Sainsbury’s

This Sainsburys store is massive. It’s like an airport hanger full of every kind of grocery you could need.
The fact that it’s about 15 – 20 minutes outside of the city centre means that it’s only really people passing on the motorway that would stop in for a shop, or people living nearby.
The store offers a huuuuge deal of selection. I dropped in with some friends recently as we had driven up from Dundalk to acquire the makings of some mojito cocktails and some scrumptious food for dinner.
It was very handy for us coming off the motorway and there were miles of parking spaces available.
The staff were friendly and helpful too, no complaints there. This store also stock clothing and homewares. An epic store for it’s sheer size.

Sprucefield opened its carpark in 2003, bringing in the biggest Sainsbury store in the country. However, there was a bit of a problem due to planning and various objections so Sainsbury’s should have been in N. I 8 years previously. And so far, the shop is yet to cement itself into the N. I shopping calender.
Perhaps it is that there are only a handful of stores around the country, or perhaps it has something to do with an unearthed national hatred of Sainsbury’s partron and all round healthy Jamie Oliver. Nevertheless, it is not a regular grocery visit for many people.
This I cannot really understand. The store is huge. Both it and B&Q are considered the «anchor tents» or the big major shops to non-​building folks. Yet any time I’ve been here, this store always seems strangely quiet.
Tescos, Asda and even to an extent M&S have found themselves embraced by the NI shopping fanatics, yet this store always seems to be trying to beg people to come in, and very few do.
This is nothing to do with the store itself. It is s terrific spot for shopping. The food is great, particularly the fresh meat and the staff are always more than obliging to help you.
Although the prices are a smidgen above the prices of Tescos or Asda, it is a very nice shop to be in and the restaurant that they have is always well stocked and the food is as good as you are going to get for a restaurant in a shop. The clothing end is fashionable and the cds and dvds are all up-​to-​date and occassionally very cheap.
I think Sainsbury’s has quite a long way to go before people really trust it and accept it over Tesco or Asda. Poundland has only come to NI a year or two ago and people have really taken to it.
Perhaps no-​one will ever take to Sainsbury’s. I can’t really work out why, but I’m going to blame Jamie Oliver.