store.
Other updates at the Pudsey store include a refreshed checkout area, complete with new barriers and updated lighting, as well as a relocated Argos Click & Collect station.
The changes to Sainsbury’s convenience store format come as part of the retailer’s ongoing efforts to improve its c-store offer, which kicked off last October with a comprehensive range review.
This range improvement programme, which is expected to run through 2025, will see Sainsbury’s continue to adapt its convenience store estate to meet the demands of today’s shoppers.
In addition to the ongoing store revamps, Sainsbury’s plans to open or reopen around 25 new Local stores annually as part of its Next Level strategy, further bolstering its presence in the convenience market.
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