Sainsbury stores revamp to create 10,000 jobs

J Sainsbury, Britain's second-biggest supermarket chain, yesterday unveiled plans to create 10,000 jobs this year, expanding its work force by 7 per cent.

The new recruits will be taken on across the country as part of the supermarket group's strategy to beat rivals by upgrading its stores and offering more non-food goods such as clothes and electrical equipment.

About 70 per cent of the jobs will be part-time, with roles ranging from butchers and check-out operators to sales assistants for the chain's Jeff & Co clothing line. Extra staff will also be hired to work in distribution depots.

Sainbury, which has recently seen an upturn in its position in the ultra-competitive supermarket sector, announced 1,000 of the new jobs last year, with the remaining 9,000 representing a new undertaking to expand its presence in the UK.

Sainsbury's currently employs 142,000 staff in Britain and has 458 stores. It reported a surge in holiday season trading which surpassed its arch-rival Tesco, with sales excluding petrol coming in 6.8 per cent higher in the six weeks to 5 January than in the same period last year.

Some of the jobs will be at Sainsbury's to You, the company's home shopping service, which wants to expand its staff by more than 400 new employees during 2002.