Sainsbury's opens first On the Go store in London

Sainsbury’s has taken the wraps off its new On the Go city convenience store format.

The retailer’s 2,200 sq ft Mansion House store in London’s Square Mile is the first to go live. Nine more will open across Edinburgh, Bristol, Glasgow and London over the coming months. Sainsbury’s says that it has over 130 Local stores in busy urban areas that could be converted into On the Go format.

Customers can choose to eat-in – for the first time perch tables have been placed at the front of store. Products from counters have also been brought to a ‘grab and go’ station. Changed three times a day, it will offer customers a range of food to go for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Customers can also shop till-free using the SmartShop mobile app and rapid exit checkouts are available if people choose to use the traditional way of doing things. Argos and Tu clothing Click and Collect are also on offer.

“Convenience is a growing part of our business and we have greater capability than ever to truly tailor Local stores to local needs – across our products, formats, services and operations,” says Graham Biggart, Sainsbury’s Director of Commercial Operations.

“Our new On the Go Mansion House Local is a great example, bringing a new kind of convenience to busy local workers with limited time and delivering the curated range and fast experience that will enable them to get exactly what they want at pace. We’re confident this format will further strengthen our market-leading position in convenience.”