INTERNATIONAL NEWS

LONDON -- Sainsbury's has unveiled ambitious plans to expand its convenience-store estate by 30 percent in the next three years, Convenience Store, UK reported.

Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King revealed his plan to open an additional 100 Sainsbury's Local stores across the country by 2010 as he disclosed a better than expected set of full-year trading results last week, according to the news report.

The move will take Sainsbury's c-store portfolio from 326 to 426 stores. The announcement comes just three weeks after Sainsbury's said it would rebrand all its stores as Sainsbury's Local in a bid to further cut costs and drive sales.

King said Sainsbury's convenience business would play a significant role in "making Sainsbury's great again." He continued: "Our current store estate provides substantial development opportunities, and we are seeking and developing a pipeline of new stores."

Three new regional managing directors for Sainsbury's newly restructured convenience business are expected to be named shortly, the report said.
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