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Sainsbury's aims for 30% book growth

16.08.07 Graeme Neill

Sainsbury's is forecasting 30% growth in its books business over the next 12 months. The supermarket chain--the UK's second largest with 788 stores--is planning to include wider book ranges in a further 70 stores by March 2008; currently 150 have the new format, which features improved point of sale material, better merchandising space and up to 27 bays for books.

Sainsbury's new book buyer Kate Greenlaw, who recently joined from THE, said the new space would drive sales and give customers a "more comfortable" shopping environment. "Sales are generally growing slowly but steadily," she said. "But a wider range of books, clear point of sale, awareness of back catalogue and increased availability is why Sainsbury's is forecasting growth of 30% for the next 12 months."

Sainsbury's wider business aims to add sales of £3.5bn in three years, with a third of that coming from non-food products. Trading director Mike Coupe said the biggest growth opportunity for supermarkets was within the non-food sector. "There are close to 17 million customers walking through Sainsbury's doors each week," he said. "That's a huge opportunity to sell non-food products to them."

Retail Graeme Neill Sainsbury's Graem Neill

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