Sainsbury's store opening cuts "won't stop Llan development"

llanblogger exclusive ...

A RUMOURED plan to scrap its major programme of store openings won’t affect the new Sainsbury’s supermarket earmarked for Llangollen.

That’s the assurance from a spokesman for the retail giant who says work on the development A5 is due to start shortly.
 

The store will be built on the site of the existing Dobson & Crowther  printworks whose new factory is rapidly nearing completion at nearby Cilmedw.   

A story in a national newspaper late last week claimed that J Sainsbury is set to scrap a giant programme of store openings and slash its dividend as part of a dramatic overhaul drawn up to fight falling sales.
 

Sainsbury’s will this week unveil the results of a strategic review, which is expected to reveal it is reining in costs in an effort to save cash and shore up its balance sheet.

The measures are intended to allow Sainsbury’s new chief executive, Mike Coupe, to invest in lowering prices as well as expanding the company’s online, convenience store and clothing businesses, which are performing well.
 

Sainsbury’s sales are falling for the first time in decade as Britain’s “big four” grocery retailers fight shifts in shopping habits and the rise of the discounters Aldi and Lidl.

The story said it is understood that Mr Coupe will also slash capital expenditure and Sainsbury’s new store openings.
 

Sales in large out-of-town supermarkets are falling and Sainsbury’s wants to focus on opening smaller convenience stores.

But a Sainsbury’s spokesman exclusively told llanblogger earlier today (Monday): “Our new Llangollen store is being developed in conjunction with our development partner J Ross who will be constructing the store before handing it over to us for its fit-out and opening.
 

“We understand that they will be commencing work on that initial phase of work, the construction of the shell, shortly.”

Explaining the background to the controversial development, which divided public opinion in Llangollen, the spokesman added:  “J-Ross need to complete the relocation of Dobson &Crowther, prepare the site and construct a shell.

“They then hand that shell over to Sainsbury’s, we fit it out and open the store.

“It’s a slightly different process to the majority of our new stores where we would be responsible for the construction of the new store from start to end.”