Sainsbury C Store

Sainsbury’s Supermarket Closes Argos and Butcher Counters in 2020 | Eater London

"This major supermarket is closing its meat, fish and deli counters, a decision that will put about 3,500 staff out of work and coincides with the planned closure of 120 Argos stores that it bought in 2016. The chief executive describes the move as anticipating industry shifts — notably declining counter sales and insufficient investment in staff training — and the chain has not yet said whether it will replace the counters (unlike a rival that has used ready-to-eat brand partnerships). Industry reporting points to roughly a 15% drop in butcher counter sales from 2018 to 2020, and many supermarket counters have been reduced to pre-packaged lines staffed by attendants rather than full butchers or fishmongers, eroding the traditional theatre and expertise." - James Hansen