'JS Journal', November 1997

Table of content

• Contents Page
  02

  The main news this month is, of course, the Group's half year results and the
  outcome of Savacentre's strategic review which we discuss on pages 2 & 3.
  We've interviewed lots of interesting people this month - Tony Green,...

• Half year results
  02

  David Sainsbury, chairman,
  comments:
  "The performance of the
  Group has demonstrated
  substantial progress in
  market conditions that
  remain highly competitive.
  "Growth in sales and profit in Sainsbury's Supermarkets
  has...

• New look for Savacentre
  03

  New look for Savacentre
  Major changes to the format of Savacentre stores will take place following the
  company's strategic review. The review, started in May,
  was conducted by a full-time
  Savacentre project team
  supported by...

• Ease of access award
  04

  Ease of access award
  Sainsbury's has received
  recognition for its efforts to
  improve the opportunities for
  disabled people by being
  selected as one of the three
  finalists in the 'Ease of Access
  Service and...

• Politically speaking
  04

  Politically speaking
  The company recently got
  together with Disability Daily
  to raise awareness of
  disability issues at the three
  Party Political Conferences.
  Disability Daily represents
  most of the key organisations
  on...

• Stamp of approval
  04

  Stamp of approval
  Actor and writer Terence Stamp has launched his
  Stamp Collection cookbook at Nine Elms - the first
  book launch party held in a Sainsbury's store. It was followed by signings at
  four more stores. Terence,
  who...

• Northamptonshire treasures reading
  05

  Northamptonshire treasures reading
  Sainsbury's Charitable Fund
  sponsored the annual
  summer reading scheme run
  by Northamptonshire
  Libraries and Information
  Service for children aged 5-11.
  Dave Beese, former manager...

• Number One at Christmas
  05

  Number One at Christmas
  To ensure that Sainsbury's is
  the first choice for shoppers
  this Christmas we conducted
  extensive research to find out
  what our customers wanted.
  This research has resulted in
  the theme: 'Sainsbury's...

• Read all about it!
  05

  Read all about it!
  Three Group magazines are now out and proving to be quite a hit with staff and customers. The first issue of the Pet Club
  magazine went out in
  October to all members of
  Sainsbury's Pet Club, around
  110,000...

• Squirrelling away
  05

  Squirrelling away
  Sainsbury's Charitable Fund
  recently sponsored National
  Red Squirrel Week at Belvoir
  Park Forest in Belfast and
  invited local school children
  to inspect this brilliant tree
  sculpture of an eight foot
  high...

• New Look for JS Restaurant
  06

  New Look'for JS Restaurant
  The JS restaurant, renamed J's Restauran
  undergoing quite a dramatic face lift. The J's Restaurant at Halifax
  was the third to open, with
  other trials taking place at
  Forestside, Godalming and
  more...

• Organic Pork launch
  06

  Organic Pork launch
  The sale of Organic Pork
  was recendy launched in six
  Sainsbury stores. Products
  included are Boneless leg
  joints and loin steaks, chops,
  shoulder steaks and extra
  lean mince. Andrew Tozer,
  senior buyer....

• Stop Crime - pick up the phone
  06

  Stop Crime - pick up the phone
  From left - Roger Murcia (Homebase Wandsworth), Susan Nijhuis
  (Salnsbury's Wandsworth) and Phil Williams (Savacentre Merton) help launch
  Crimsstoppers to Salnsbury's staff outside Wandsworth store...

• Swindon delivers the goods
  06

  Homebase's new
  distribution centre is
  now open and serving
  160 stores in the south
  of England.
  Shear we go[ Chairman David
  Sainsbury and Homebase chief
  executive David Bremner cut the
  ribbon with the help of...

• Bakery success
  07

  Bakery success
  Congratulations go to the Bakery teams at Merton Savacentre
  and JS Pepper Hill for beating off all other major retailers and
  taking two of the top three places at the 1997 Bakery Awards. Richard Buxton,...

• Celebrity visit to Leeds
  07

  Celebrity visit to Leeds
  Dave Lee Travis showing staff at Savacentre Leeds how it's done. Dave Lee Travis, the well
  known radio DJ and Classic
  Gold presenter, visited
  Savacentre Leeds to celebrate
  the successful launch of...

• Group-wide
  07

  Group-wide
  Here's our regular round^ip of what's been going on across the Group.. SAINSBURY'S
  SUPERMARKETS
  24 HOUR CHRISTMAS TRADING
  On the 19,22 and 23 December, 147
  JS stores will be trading 24 hours.
  This means that...

