SavaCentre: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=FebruaryDecember 20122020}}

| owner = [[Sainsbury's]] (50:50 joint venture with [[British Home Stores|BHS]] (1977–891977–89))

'''SavaCentre''' was a chain of 13 [[hypermarkets]] and later a further seven discount supermarkets owned and operated jointly by [[Sainsbury's]] and [[British Home Stores|BHS]], beginning in 1977. Sainsbury's later took full control of the stores alone in 1989, rebranding them as '''Sainsbury's SavaCentre''', until 2005 when the stores were integrated into the Sainsbury's supermarket brand. The hypermarket stores ranged in size from {{convert|66,00066000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|117,000117000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and the discount supermarkets ranged in size from {{convert|31,00031000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|70,00070000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. At the time of its inception, it was the only dedicated hypermarket chain in the UK.

These stores carried the complete range of Sainsbury's and British Home Stores products along with electrical goods like refrigerators, washing machines, audio and TV equipment. Typical counters included delicatessen and fresh fish counters, an in-store bakery, a restaurant and half the stores' sales areas were devoted to textiles, electrical goods and hardware. The stores also featured a petrol filling station and some stores had over 1,000 car parking spaces. Following Sainsbury's launch of its home improvements venture, [[Homebase]], in 1981, home and gardening products featured in SavaCentre stores. Following the 1986 merger between Habitat, [[Mothercare]] and [[British Home Stores]] to create [[Storehouse plc]], baby care products were also sold in SavaCentre stores.

The first SavaCentre opened at The Galleries, [[Washington, Tyne and Wear]], on 15 November 1977,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/SainsburyArchive/Themes/Products/Range/Savacentre.htm|title=Museum of London -– Savacentre|website=archive.museumoflondon.org.uk}}</ref> with {{convert|70,00070000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area, and the slogan "The store with more for less.". This store was extended by a further {{convert|10,00010000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|80,00080000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} in 1986. On 17 October 1978, the second SavaCentre opened at the [[Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre]] in Kent. At the opposite end of the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre a [[Presto (UK supermarket)|Presto]] opened, which later became a [[Safeway (UK)|Safeway]] store. Following Sainsbury's buyout of [[Storehouse plc]]'s 50% stake in SavaCentre in 1989, the [[British Home Stores]] branch was located in the former Safeway store, following Safeway's 2004 acquisition by [[Morrisons]].

The number of SavaCentres grew slowly during the 1980s. In March 1980, the third SavaCentre opened adjacent to the [[Eastgate Shopping Centre (Basildon)|Eastgate Shopping Centre]] in [[Basildon]] with {{convert|71,00071000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area, but this store was sold to [[Asda]] in 2004. In October 1980, a fourth SavaCentre opened in [[Oldbury, West Midlands]]. In September 1981, the Calcot SavaCentre, opened in [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]],<ref>Sainsbury's statement, The Times, 5 November 1981, page 18</ref> and this store was used in the SavaCentre TV adverts in 1983. The Calcot SavaCentre was further extended by {{convert|20,00020000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} in the 1990/91 financial year, but when the store was rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005, the extension was sold off to [[Next (clothing)|Next]] with other shops [[Sports Direct]], [[Dunelm Group|Dunelm]] and [[Boots (company)|Boots]].

The store in [[Colliers Wood]], London, [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] SavaCentre opened on 28 February 1989 with {{convert|107430|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area, making it the largest hypermarket in the UK at the time of its opening. This store was later split up, with Sainsbury's taking {{convert|75,00075000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of the sales area. The remainder of the space was taken by [[Marks & Spencer]] in 2005, with the store exterior featuring branding of both companies. Due to having two major shops (not just SainsburysSainsbury's) this branch is often still known as the London Savacentre. The store was refurbished in 2019. As well as Sainsbury's and M&S, it hosts an Argos store (from 2018) and a Sainsbury's Fresh Kitchen (until 2022).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1162/20798.php|title=Sainsbury's Savacentre, 1 Merton High Street, London -– Supermarkets near Colliers Wood Tube Station|first=The Kolberg Partnership|last=London|website=AllinLondon}}</ref>

In March 1989, Sainsbury's bought out [[Storehouse plc]]'s 50% share in the partnership for £123 million (valuing SavaCentre at £246 million in total or each of its then seven stores at £35.14 million each) and SavaCentre became a wholly owned subsidiary on 13 March 1989, in the last week of the financial year; the chain was rebranded "Sainsbury's SavaCentre". [http://www.j-sainsbury.com/files/reports/ar1989.pdf ] Sainsbury's initially negotiated a long-term contract with Storehouse to continue to supply SavaCentre with clothing, domestic textiles, lighting and other non-food lines, although these products were gradually phased out following the launch of Sainsbury's ‘Lifestyle’'Lifestyle' range of own brand clothes in 1991. This was rebranded as 'I-N-I-T-I-A-L-S' in September 1996. The Sainsbury's own-label clothing range is now branded ‘Tu’'Tu'. At the time Sainsbury's believed there was scope for significant expansion. The deal also allowed Sainsbury's to integrate the company more fully with its existing food retailing chain, whilst retaining a separate management structure.

