Sainsbury’s introduces ‘wellness hubs’ in selected stores
Sainsbury’s is going head to head with retailers such as Holland & Barrett and Planet Organic by strengthening its wellness and sports nutrition offer through the introduction of “wellness hubs” in some of its supermarkets.
The retailer is looking to benefit more from the UK’s wellness market which is set to reach £12.4 billion by 2020.
Sainsbury’s said the move means that customers are now more easily able to find its ranges of wellness and sports nutrition products due to them being brought together in-store for the first time. Some 500 new products have been added to the ranges from brands such as Optimum Nutrition, Women’s Best and Tisserand. The ranges also include more specialist products such as hemp water, bone broths, activated nuts and superfood powders.
Sainsbury’s said it will be the only supermarket to sell exclusive brands such as No 1 Kombucha, Tribe and Curators.
The hubs aso feature new fixtures to differentiate the wellness hub in-store and chiller cabinets will offer customers ready-to-drink, chilled sports juices as well as soft drinks, drinking vinegars and egg white smoothies.
The wellness hubs have launched in supermarkets in Selly Oak, Newbury Park, Watchmoor Park, Coldhams Lane and St Clares this month while Sainsbury’s stores in Cheadle and Lee Green will follow in January. If successful, the format will be rolled out to more stores next year.
Paul Mills-Hicks, Sainsbury’s food commercial director said, “Wellness and sports nutrition are areas that are becoming increasingly popular with our customers. To make sure they can find everything they need quickly and easily, we’ve doubled our range, introducing specialist and premium brands that customers won’t find in any other stores. With such a convenient choice of distinctive products, we’re confident that health-conscious customers won’t need to shop anywhere else.”
