Sainsbury reveal recruitment drive in retail expansion

Sainsbury's has announced an expansion programme which will see the supermarket chain take on 10,000 new employees during 2002.

The new jobs are to be created as part of a three-year strategy aimed at helping the company recoup its position as the number one supermarket in the UK as existing outlets undergo a revamp to include an expanded range of facilities in order to entice customers back through its doors.

The jobs will be available at stores nationwide and will be a mixture of full and part-time positions in every area of the store, from butchers and bakers to checkout operators. In larger stores, new staff will be recruited to fill roles such as clothing assistants or customer service jobs in the Homeshop cooking and electrical section, with the company also employing people to work in its distribution team at new state-of-the-art depots.

Sainsbury's director of retail human resources, Nigel Broome, said that the recruitment drive formed "an essential part" of the company's plans for growth: "Over the year, we will have positions available in all areas of the business and extensive training will be provided as part of our commitment to delivering great service."

The firm's home shopping service will also be recruiting over 400 new employees during the year ahead, as the service - currently available to over 16 million households - is expanded to cover more areas.

The retail giant currently employs over 140,000 people in 400 stores throughout the UK, with outlets in Craigavon, Belfast, Armagh, Ballymena, Newry and Coleraine. (CL)