Sainsburys take on more staff in Edinburgh

October 4, 2010 5:23 pm

Sainsbury’s will open the doors of its newly-extended store in Blackhall on Wednesday of this week adding 80 new jobs to its 390-strong staff.

The 71,388 sq ft store will be officially opened at 9.30am by a representative of St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh, which is the store’s local charity partner. It has been extended over the last six months by 25,000 sq ft to offer more facilities and a greater range of produce, including a new café, self-scan checkouts, and a pizza bar. Customers will also be able to choose from an expanded homeware and TU clothing range, and thousands of further products will be available to buy online and collect in-store with Sainsbury’s Click and Collect offer.

The Craigleith store has built strong links with the local community over the last 17 years, including fundraising for local charities and supporting local schools. It recently donated Active Kids sports equipment to St David’s RC Primary School, while the store’s building firm donated footballs to the Blackhall Primary School football team.

Last year, the store raised more than £8,400 for its first local charity partner, MacMillan Cancer Support, and it has raised more than £4,000 for St Columba’s Hospice in the last three months through in-store donations and fundraising by colleagues. To continue to raise more money to help rebuild its premises, Sainsbury’s is supporting its Light a Light campaign, where people can remember their loved ones by lighting an illumination on a tree in Charlotte Square.

Store Manager David Bainbridge said: “We are really pleased to be bringing an even better shopping experience to our customers in the area, who can expect more choice but the same excellent service. We’re also pleased to welcome St Columba’s Hospice to the opening to mark the beginning of our charity partnership. We look forward to working closely with them and other community organisations that make such a difference to people’s lives.”