Last week saw the opening of a new format for UK retailer Sainsbury’s, which shows how the group is devoting more time and resources to its non-food offering.
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The new 4,645m2 store in York boasts a non-food range accounting for 25% of sales space. Both Tesco and Wal-Mart/Asda have invested heavily in non-food, while Sainsbury’s had pledged to focus on high quality food and customer service to create a unique selling point setting it apart from its rivals.
However, the group appears to be changing strategy and is likely to be selling customers electronic items before too long. The store also recently started selling a new clothing line developed in cooperation with Jeff Banks. The range will be available in 32 stores by the end of the financial year.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman is cited in Retail Week as saying: “In the past couple of years, we have strengthened non-food. Our reinvigoration programme gives us a way to evaluate each store and see what customers want. We maximise space for food first, but where possible, we introduce non-food ranges.”
