One of the
UK’s major supermarkets, Sainsbury’s, has just announced that it now has more
convenience store outlets than supermarkets.
The chain
is embarking on a major expansion of its convenience stores as consumers show a
preference for shopping little and often. The trend helps customers to stick to
their weekly budgets and cut down on waste.
UK
supermarket giants, Saisnbury’s, Tesco, and Morrisons, all reported poor sales
in the lead up to Christmas. Sainsbury’s sales growth was only 0.2% in the lead
up while its convenience stores sales were up almost 18% and online up by 10%.
An analyst
for UK’s Rabobank said that the trend towards convenience stores was also
creating “hybrid customers” who were comfortable purchasing at the premium and
non-premium ends of the buying spectrum.