• Sip, slurp, hurray!
  07

  Sip, slurp, hurray!
  (I to r) Jane Hughes, Rebecca Null
  and Lindsay Tales celebrate their
  exam success.
  There's been plenty to
  celebrate in the head office
  wine department recently.
  Rebecca Hull, buyer of New
  World and...

• Video stars
  07

  Video stars
  Sainsbury's retail security
  video, "What will happen to
  me" has won a Creative
  Excellence award at the US
  International Film and Video
  festival. The 16 minute video,
  shot at Kiln Lane over three
  days was...

• Giving thanks
  08

  Karen McHugh, produce
  manager at Wigan, along
  with Claire Woosey, floral
  controller at Blackfriars and
  designer Helen Congreve,
  mounted an eye-catching
  display that was made up of a
  variety of fresh fruit,...

• Goodbye Mr Terry!
  08

  Goodbye Mr Terry!
  It was the end of
  an era when
  Michael Terry
  retired from
  Fanhams Hall after
  being the house
  manager for
  eleven years.
  Cheers, then!
  Michael Terry (left)
  waves goodbye to
  Frazer Rendeil and
  Fanhams...

• Great things come to those who wait
  08

  Great things come to
  those who wait
  Arthritis sufferer David Paterson has raised £250,000 for the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council -
  all by collecting outside Sainsbury's Group stores. Hill Irvine, sfpre director at Edinburgh...

• Sign of goodwill
  08

  Sign of goodwill
  A substantial donation by
  Sainsbury's Buntingford
  depot has made it possible
  for Buntingford Civic Society
  to erect a hand-carved town
  sign. Richard Penniall,
  distribution centre manager
  at Buntingford,...

• Reward for children
  09

  Reward for children
  Reward Card donations to the NSPCC have reached
  £150,000, three times the original target level of £50,000. The NSPCC, one of our
  Reward Card partners, would
  like to express a big 'thank
  you' toJS staff...

• Sainsbury's uncorked
  09

  Sainsbury's uncorked
  Sainsbury 's had a
  prime site at the 1997
  Festival of Food and
  Wine at London's
  Olympia. The Journal
  clinked a glass or two
  at the event. There's a strong, almost overpowering mix of aromas in the hall...

• Branch opening—Leigh
  10

  Leigh
  New-Leigh opened!
  Sainsbury's first store in
  Leigh was opened by chief
  executive Dino Adriano. It
  boasts a delicatessen,
  fresh meat and fish counters
  and baby changing
  facilities. Shoppers were
  entertained...

• Branch opening—Halifax
  11

  Halifax
  Retail director Robin Whitbread and new manager
  Theresa Smith opened the store to the sound of
  Congratulations played by the Halifax-based Friendly
  Brass Band. By 11 am, the car park and store were completely...

• Branch opening—Oswestry
  11

  Oswestry
  The chill in the air as Oswestry's new Country Town
  store opened was a clear sign that autumn was
  setting in. Brenda Purslow, the store's first
  customer was there by default - her husband had
  dropped her off at...

• Waste not, want not
  12

  Survival for homeless people
  is more than a never-ending
  search for a roof over their
  heads. Crisis Fareshare began
  two years ago to make sure
  shelters for homeless people
  were able to provide a
  balanced meal as well as...

• Brave new world of cosmetics
  14

  Many people have been wondering why J Cosmetics have disappeared from our shelves.
  r/7e JS Journal decided to find out the reasons for this dramatic change.
  Brave new world of cosmetics of cosmetics
  Staff and consumers can't...

• Freshly baked ideas
  15

  After the relaunch of
  JS's bakery department
  we visited Harringay
  store to speak to bakery
  manager, Caren
  Hensman and find out
  what's new instore.
  FRESH FACTS AMD FIGURES
  • JS bakes three million loaves
  a week, using...

• Writelines
  16

  Have your say
  In a sweat
  Rita Merriman,
  part-time cashier,
  Homebase, Stanway:
  Question: Do you know how
  many customers Homebase
  lost due to the hot summer
  days we had this year?
  Answer: Lots and lots! You
  just had to...

• Say Goodbye to the dreaded visit
  18

  There was a time when a director's visit resembled a sergeantmajor's
  Inspection. But the days of the big stick approach are^gone
  according to south western regional director Graham Naylor
  To see If it's true, the Journal...

• How's distribution doing?
  20

  How's distribution doing?
  They're often the unsung heroes in any retail operation - the men and women who help to move
  goods from A to B. To find out if the people in a JS managed distribution centre feel neglected,
  the...

• Adventures of Debbie down under
  22

  Adventures of Debbie down under When Debbie Freebury from Savacentre head office won the Journal's 50th Anniversary
  prize of a trip to Australia she promised to keep in touch. Well, as the postcards below
  reveal, she didn't...

