Sainsbury’s rolls out ‘first of its kind’ in-store lunch stand trial

The grocer said it will be rolling out the “first of its kind” lunch stands in a trial across 300 stores, featuring 24 new products, including Sainsbury’s own-brand lines as well as those from high street food-to-go operators.  

The new lunch range will have hot and cold options with price points starting at £2. Sainsbury’s said that all of the meals will be under 500 calories per serving. 

The trial begins today and is scheduled to run until at least November 17, with promotions on selected new items until October 12. 

Sainsbury’s said the new range was designed to help “Brits adapt to the new normal of ‘hybrid’ working”. This comes after a recent YouGov poll found that 70% of workers will never return to their office in the same capacity as they did pre-pandemic. 

Frances Hughes, Sainsbury’s category planner for food for later, said: “As a hybrid style of working becomes more normal, we’ve been working hard to analyse customer needs when it comes to their lunchtime meals.

“It’s important for us to provide our customers with convenient and healthy lunch options, whether they’re in the office or at home, and alongside our partners Wasabi, Itsu and Leon we’ve developed delicious choices that enable them to do so.

“Whether it’s stocking up on the weekly shop or heading to a Sainsbury’s Local during a lunch break, the introduction of the in-aisle lunch stand makes it easily accessible for anyone to pick up an affordable and balanced meal, no matter what your daily ritual is.”