[[London Colney]] SavaCentre, off Junction 22 of the [[M25 motorway]] in [[Hertfordshire]], opened on 13 March 1990 with {{convert|117000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area, and at the time of its opening it also became the largest hypermarket in the UK. The London Colney hypermarket was so large that two-thirds of the sales space was devoted to non-food. This store was later split up, with Sainsbury's taking {{convert|85,00085000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of the sales area. The balance was sold off to [[Marks & Spencer]], and the store was then rebranded as "Sainsbury's M&S" in 2005.

In August 1995, the London [[Sydenham, London|Sydenham]] SavaCentre opened with a sales area of {{convert|85000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. Also in 1995, the [[Stockton-on-Tees]] SavaCentre opened, with {{convert|85,00085000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area, which was a former North Eastern Co-op store, and was later sold to [[Tesco]] in 2003. In 1997 a SavaCentre opened in the [[White Rose Centre]], off the [[M62 motorway]], in [[Morley, West Yorkshire]], in [[Leeds]], with {{convert|85,00085000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area. When this store was rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005, the sales area was cut to {{convert|67,00067000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}.

A fourteenth SavaCentre hypermarket planned for [[Braehead]] in [[GlasgowRenfrew]], Scotland, was also due to open in 1997. This store opened in 1999 before moving to a larger {{convert|70,00070000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} in the same complex in 2009.

A fifteenth SavaCentre hypermarket was planned for [[Romford]], North East [[London]], but this store also only eventually opened as a large Sainsbury's.

On 2 August 1997, Sainsbury's decided to launch a strategic review of its SavaCentre hypermarket format with the help of Coopers and Lybrand. The review concluded that to offer both the full Sainsbury's food offer and a comprehensive non-food offer, stores would have to have sales areas of at least {{convert|70,00070000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. Obtaining planning permission for stores of these sizes in out-of-town locations was difficult, and there was also stiff competition from specialist non-food retailers at the time.

In August 1998, the Calcot SavaCentre was the first to be remodelled to provide a greater emphasis on food, with the food to non-food ratio changing from 60:40 to 80:20. Non-food was based around four areas: Celebration -– for party ideas; Indulgence -– for beauty products; Baby and Toddler; and Cookshop.<ref>[http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/files/reports/ar1999/o_andfin/savacentre.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124101654/http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/files/reports/ar1999/o_andfin/savacentre.html |date=24 January 2005 }}</ref> The refurbishment cost £26m.{{cncitation needed|date=March 2016}} The Storestore Directordirector from 1996 -to 2002 was Chris Diplock. The Chairmanchairman of Savacentre Ian Coull, MD Jack O'Brien and other Boardboard members all resigned.{{cncitation needed|date=March 2016}}

On 29 May 2002, Sainsbury's announced that it would be extending the SavaCentre format to include discount supermarkets, under the "Sainsbury's savacentre" brand name, with the slogan "Making Life Taste Better For Less". These stores were aimed at family shoppers with a much stronger emphasis on Economy ranges than a core Sainsbury's Supermarket. These stores would range in size from {{convert|31,00031000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|70,00070000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area, with a third of the space devoted to non-food. The plan was to launch 90 of these discount supermarkets in total, after the successful launch of six trial stores.

Only eight discount supermarkets were opened in total. The first store, with a sales area of {{convert|35,00035000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, opened in [[Northfield, Birmingham]] on 30 May 2002. Further stores were opened in [[Wigan]], on 17 August 2002; [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Wednesfield]], [[Wolverhampton]], in 2002; [[Knotty Ash]], [[Liverpool]], on 1 March 2003; [[Stoke-on-Trent]], on 18 March 2003; and stores in [[Bolton]] and [[Grimsby]] both opened on 27 March 2003.

As a result of the ‘Making'Making Sainsbury’sSainsbury's Great Again’Again' recovery plan by chief executive [[Justin King (businessman)|Justin King]], revealed on 19 October 2004, it was announced that the Sainsbury's SavaCentre concept would be scrapped, and would be integrated under the main Sainsbury's brand. It is believed that the SavaCentre brand name was scrapped because the SavaCentre format had had mixed success over the years, and it left the option for Sainsbury's to launch a substantial non-food offer in its heritage supermarket estate, under its own brand, in the future.

10 of the 13 former SavaCentre hypermarkets now trade as Sainsbury's, and all seven of the former Sainsbury's SavaCentre discount supermarkets now trade as Sainsbury's. The former SavaCentres in [[London Colney]] and Colliers Wood, [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] are now joint-ventures with [[Marks & Spencer]], and have the external fascia 'Sainsbury's M&S'. The Meadowhall, Sheffield branch of SavaCentre was converted into a Sainsbury's supermarket store in 1999 and closed in 2005. At the same time as Meadowhall closed, in 2006, a replacement opened south of the city at [[Crystal Peaks]]. A number of the other SavaCentres were downsized, leaving the London Sydenham SavaCentre store the largest Sainsbury's store in the country until September 2010.

