Staplehurst community checks out their new Sainsbury’s

Staplehurst community checks out their new Sainsbury’s

24 March 2021

New store and over 100 new jobs for Staplehurst village

The new Sainsbury’s Staplehurst team of around 120 colleagues today welcomed customers through the doors to their new state-of-the-art 18,000 sq. ft supermarket. Over 100 of the colleagues working in one of the retailer’s most sustainable stores are new to the business, with over 75 per cent of the colleague team calling the village home. The new supermarket has also supported hundreds of jobs during construction, including engaging around 500 tradespeople on site during the ten-month long development.

Sainsbury’s Staplehurst is the first supermarket the retailer has opened in 2021 and gives customers the choice of around 20,000 products from the aisles, shelves and fridges. Upon entry to the store, customers are also greeted with the retailer’s new look fresh produce format and design Fresh Food Market. The market style shopping experience celebrates seasonality and British heritage. There is a fresh bakery instore that is expected to prepare over 180 loaves of fresh bread on site every day, alongside a self-serve patisserie that features speciality cakes.

As part of Sainsbury’s ambition to be Net Zero across its own operations by 2040, the new store will adopt a range of sustainable initiatives, with 100% LED light fittings, customer electric vehicle charging points, water saving taps, reduced flush toilets and waterless urinals. The store is also fitted with a natural refrigeration solution which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants plus the heat from the fridges is recycled to help warm the store. Two Bee Hotels have also been set up on site to help protect the local bee population. The landscaping in the carpark and around the store is also bee-attracting to encourage pollination.

The store has been designed to bring convenience and the very best in product choice to the local community. There’s a large selection of food in line with the retailer’s strategy to put Food First, from dairy and deli products, vegetarian and vegan options, savoury and sweet snacks and chilled to confectionary. There are also many ready-made meals and food-to-go choices to give customers delicious and good value options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The store also stocks general merchandise products including a selection from Sainsbury’s main home brand Habitat. The store also features SmartShop technology, giving customers the option to skip the checkout queues and complete their shop even quicker. They’ll be able to scan and pack products as they shop by downloading the app to their phone.

Customers can also shop from a further 20,000 products through the Argos store inside the supermarket. By bringing together the much-loved brands of Sainsbury’s and Argos under the one roof, Staplehurst customers will be able to enjoy greater convenience and have the opportunity to purchase thousands of technology, home and toy products whilst picking up their groceries. The Argos store will feature an Argos Pay@Browse area and when permitted, customers will be able to use the tablets to purchase what they want quickly and conveniently, as well as browse for products with Argos colleagues on hand to help.

There is parking available for 171 cars, alongside motorbike parking and bicycle hoops for customers riding to the store. The store is open 8am – 10pm Monday through to Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sundays.

The first 500 customers in store were also gifted a special edition bag. The bag has been designed by six-year-old Staplehurst resident Eden. Eden also received a certificate and her own framed bag to keep as a souvenir of the opening day. 

The Sainsbury’s team in Staplehurst will play an active role in the local community and support Sainsbury’s nationwide community programmes and charity partners. In January Sainsbury’s also announced an additional £1 million community fund for stores to donate to charities and other good causes in their local areas. This follows Sainsbury’s ‘Help Brighten a Million Christmases’ campaign that raised £6 million in December for over 800 local charity partners, including local charities Maidstone Food Bank, Maidstone Salvation Army and Homeless Care Maidstone Day Centre. 

Sainsbury’s Property Director, Patrick Dunne said: “We’re very pleased to open the doors and share this much-anticipated store with the local community. We have created over 120 jobs and I’m especially proud that we’re welcoming a number of local young people entering the workforce for the first time. This is a state-of-the-art store that we know will serve the village for generations to come. Thank you Staplehurst for your support and patience as we delivered this store safely and efficiently.”

Sainsbury’s Staplehurst Store Manager, Kwadwo Osei said: “My team and I are delighted to offer local residents a new shopping experience that gives them convenience alongside quality and low prices.”

Staplehurst Parish Council Chairman, Paddy Riordan said: “The communication with the Parish Council on this store has been absolutely excellent and helped us keep residents informed throughout the build. The whole Sainsbury’s team have been a pleasure to work with throughout the project and they have been very keen to address any concerns that the Parish Council have raised. Very well done to everyone involved.”

Member of Parliament for Maidstone and the Weald, Helen Grant, said: “This is a very exciting day for our vibrant community in Staplehurst. It’s been a tough year for many and to have the convenience of a major supermarket opening locally will give a real lift to everyone, especially during lockdown.  I congratulate Sainsbury’s on delivering this fantastic project and I wish the store team all the very best – I look forward to paying a visit myself very soon.”

Kent County Councillor for Maidstone Rural South, Eric Hotson said: “I’m delighted that this modern store is now open to customers. It’s very exciting to have the newest supermarket in the country right here in Staplehurst.”

Maidstone Borough Councillor for Staplehurst, John Perry said: “I’ve always supported this new Sainsbury’s store and eagerly awaited this day. I’m so pleased to see this level of investment made in our village and know it will make such a difference to so many in our community.”

Maidstone Borough Councillor for Staplehurst, Louise Brice said: “I’m thrilled to see the doors finally open and that so many residents have secured jobs with such a responsible employer. This supermarket is a real boost to the local community and is providing many opportunities that local people will benefit from.”