‘That’s a shame’ as major supermarket with 820 stores in the UK to shut ‘little gem’ branch in months
SHOPPERS have been left devastated as a major supermarket with 820 stores in the UK is to shut a “little gem” branch in months.
This is the latest store to bite the dust in a fresh wave of closings amid the high street’s retail apocalypse.
Sainsbury’s has announced it will close its decade-old Local store in Chester City centre in just a few months.
The supermarket giant said it “made the difficult decision to close” the convenience store on September 14 this year, The Standard reports.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We are currently talking to our colleagues in our Chester Watergate Street Local store, which we have made the difficult decision to close.
“We understand this will be an unsettling time for those affected and we are supporting them in every way we can, including exploring opportunities for colleagues to redeploy within Sainsbury’s.
“We regularly review our property estate and the decision to close a store is never taken lightly and is based on a range of factors.”
Customers will be able to continue shopping with Sainsbury’s at the nearby Chester supermarket or the Faulkner Street Local store.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) said the store closure will affect 14 members of the staff – all being at the risk of redundancy.
Bally Auluk, USDAW national officer, said: “Sainsbury’s decision to close the Chester Watergate store is a shock and obviously devastating for the staff impacted.
“We are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need at this difficult time. Our priorities are to seek suitable alternative employment within Sainsbury’s for those at risk of redundancy and secure the best possible deal for our members.”
Your rights in redundancy
COMPANIES can choose to cut their workforce and employees should understand their rights.
You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay, but only if you have worked at your job for two years or more.
The statutory rate is based on your age, weekly pay and number of years in the job.
You will get:
- Half a week’s pay for each full year you worked aged under 22
- One week’s pay for each full year you worked aged 22 or older, but under 41
- One and half week’s pay for each full year you worked while aged 41 or older.
But it’s capped at 20 years and the max redundancy pay you can get is currently £19,290, if you were made redundant on or after April 6, 2023.
Some companies may offer to pay more than the statutory amount. This will usually be in your contract.
Plus, you are still entitled to any pay you are owed for untaken holiday days at the end of your notice period.
The government has a calculator on its website to help you work out how much you are owed.
Shoppers have been left devastated after hearing the news of the “little gem” branch closure in Chester City.
One fuming customer wrote online: “Now that’s a shame. We often call in on the way back to the car park to get our groceries or dinner.
“Sadly it’s not surprising, because what’s made it a little gem, is how easy it was to shop due to a lack of overcrowding.
“But the lack of footfall is obviously why Sainsbury’s has decided to close it. Profits come before convenience.”
Just a few days ago, the supermarket giant confirmed it will be closing a major superstore in York early next year.
The massive superstore located in Foss Bank will close in January 2025 due to an expiring lease.
The Foss Bank has been around for more than 40 years, first opening in 1984.
The nearest store for shoppers in the area will now be Sainburys Monks Cross supermarket.
Last year the retailer closed eight stores whilst confirming another 14 stores would open by the end of this March this year.
These include:
- A Sainsbury’s Local within the new Sherwood Library Development in Nottingham
- A Sainsbury’s Local in the Mile End area of Colchester, Essex
- A Sainsbury’s Local in the Fairmilehead area of Edinburgh
- A Sainsbury’s Local in the Liverpool Waters development at Princes Dock, Liverpool
- A Sainsbury’s “Neighbourhood Hub” in Winchburgh, Scotland
- A Sainsbury’s Superstore in Talbot Green, Wales
- A Sainsbury’s Superstore in Southport, Merseyside
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Lewisham, London
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Tower Hamlets
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Edgware, London
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Camberwell, London
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Erith, London
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Archway, London
- A Sainsbury’s Local in Yate, Gloucester
You can find your nearest Sainsbury’s using its Store Locator tool on its website – just put in your postcode or nearest town.
What else is happening on the high street?
The high street has been hit hard in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn their attention to online retail.
High energy and wage costs and business rates have further piled pressure on businesses, forcing many to close.
Several major brands have crashed into administration since the start of 2023, including Wilko and Paperchase.
In recent months, The Body Shop and Ted Baker have both fallen into administration too, seeing dozens of stores closed already.
Other retailers have been closing shops in a bid to reduce their physical presence across the UK.
Last June, Boots said it would be shutting 300 of its 2,200 stores in areas where it already operates one.
Superdry started closing eight of its 104 UK branches last July as part of a £35million cost-cutting project.
But, as is the case with M&S, it’s not all bad news as a number of chains are opening branches too.
B&M has opened 17 branches already this year, while Aldi has its eyes set on opening hundreds more branches in the coming years.
DIY chain Screwfix is also set to open dozens of branches as its owner Kingfisher looks to expand its nationwide presence.
Major supermarket chain Asda has also been opening dozens of branches across the UK.
WHSmith also recently announced plans to open more stores in rail stations, airports and hospitals.