• Opportunity over the sea
  23

  Opportunity over
  We currently employ 1,407
  staff in Northern Ireland but
  with the opening programme,
  double that figure is needed.
  While many of these jobs will
  be created in Northern
  Ireland, there are opportunities
  for...

• Twenty Five alive!
  23

  Twenty Five alive!
  Over 800 long servingJS
  staff gathered at London's
  prestigious Royal Lancaster
  hotel for the annual 25 Club
  dinner. T/ieJournal went
  along to snap the event. Top: Dinner is served in tlie sumptuous dining...

• From Saturday boy to supersonic man
  24

  From Saturday boy to supersonic man
  Squadron leader Andy Green has come a long way s m c ^ T i ^ a y ^ ^ part-time troMeTDOyaujrpmgto^
  He's just become the fastest man on earth by driving ThrustSSC through the sound barrier and...

• I love olives
  26

  I love olives
  Ideal for snacks and parties, Sainsbury's new
  marinated olive selection of Green Olives with Garlic &
  Chilli, Green Olives with Provencal Herbs, and Black
  Olives with Garlic & Chilli, are the perfect...

• Oriental twist
  26

  Oriental twist
  To put a twist into your noodle dishes, why not try Sainsbury's 375g packet of
  Twist Noodles (59p). Fitting in nicely with the convenient yet healthy lifestyle of
  the 90s, this offering is ideal with all oriental...

• Quick and easy
  26

  Quick and easy
  Are you a typical man who can't be bothered to slave over a
  hot stove? Or, are you a cash-strapped student? Well, there are two new Quick and Easy
  recipe books that will be
  perfect for you.
  Keith Floyd has...

• Sauce up your life
  26

  Sauce up your
  life
  Looking for a saucy alternative to pour on to your ice
  cream and desserts? If so, our four new sauces should
  do the trick. For a fruitier choice you can try Summer
  Fruit Sauce, made with...

• Ancient oils
  27

  There is no Text

• On the air-er
  27

  On the air-er
  Homebase has launched a range of
  Indoor Airers to suit every budget and
  dwelling place. The wire frame Airers -
  including a radiator and an over-bath
  model - have a smaller drying space and
  are suitable for...

• The Journal's great New Lines giveaway
  27

  The Journal's great New Lines giveaway
  n Airers
  • Compotes
  • Cook books
  • Olive oils
  NAME
  If you would like to sample some of our new products simply cross the box next to your
  first choice and send the coupon to the...

• Wakey wakey
  27

  Wakey wakey
  Wake up to two new breakfast treats by
  trying Sainsbury's Breakfast Apricots
  and Breakfast Compote, each costing
  79p each. The Compote contains lightly
  spiced mixed fruit. To give you that
  early morning lift all...

• Guiding light
  28

  Guiding light
  Broadcut store presented a
  cheque for £2,500 to The
  Guide Dogs for the Blind
  Association which was raised
  by the customers' penny back
  scheme. In return, the store
  received a photograph of
  Bayden the dog,...

• How it was for me
  28

  How it was for me
  Sam Royce has penned a
  booklet Hoxii it tmsfor me -
  a backward glimpse of the grocery
  trade, looking back on his davs
  with Sainsbur}''s during the
  50s. The booklet has been a
  great success in Brighton...

• It's a dog's life
  28

  It's a dog's life
  staff at Plymouth and Marsh Mills have been very
  busy over the past year fundraising for two local
  groups - Macmillan Nurses and the Woodside
  Animal Welfare Trust. A very close relationship has
  built up...

• Playing it safe
  28

  Playing it safe
  Milton Keynes and Bletchley
  stores are sponsoring the
  kitchen set piece at Hazard
  Alley Safety Centre, Milton
  Keynes. It is the first such
  educational project in the
  UK and regularly welcomes
  thousands of...

• Ready Steady Cook
  28

  Ready SteadyCook
  The aptly named Sheila
  Fish, who works on
  Whitley Bay's fish
  counter, appeared in the
  culinary game-show
  Ready Steady Cook and
  won! Sheila said: "There
  are 200 applicants for
  each show and those
  who are...

• Smart recruit
  28

  Smart recruit They recruit them young at JS's Marsh Mills,
  Plymouth store! Three-year-old Sophie, daughter
  of store manager Mike Booth's secretary Jo
  Davey, was brought in along with her mum to
  help promote the recent Smartbox...

• Walk on the wild side
  28

  Walk on the wild side
  Volunteers from Hanley store,
  led by checkout operator
  Gladys Edge, have spent four
  months working with staff and
  children at Norton County
  Primary School. The Side by
  Side project involved...