In 2008, the London Sydenham and Oldbury SavaCentres were remodelled to trial a launch of a {{convert|30,00030000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} non-food offer. This was the first major attempt by Sainsbury's to launch its own substantial non-food offer since the launch of the "Lifestyle" clothing range in 1991. An extended range of Homewares, Bedding and Kitchenware launched under the TU brand, previously used only for Clothing. This format became a success, and later in 2008 Sainsbury's announced that it was going to extend as many as 100 existing Sainsbury's Supermarkets to SavaCentre store sizes of {{convert|60,00060000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area or more by 2014, to carry the new non-food offer trialled in the London Sydenham and Oldbury SavaCentres. For example, the [[Hayes, Middlesex]] branch was extended from {{convert|34,00034000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|83,00083000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} in sales area in November 2008. The [[Kempshott]], [[Basingstoke]] branch was extended to {{convert|71,13971139|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of sales area and was both opened and reopened by Life President [[Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover]] himself in November 1988 and 25 August 2010 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=431&section=&Year=2010&NewsID=1351 |title=ArchivedJ copySainsbury PLC - Investors - News - Store openings - It's a family affair as Sainsbury's Kempshott store gets bigger and better (25 August, 2010) |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724182128/http://www.jsainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=431&section=&Year=2010&NewsID=1351 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The largest format of Sainsbury's stores are now around 100,000 sq ft, launched from September 2010. These stores have sales areas of {{convert|95,00095000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} or more with a 55:45 split between food and non-food. The first three stores of this format were launched in [[Crayford]], [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]] and [[Stanway, Essex]] between September and December 2010.

* 45/47 Peach Street, [[Wokingham]], [[Berkshire]] (1982-19991982–1999)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-sainsbury.com/index.asp?PageID=424&section=&Year=archive&NewsID=51 |accessdate=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715211540/http://www.j-sainsbury.com/index.asp?pageid=424 |archivedate=15 July 2011 |title=J Sainsbury PLC - Media - News - Company news }}</ref>

* [[Stamford House]], Stamford Street, Blackfriars, London (1999-20011999–2001)

* 33 Holborn, [[London]] (2001-20052001–2005)

*The Galleries, [[Washington, Tyne and Wear]], opened 15 November 1977 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Washington |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=555&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre]], [[Hempstead, Kent]], near [[Gillingham, Kent]], opened 17 October 1978 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Hempstead Valley |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=556&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Basildon]] Town Centre, adjacent to the East Gate Shopping Centre, [[Essex]], opened March 1980 and closed on 13 March 2004. Announcement of sale to [[Asda]] on 16 January 2004<ref>[http://www.j-sainsbury.com/index.asp?PageID=424&section=&Year=archive&NewsID=383 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715211540/http://www.j-sainsbury.com/index.asp?PageID=424&section=&Year=archive&NewsID=383 |date=15 July 2011 }}</ref>

*[[Oldbury, West Midlands]], near [[Birmingham]], opened October 1980 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Oldbury |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=558&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Calcot, Berkshire]], near [[Reading, Berkshire]], opened September 1981, extended in 1990/91, downsized and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Calcot |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=559&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, [[Cameron Toll]], [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, opened 1984 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Cameron Toll |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=560&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Colliers Wood]], [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], [[South West (London sub region)|South West London]], opened 28 February 1989, split up into a Sainsbury's store in 2005 and a M&S store in 20052008. <ref>{{cite news|author=Markets |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2809346/Sainsburys-to-sublet-London-site-to-MandS.html |title=Sainsbury's to sublet London site to M&S |publisherwork=The Telegraph |date= 21 May 2007|accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Merton |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=566&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[London Colney]], near [[St Albans, Hertfordshire]], opened 13 March 1990, split up into a Sainsbury's store and a M&S store in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=London Colney |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=567&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Beckton]], east [[London]], opened October 1993 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Beckton |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=569&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Sydenham, London|Sydenham]], [[South London]], opened August 1995 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=Sydenham |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=693&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[White Rose Shopping Centre]], [[Leeds]], opened 1997, downsized and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005<ref>{{cite web|author=White Rose |url=http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_detail_view.jsp?storeId=695&bmForm=store_details |title=Store overview -– Sainsbury's |publisher=Sainsburys.co.uk |date= |accessdate=11 February 2012}}</ref>

*[[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Greater Manchester]], opened August 2002<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://retailanalysis.igd.com/Hub.aspx?id=23&tid=3&nid=443&app=10] |title=Sainsbury's continues with Savacentre rollout – IGD Retail Analysis |website=retailanalysis.igd.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126002906/http://retailanalysis.igd.com/Hub.aspx?id=23&tid=3&nid=443&app=10 |archive-date=2016-01-26}}</ref>

*[[Wednesfield]], [[Wolverhampton]], opened 2002 and rebranded as Sainsbury's in 2005