About us

About us

We make good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone, every day.

Offering delicious, great quality food at competitive prices has been at the heart of what we do since our first store opened in 1869. Today, inspiring and delighting our customers with tasty food remains our priority.

Our focus on great value food and convenient shopping, whether in-store or online is supported by our brands – Argos, Nectar, Habitat, Tu, Sainsbury’s Bank and Smart Charge.

Key information

600

Sainsbury’s has 600 supermarkets

800+

Sainsbury’s has over 800 convenience stores

4th

Argos is the fourth most visited retail website in the UK

148k

Our 148,000 colleagues are integral to our success

Good food for all of us

We know that it can sometimes be difficult for customers to have the time, money or inspiration to access the joy that good food can bring.

This is why we are committed to providing good food for all customers, whatever their budget, tastes or dietary requirements, and however busy their daily lives. We want to bring back the spark to mealtimes by providing the widest choice of quality food and pricing its food accessibly and competitively.

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Sustainable shopping

We have committed to investing £1 billion over fifteen years towards becoming a Net Zero business across our own operations by 2035, aligned to the highest ambitions of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

We are implementing a programme of change, focusing on reducing carbon emissions, food waste, plastic packaging and water usage and increasing recycling, biodiversity and healthy and sustainable eating.

We want to reduce the environmental impact of our business and work with farmers, growers and suppliers throughout our supply chain to help them reduce theirs.

Read our sustainability plan

Our people

Colleagues are at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer where everyone is treated fairly and with respect, and where colleagues love to work and are encouraged to develop their skills and fulfil their potential.

We play an active role in our communities and we want to treat people fairly throughout our business and supply chains.

Read about our management

Our Brands

We’re proud of our portfolio of brands, which is designed to deliver strong, sustainable, profitable growth for customers and shareholders. Our brands include Sainsbury’s, Argos, Nectar, Habitat, Tu, Sainsbury’s Bank and Smart Charge.

Click the logo to visit each brand’s website.

Our history

The Sainsbury’s Story

Offering delicious, great quality food at competitive prices has been at the heart of what we do since John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury opened our first store in 1869. Today, inspiring and delighting our customers with tasty food remains our priority.

Read our story
Our history

The Sainsbury’s Story

Our history

Over 150 years of history

From humble beginnings back in 1869, it didn’t take long for the family business to flourish.

As the First World War broke out in 1914, by 1918 rationing was introduced and it wasn’t until 1921 that customers could shop the way they were used to.

We opened the first self-service store in Croydon which revolutionsied the way we shop, with customers browsing aisles and picking their own products.

From the 1970s Sainsbury's established itself as a truly national retailer.

We’ve come a long way to become the business we are today.

View our timeline
Our history

Over 150 years of history

Our history

Discover the history of your local store

When John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury opened their first shop at 173 Drury Lane, London, they couldn't have imagined the legacy they would create. With stores all over the nation, each one has its own unique history.

See our store history
Our history

Discover the history of your local store