Winner: Sainsbury’s Dulwich
Store operations manager: Louise Sroka
Size: 41,600 sq ft
Market share: 13.3%
Nearest rivals: Asda - 1.2 miles, Morrisons - 1.3 miles, Lidl - 1.5 miles, Iceland - 1.6 miles
Store data source: Analysis by CACI. Call the market planning group on 020 7602 6000
How did the store do over the hot bank holiday weekend? We made sure we planned for having the right colleagues in the right place and went after the key lines customers wanted. We used the front of store for beers and alcohol and lines we knew they would want to buy. We spent some time looking at production plans for the bakery, making sure we had great availability. Hot weather can come at short notice so it’s how you react to that quickly. Through experience of working in the store and understanding the intensity, especially at weekends, the store’s management team is clued up on when to switch it up and deliver.
Your staff went out of their way to help. How has this been instilled in them? We use a lot of engagement methods with our colleagues. We do daily huddles where we speak to the colleagues about things going on in the store. It’s trying to create a culture where people enjoy working. We do that through a bit of fun as well with social events. It’s building the morale within the team. When we do really well at something we make sure we celebrate that with the individual and with the team. People want to deliver great service and I think every colleague in this store knows Sainsbury’s is about service and that’s why our customers come to us.
How important are your counter services? Counters are at the heart of the stores they are in. We originated in Drury Lane and that was a counter service. It’s part of our heritage and feeds back to what we stand for in terms of personal service and encouraging customers to try something a little bit different. That is easier when they are talking to a colleague at a counter.
Anything new in-store or soon to be added? We’ve recently added a beauty range, which opened at the end of April. They are premium beauty and skincare lines. The customer feedback has been really good.
No comments yet