Sainsburys have been around a long time (Sainsburys)

Member Name: poet831

Product:	Sainsburys
Date:	10/04/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good range of products, fresh, clean, friendly assistants

Disadvantages: Just another supermarket nowadays

I grew up on Sainsbury's. We lived in the East End of London and I can remember my grndmother taking me to Sainsbury's whenever we went to Riddley Road Market. It was just around the corner form there in Dalston. In those days it was very old-fashioned, brass posts, engraved glass on the meat and deli-type counters, the old ceramic tile checkerboard on the wall and, if my memory serves me correctly (I was about 5 or 6 at the time) sawdust on parts of the floor, constantly being swept by someone in a long white apron!
I loved Sainsbury's. Their food was always fresh, and I doubt the store was 2000 square feet but the rows of shelves on teh walls were lined with all manner of goodies. They weren't a supermarket in those days, there was a lot more personal service. Their delicattessen was excellent even back then for it's array. Hams, liver sausages, turkey, beef, and they'd serve you one slice if that was how you wanted it. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
Forty years later, progress has taken it's toll. Sainsbury's is still a very clean supermarket, but it has the bright flourescent lighting same as all the others. They have an excellent variety of foods though, and always fresh, still. Me liking my international foods, theirs is one of the best ranges I have found, and lots of vegetarian products too. I used to buy their soy mince granules by the pound, and add them to stews, curries, pies, all sorts - to lower the fat overall, and to add more protein and some of the plant nutrition we miss with all the processed foods out there nowadays.

I like their bakery - their French bread is excellent for making sandwiches, and their rolls freeze fairly well. I used to freeze their multigrain ones all the time.
Sainsbury's Reward Card is ok too, I used to pay the phone bill with mine but some people just save their vouchers towards the Christmas Shopping. I think they thought we were lal a bit dumber than we think we are, when they brought out the NEW scheme. You now got double the old points, but needed twice as many to get the same two pounds, fifty pence, and for that they spent millions probably on advertising.

I still like Sainsbury's but nowadays they are just another supermarket. The magic has gone. The service is ok, the assistants are friendly, the store is clean - but NO toilets. Clubcard points can be used to get day trip tickets, cash, money off your phone bill and a few other things. You can also get the points at Sainsbury's Home Base Stores, too.

Summary: a good supermarket