Retailer Attempts Food Comeback Via Non-Foods
By George Anderson
UK retailer Sainsbury is trying to regain food shoppers lost to the competition with a new line of non-foods house and cookware items in 12 of its stores.
According to the FoodProductionDaily Web site, “The launch of 2,500 homeware and cookware products is the biggest in Sainsbury’s history, and an attempt by the troubled
chain to benefit from the growing popularity of non-food items in supermarket outlets.”
English supermarkets, with the exception of Marks & Spencer, have traditionally concentrated on food, says the report, but the success of Asda and Tesco in non-foods has
left Sainsbury with little choice but to follow suit.
Moderator’s Comment: What are your thoughts on Sainsbury’s non-foods initiative?
Which came first, the egg or the frying pan? Sainsbury’s non-foods will be a non-starter if it doesn’t have a food business to attract shoppers.
[George
Anderson – Moderator]