// Sainsbury’s to roll out Fresh Food Market concept after a successful pilot at Hempstead Valley store
// Comes as Sainsbury’s opens relaunched Hempstead Valley site, which underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment over 8 months
Sainsbury’s has announced plans to roll out the Fresh Food Market in-store concept after a successful trial at its Hempstead Valley store, which has just completed wider renovation works.
The Hempstead Valley superstore is home to Sainsbury’s first Fresh Food Market, where it was first launched in October.
The Big 4 grocer said at the time that if the pilot was successful, it would look to rollout to more stores.
The grocery giant today confirmed that customer and staff feedback on the new food hall format and design and would commence a trial across more stores in 2021. It did not specify which or how many stores.
The Fresh Food Market is brought to life with a market-style presentation of fresh fruit and vegetables, new signage and a focus on seasonality and proud British Heritage.
News of the roll-out comes as Sainsbury’s opened the doors to its relaunched Hempstead Valley supermarket, located in Kent, which underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment over the course of eight months.
The new-look 62,000sq ft supermarket has been transformed into a next generation Sainsbury’s store, with a brighter, fresher design and layout with enhanced product and service offering.
In addition to the Fresh Food Market, the Sainsbury’s Hempstead Valley superstore is home to a new-look café, dedicated on-the-go hub with snacking, coffee machine, fresh juicer and sushi bar, plus an Argos shop-in-shop offer.
The multi-million pound investment works also involved transforming the beauty department and clothing and home section, installing a new self-service patisserie counter, and a takeaway hot food bar including a pizza counter.
The works also extend beyond the shop floor, with improvements made to the staff wellbeing area, including new furniture and digital notice boards.
Sainsbury’s petrol station next door has also been redeveloped, featuring more on-the-go ranges and home essentials such as cleaning products and toiletries.
The Retail Gazette has contacted Sainsbury’s for further details on how much the refurbishment project at Hempstead Valley cost.
Sainsbury’s, which has operated from the Hempstead Valley site for over 40 years, said the renovations represent one of its largest single store investments in around 20 years.
The changes to the Hempstead Valley store are also expected to save Sainsbury’s approximately 30 per cent in gas use and 15 per cent in electricity annually.
The sustainable aspect from part of Sainsbury’s ambitions to hit net zero carbon emissions across its own operations by 2040, and has invested in new in-store initiatives to better operate the Hempstead Valley supermarket.
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This included a refrigeration refit, including aerofoil technology to keep the fridges cool and aisles warmer to save 15 per cent of the energy used by the fridge.
The store is also now more efficient through the roll out of a store-wide refrigeration integrated heating and cooling system and new fast closing doors for the loading dock.
The Hempstead Velley store is also more water efficient, with new water saving taps and reduced flush toilets, plus waterless urinals.
“Our Hempstead Valley store gives our customers a one-stop shop experience,” Sainsbury’s property director Patrick Dunne said.
“We’re really proud of it and the way in which we have completed the refurbishment works for our customers as efficiently and safely as possible.
“We have undergone eight months of work and through the patience and support of the local community have continued to trade throughout.
“We have completed an extraordinary amount of work to improve the product and service experience for our local customers and we know the changes we have made will be enjoyed for many years to come.
“We will also use many of the learnings throughout the phases of work, together with the ongoing feedback from our customers and colleagues on our changes, to help us as we continue to invest in our stores.
“We’re investing in our stores because we want our stores to be a hub of inspiration to help our customers create the plate of food that best serves them and their family.”
Sainsbury’s Hempstead Valley store manager John Webb said: “We’re so excited to relaunch our new store for our customers.
“We’re so grateful for the support of the local community during the redevelopment works and we know our customers will really enjoy the completed result.”
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