Sainsbury’s is trialling its first-ever overnight drive-thru in a bid to cater for shift workers.

The Flourish Fuelling Station, which opened on 25 January, will run between the hours of 5pm and 8am until Friday 27 January at the retailer’s petrol forecourt in London Colney, St Albans.

Sainsbury's Flourish Fuelling Station

The Flourish Fuelling Station is designed for nighttime shift workers

Free hot and healthy meals from the retailer’s new 65-strong Flourish health range, which comprises smoothies, snacks, cold food and hot dishes, such as roast butternut squash risotto and jerk chicken with coconut rice, will be given away to customers in vehicles and those on foot, Sainsbury’s said.

The move comes after research from the supermarket giant found shift workers have some of the unhealthiest diets in the UK.

Of more than 2,400 office and shift workers polled by the grocer, 79% claimed that unhealthy eating patterns were made worse by overnight working.

Sainsbury’s director of product and innovation Claire Hughes said: “It is a shame that night shift workers don’t have the same access to healthy, balanced meals as those working a regular 9 to 5, particularly as these eating habits are causing them to feel tired, whilst not keeping them full.

“We hope that Sainsbury’s new Flourish range will help to address that, with the Fuelling Station offering the chance to try nutritious options for free.

“Flourish has been developed as a positive approach to health, created alongside chefs and nutritionists. The range is all about delicious food with healthy ingredients that support a balanced diet.”

Sainsbury’s added it could explore further solutions to offer hot food options during unsociable hours, depending on the success of the pilot.

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