Sainsbury’s seeks changes to limits on Dundee store

Sainsbury’s is trying to ease a legal restriction on how much of its supermarket can be used to sell comparison goods.

The city council decided two years ago that only 20% of the floorspace of the store could be used for displaying clothing, household goods and electrical items.

It wanted to ensure the store did not draw too much business away from the shops in Broughty Ferry, but it admitted at the time that it might have to review the limit at a later date.

Sainsbury’s have now applied to the council to have 30% of floorspace devoted to comparison goods.

Their planning agents Turley Associates said the store was struggling to compete effectively with its rivals in Dundee and provide the range of goods customers wanted.

“Today’s customers expect higher levels of service, reliable product availability and wider product choice,” they stated.

“As a result, the comparison sales area of any store must be of a sufficient size to genuinely provide greater local choice.”

Turley said retail modeling suggested that a fifth of Sainsbury’s extra turnover in comparison goods would be spending diverted from Broughty shops.