Sainsbury’s boss reveals reason behind mass closure of supermarket’s beloved cafes after shoppers left devastated

SAINSBURY'S bosses have revealed the reason behind the mass closure of its beloved cafes.

At the end of January the supermarket announced the axing of its remaining cafes, hot food counters, patisserie and pizza counters.

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While Sainsbury's recognise they will lose some long-standing colleagues in the 3,000 job cut process, they have their reasons.

Prerana Issar, Sainsbury's chief people officer, spoke on the issue at the 2025 Retail Technology Show.

She said: "Customers who are going to the café are not the customers shopping in our stores.

“Why are we spending money on a space that doesn’t actually result in customers shopping at Sainsbury’s."

It "just didn't make sense from a customers perspective" to keep them, she added.

All in all, 61 in-store cafes will close for good.

The changes to counters announced by Sainsbury's don't apply to smaller Local stores.

Chickens usually sold at the rotisserie counters will be shifted to hot cabinets next to sandwich fridges.

A Sainsbury’s insider said the freed-up counter spaces will be replaced with areas selling gluten-free and dairy-free products.

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive, said the supermarket was facing a "challenging cost environment".

He added: "The decisions we are announcing today are essential to ensure we continue to drive forward our momentum but have also meant some difficult choices impacting our dedicated colleagues in a number of parts of our business.

"We’ll be doing everything we can to support anyone impacted by today’s announcements."

Sainsbury's said the decision to close its remaining 61 cafes was being taken as less of its loyal customer base was using them.

The supermarket said its hybrid cafe and food halls were becoming popular among shoppers.

It is likely to replace the cafes with restaurants run by franchises, such as Starbucks and Gourmet Burger Kitchen, which already have sites in some of its stores.

The most popular items currently being sold from patisserie and pizza counters will be moved to shelves elsewhere in stores.

It means shoppers will still be able to get hold of bakery items like Hovis bread and Mr Kipling cakes, while self-service bread slicing machines will be introduced.

The Sainsbury's cafe with the best view

It comes after shoppers at a Sainsbury's in Cornwall called the views from the supermarket cafe "the best in England".

The "iconic spot" on the terrace of the Penzance store is set to close along with all of Sainsbury's cafes.

The retailer recently said the "majority of the most loyal shoppers" don't use them and prefer food halls run by specialist partners like Starbucks.

Mary Fletcher, an artist in the area, was up in arms about the news.

She told Facebook followers that she had called the shop to complain about the decision, but was told by staff that they weren't able to "reverse" the plans.

The cafe is so popular that it has even scooped reviews on Tripadvisor.

One user wrote: "It must have the best view imaginable."

Another said: "Penzance Sainsbury’s café must have one of the very best views in the whole of England, overlooking the railway line, Mounts Bay, and the unique St Michael’s Mount."

"It is fun watching the trains of varying lengths trundle by, people and their dogs gambling on the beach, various types of surfers strutting their stuff."

A third echoed: "I cannot imagine there is a supermarket with a more amazing view than here.

"Outside decking (weather permitting) allows coffee to be sipped with St Michael’s Mount complimenting the beautiful Mounts Bay."

On Secret Truro's Instagram page, they shared a snap of the sea views.

"Finally got in the sea, now warming up with a coffee here. Is this the best view from any Sainsbury's?" they wrote.

Other fans called it "one of a kind" and "easily the best supermarket cafe ever".

Morrisons to close in-store cafes

It comes after Morrisons announced the closures of 52 of its cafes.

Some locations include London, Leeds, Portsmouth and Glasgow.

The supermarket chain announced in March this change is to cut costs.

It is designed to "renew and reinvigorate Morrisons" and focus "investment into the areas that customers really value", a spokesperson said.