Sainsbury’s is to double the size of its Netto trial as it steps up its battle with the discount retailers Aldi and Lidl.
The supermarket is understood to be planning a further 10 to 12 stores on top of the initial 15 which will be opened by the end of March.
An outlet in Doncaster opens later this week, followed by one in Hedon near Hull a week later. Sainsbury’s is also opening a second Leeds outlet and planning to complete its first newbuild store in Bransholme, Hull, in March.
Beyond that, planning permission has already been sought in at least four other locations including Penketh near Warrington, Cleckheaton near Bradford, Warsop near Mansfield and Garston in Liverpool.
The likely extension of the trial comes after the chain is thought to have enjoyed good trading over Christmas.
Paul Miller, head of property for Netto, told the Hull Daily Mail: “You only have to look at the response we have had from our first [10] openings to know that people are really pleased to welcome us back.” He said Netto was hoping to open four or five stores in the Hull area over the next few years.
Sainsbury’s will update the City on its plans for Netto in May. The extension of the trial may yet be halted in the light of the supermarket’s bid for Home Retail Group.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Netto is on track to open 15 stores by the end of this financial year. No decision has been made on future openings, however we continue to review potential opportunities. It’s early days but we are learning a lot about the important discount market and customers are responding well.”
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