**Sainsbury’s Unveils Widespread In-Store Changes as Three Key Services to Close**
Sainsbury’s, one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, has revealed significant in-store changes, with the company announcing the closure of its remaining patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters across the country by early summer. This marks another step in the retailer’s ongoing drive to modernise its offering and improve operational efficiency in an increasingly competitive grocery market.
The company, which released its latest financial results for the year ending 1 March 2025, described the closures as integral to a broader plan to “optimise in-store space” and amplify its focus on fresh food provision. In a bid to reassure customers, Sainsbury’s confirmed that the most popular products from these outgoing counters will remain available, now pre-packed and easily accessible from the aisles, thus aiming to maintain customer choice despite the service changes.
Of particular interest to regular shoppers, Sainsbury’s has announced plans to launch new “On the Go” food sections from autumn this year. These hubs will provide shoppers with ready-to-eat hot food, catering to modern consumer preferences for speed and convenience. The introduction of such formats reflects broader shifts within the UK supermarket sector, where consumer purchasing habits continue to evolve at pace.
This latest overhaul also follows the recent shuttering of all Sainsbury’s Cafés, a move that saw around 3,000 jobs cut—approximately 2% of the supermarket’s workforce. At the time, the company described these tough decisions as necessary to streamline operations and respond effectively to the tough economic climate faced by many retailers across the country.
In an official statement outlining the motivation behind these changes, Sainsbury’s noted, “In January, we announced propositional updates to our food services in stores, to drive growth and availability at lower operational cost, helping to create space for further expansion of fresh produce ranges.” The supermarket is also converting its scratch bakeries to a more efficient “bake-off” model, designed to enhance both product quality and availability throughout the trading day.
The overarching ambition, according to Sainsbury’s, is to achieve cost savings of £1 billion by March 2027 without compromising on the grocery standards that customers have come to expect. At the same time, Sainsbury’s remains committed to improving value for shoppers—an area that has seen fierce competition from discount rivals.
Chief Executive Simon Roberts commented on the retailer’s progress: “We’ve transformed our business over the last four years. By creating an appealing mix of value, quality, and service, we’ve strengthened our position and attracted more customers into stores.” Roberts pointed to the company’s recent performance, highlighting market share gains and increased customer satisfaction, particularly with respect to product availability and innovation.
Roberts also stressed the role of Sainsbury’s loyalty programme, Nectar, in driving personalised offers and building customer loyalty. He noted, “Nectar is elevating our ability to create value, with more offers across thousands of lines, and our long-term partnerships with farmers and suppliers show our commitment to the sustainability and resilience of the UK food chain.”
Industry observers see Sainsbury’s moves as indicative of a wider trend among the UK’s major supermarkets, where the balance between traditional services and new, efficient retail models is constantly being struck. As competition with discounters like Aldi and Lidl intensifies, established names are under increasing pressure to adapt their business models while continuing to offer variety, quality, and value to their diverse customer bases.
As these changes are rolled out over the coming months, Sainsbury’s has pledged to keep customers informed and maintain high service standards. The ultimate goal, executives stress, is to ensure that Sainsbury’s remains a top destination for UK grocery shoppers amid ongoing change within the retail landscape.