A MAJOR supermarket is set to close up to eight stores and open fourteen new branches this year, the Sun has learned.
Sainsbury's plans to open at least fourteen new stores including a mix of "Local convenience shops and superstores, while up to eight Local branches face closure by March 2024.
In its latest company results, Sainsbury's revealed it had closed two convenience stores in the first half of the financial year and plans to close up to ten Sainsbury's Locals in 2023/24.
Over the same period, the supermarket opened nine new stores including a new flagship store in Hook, Hampshire.
This also included three Sainsbury's Locals in Manchester Islington Wharf, Crouch End The Broadway and Beam Park in Rainham, Essex.
The Sun now understands it is hoping to open at least 14 more stores by March 2024, starting from next week.
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These include:
- A Sainsbury's Local within the new Sherwood Library Development in Nottingham, opening next week
- A Sainsbury's Local in the Mile End area of Colchester, Essex, at the end of November
- A Sainsbury's Local in the Fairmilehead area of Edinburgh, opening before Christmas
- A Sainsbury's Local in the Liverpool Waters development at Princes Dock, Liverpool, opening before Christmas
- A Sainsbury's "Neighbourhood Hub" in Winchburgh, Scotland, opening early 2024
- A Sainsbury's Superstore in Talbot Green, Wales, opening early 2024
- A Sainsbury's Superstore in Southport, Merseyside, opening early 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Lewisham, London by March 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Tower Hamlets, London by March 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Edgware, London, by March 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Camberwell, London, by March 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Erith, London, by March 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Archway, London, by March 2024
- A Sainsbury's Local in Yate, Gloucester, by March 2024
While no locations for upcoming store closures have been confirmed, its superstore in the Whitgift Centre in Croydon – once considered a flagship store – closed on September 16.
The remaining closures will happen by March 2024.
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Patrick Dunne, property director at Sainsbury's, said: “We know how much customers value being able to shop when and how they want.
"We expect to open around 25 new Sainsbury’s Locals in the 12 months to March 2024.
“We’re also continuing to open state-of-the-art supermarkets where we know there’s demand for Sainsbury’s.
"We’ll keep investing in stores that customers will find convenient to where they live, work and shop – putting Sainsbury’s great value, high quality products within easy reach of more communities.”
You can find your nearest Sainsbury's using its Store Locator tool on its website – just put in your postcode or nearest town.
Sainsbury's joins a number of retailers closing and opening large numbers of stores during what is a volatile period for the High Street.
Rival supermarkets M&S and Tesco are set to close a handful of stores by the end of the year.
However, M&S has announced plans to open seven new shops before Christmas including in Manchester, Birmingham and Uckfield, East Sussex.
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DIY chain Homebase is closing two stores in November and a third in December, while Boots is set to close five more shops this month alone as part of its plan to shut 300 branches.
Earlier this year, the Sun revealed bargain retailer Costco plans to open 14 new warehouses around the UK over the next two years in a major expansion for the chain.
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