Decent chain (Sainsburys)

Member Name: liquidio

Product:	Sainsburys
Date:	29/06/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality, pleasant environment

Disadvantages: slightly pricey, poor non-food selection.

I have been a sainsburys shopper primarily for most of my adult life. I arrived at this mainly by a process of elimination - Asda and the co-op were really low quality, waitrose too expensive, Tesco too out-of-town. The only chain I found that could compete was Morrison's, which surprised my expectations in terms of price and the quality of the fresh food, but there are remarkably few of those around down south. So I end up being very sourthern middle-class and shopping in Sainsburys.

And most of the time, it's a decent experience. The outside of the shop I have usually been to is mostly glass- slightly modern architecture but nothing much you would notice. Parking has typically been busy, but just about acceptable - I guess that the price of being closer in to the centre of town. The stores are nicely arranged with flowers and fruit and veg near the entrance, meat, fish and deli counters along the back wall, and everything else in between.

Importantly aisles are wider enough for two trolleys, a real pain in places like Asda, although not as wide as most of the Waitroses I've been to. Displays are generally neat (again, unlike somerfield, asda and co-op) and logically arranged. This chain is also not too bad at sourcing unusual ingredients, so it's good for those who are interested in cooking. I've never had a problem with quality (except for some of the reduced items).

But I do get the feeling that I'm paying for the privilege... It's not in Waitrose territory, but I'm aware that it's a higher price than the Tescos and below of this world. But I have always believed that if there is something worth spending money on, it's quality for whatever you are going to put into your body.

I also think that the store lacks a bit on non-food items. i'm not a fan of supermarket clothing, but a bit more hardware - crockery etc - would be useful.

Summary: A chain that takes pride in itself, and rightly so.