Sainsbury’s reports interim results, pressing ahead with digital stores

UK supermarket Sainsbury’s has today (9 November) reported its latest interim results, with “like-for-like transaction growth across all channels and total volume growth”. The underlying group sales for the 28 weeks to 24 September 2016 were £13,923m – up 2.1% on the £13,641m achieved in the same period last year. The underlying profit before tax was down by 10.1% to £277m.

Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Mike Coupe said: “Two years ago we set out our strategy to make our customers’ lives easier, offering great quality and service at fair prices, serving our customers whenever and wherever they want.  We have made good progress delivering this in challenging market conditions.”

Coupe then focused on the progress being made to integrate the Home Retail Group (HRG) businesses with Sainsbury’s, and the plans to expand the home delivery and Click and Collect offerings.

“We have invested in the quality of our products while reducing prices on everyday items, delivering volume growth and outperforming the market in customer service and availability,” said Coupe.  “To meet growing demand for home delivery groceries in London, we opened a new online fulfilment centre. By Christmas we will open 30 Argos digital stores and create a further 30 Argos digital collection points in our supermarkets. These will form part of a rollout of 200 new digital collection points where customers can collect Tu clothing, eBay and DPD parcels.”