Plymouth pub to be turned into Sainsbury's convenience store

SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's is to open its first Plymouth convenience store in a former pub creating 25 jobs.

The retail giant will launch its debut Sainsbury's Local branch in the shell of the former Mutley Crown, in Mutley Plain, early next year.

The chain is particularly keen to tap into the large student population living in the Mutley area, with the Sainsbury's Local brand particularly focused on ready meals and other products designed for people on-the-go.

And Sainsbury's told The Herald it is looking for other opportunities to open smaller convenience branches in the city too.

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Since the first Sainsbury's Local began trading in Hammersmith, London, in 1998, more than 300 have opened nationwide as the chain takes on rivals such as Tesco Express and small Co-operative food stores.

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "We are looking at other opportunities in the city centre but we don't have any confirmed sites at the moment.

"We are definitely looking to invest in the city further though."

Work is due to start on the Mutley Plain store, which will create about 25 jobs "for local people", next month with the new shop due to open in the spring of 2013.

Sainsbury's said it intends to bring greater choice and value to residents and appeal to the large student population, and bring a "complementary offer" to the existing mix of shops and businesses in Mutley Plain and "strengthen the high street by giving residents another reason to keep shopping locally".

Tom Trenchard, Sainsbury's senior regional acquisitions manager, said: "This is a great location for one of our convenience shops.

"Mutley Plain already offers the community a vibrant place to socialise and shop and we think the Sainsbury's Local will fit in perfectly and complement the other businesses. The shop will bring greater choice and value to shoppers and signals our on-going investment in high streets."

In April, The Herald reported Sainsbury's interest in the Mutley Crown, when talks began between the chain and the building's offshore owner, Chatham Commercial Properties Limited. Sainsbury's has applied for a premises licence to sell alcohol from the site.