• Closing time
  29

  Closing time
  Before the new doors could be opened at Halifax's new JS, the old
  one's had to close for the final time, and they did so with a blast
  from the past! A60s/70s party was held to mark the closing of the
  store and...

• Full of beans
  29

  Full of beans
  Imogen Bown, six-year-old daughter of
  Redditch customer Helen Bown, won
  the first prize of a Gaucho Grande car
  in the Heinz and Sainsbury's
  competition. To share in Imogen's
  good fortune members of staff...

• Happy returns
  29

  Happy returns
  This unique
  birthday cpke
  representing a
  Homebase paint
  tin and brush was
  given to
  Homebase
  Tamworth's Glen
  Mann to celebrate
  his 50th birthday
  and Maggie Rushton's 40th. The birthday couple
  enjoyed a...

• Having their cake...
  29

  Having their cake...
  • Broadcut store recently won a Pet Club
  Cake for having the largest increase in
  membership at a medium sized store.
  Store manager, John Hardeley told us: "I
  am delighted our store has won, the...

• Yarmouth's year
  29

  Yarmouth's year
  Sponsored by JS Great Yarmouth store and managed by Steve
  Frendo, butcher at Great Yarmouth, how could Gorleston Rangers
  Football Team be anything but successful? Here they are proudly
  showing off last season's...

• Pit your wits
  30

  Bonfire night crossword
  ACROSS
  6. Autumnal event on
  September 23rd (7)
  7. The direction in which birds
  migrate in Autumn (5)
  9. The capital of Lombardy
  in Italy (5)
  10. Contract into a curled-ui
  state (7)
  12. Famous...

• JULY COMPETITION WINNERS
  32

  JULY COMPETITION WINNERS
  Winning our £25 crossword prize is
  MARK INSTONE at Preston
  Our £10 wordsearch prize goes to
  : INGRID SAMPSON at Bath Green Park.
  Twisting along to the Tw/sfer video are;
  NICHOLAS HOFFMAN,...

• Your stars for November
  32

  YOUR STARS FOR NOVEMBER
  Find out your Stai's JFrbln our veryDwn Astrologer.
  fJulie Leacock tells what the future holds for you
  in November: ',°
  •:iy-:.^\:
  assertive in most given situations but with Saturn in ]
  this...

• My other car's a TANK!
  33

  My other car's a TANK!
  Traffic wardens beware! The Journal talks to Newbury manager Andy Smith about his out oftiie ordinary form of transport. A19SS Alvis Ferret • beats a gardan^Dome any day. Arriving at Newbury store in a...

• SSA OFFERS
  34

  SAINSBURY'S STAFF ASSOCIATION Tel: 0171 695 7227
  Valentine's weekend in Amsterdam
  via Le Sliuttle "K-^^ W %u^ %«^ i i ^w*^ LONDON'S
  WILD
  We have put together a few suggestions
  for you here - though we are sure that
  you have...

• Long serving
  35

  Long serving
  Employees who have completed 25 years'service
  ANTHONY ARDIEY, assistant chief cashier, Streatham. PATRICIA BLOOM, customer service
  manager. King's Lynn. JOHN BOON, stock administration supervisor, Charlton...

• Obituary
  35

  Obituary
  Length of service appears in brackets
  MARY SWANN, 53, overs controller at Stanway died ater a long illness on 22 May (14yrs).
  DEREK BOWER, 56, general assistant, provisions at Savacentre Meadowhall died suddenly
  on 12...

• Retirements
  35

  Retirements
  Length of service is in brackets
  DENNIS ARNOLD, trolley collector, Chingford (3yrs). SHELIA BAILEY, meat preparation
  assistant, Southend (8yrs). VALERIE BARKER, deli counter assistant, Sheffield (15yrs).
  MARGARET...

• Sound and Vision
  35

  All things Spice!
  Yes, they get everywhere, even the JS Journal - but even if
  you're not of the Spicy persuasion there's plenty to v^het
  your appetite on the Sound&Vision shelves.
  6\RIS
  ^
  T O M C R U S E
  Come on, admit it!...

• Weddings
  35

  Weddings
  CURK HARRIS and SARAH PIERCE, both
  at Blackfriars married in June, in
  Jamaica. The pair both have motorbil(es
  and met in the pub while wearing
  leathers!
  ALEX TUCKER, senior warehouseman.
  Marsh Mills and UHDA...

• Happy birthday Savacentre!
  36

  Happy birthday Savacentre!
  The Archives spoke to some of the people
  who were in at the start of Britain's first
  specialist hypermarket. Rhris Linsey, payroll officer, is Savacentre's
  longest serving employee: "It wasn't...