Sainsbury’s to close down four county in-store cafés

FOUR in-store cafés at Sainsbury’s stores in the city and county are to shut next month.

Sainsbury’s has announced it will shut 200 cafés nationwide in a revamp of its in-store dining which is set to affect 2,000 staff across the country.

Leicestershire has 14 stores, six of which have in-store cafés - and only two remain on the list of those in the county staying open.

They are the cafés in Sainsbury’s North in Melton Road and Sainsbury’s in Fosse Park.

This means the Hinckley, Enderby, Oadby and Melton Mowbray branches could be saying bye for good in the coming months, with employees who work there encouraged to apply for jobs elsewhere within the company.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said the retailer will also be consulting staff about plans to close lesspopular hot food counters in 34 stores and changes to how it runs bakeries in 54 branches.

The move to close the cafés is the latest in a raft of recent moves by the retailer as it seeks to keep a lid on rising costs.

The remaining 67 in-store cafés across the country will stay open while the company reviews changes to its dining operations.

It is a part of a wider move to transform its dining, takeaway and home delivery food and drink offer from stores.

Sainsbury’s said it will also open 30 more restaurant hubs in stores in partnership with Boparan Restaurant Group, which runs the Caffe Carluccio’s,

Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Ed’s Diner and Slim Chickens brands.

It said the move follows a successful trial partnership at its branch in Selly Oak, Birmingham. Chief executive Simon Roberts said: “As we go through this period of transition, we have taken the difficult decision to close 200 of our cafés next month.

“We have spoken to all colleagues affected by these changes and are absolutely committed to supporting them in any way we can during this uncertain time. Of course, we understand this is very unsettling for our colleagues, but we must keep adapting our business to make sure we are offering customers the best possible food and drink at affordable prices.”