Billingshurst supermarket in sale to Sainsbury

The owners of Billingshurst supermarket Budgens have ‘agreed in principle’ to sell the store to Sainsbury’s.
JPCT 280115 S15040604x Billingshurst. Budgens -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-150128-124502001JPCT 280115 S15040604x Billingshurst. Budgens -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-150128-124502001
JPCT 280115 S15040604x Billingshurst. Budgens -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-150128-124502001

Budgens, in the High Street, confirmed the move on Monday and said it expected the transition to take place in ‘early to mid-March.’

Budgens supermarket is currently owned by Kavanagh Retailing UK Ltd which owns a number of stores across the South including supermarkets in Midhurst and Selsey.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Noel Kavanagh, head of Kavanagh Retailing UK Ltd, confirmed the sale of the Billingshurst supermarket but said no other stores the company owned would be affected.

He said: “I have agreed, in principle, the sale of the Billingshurst store to Sainsbury’s.

“It will continue to operate as Budgens for the next six to eight weeks and we are expecting the transition to take place early to mid-March.

“All staff have been made aware of this change and are expected to transfer across to Sainsbury’s.

“This move has no impact on any of my other stores.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mike Baker, Budgens director, added: “We are supporting Noel and his team through this transition in Billinghurst and we will continue to support him with his other stores.

“He is a much-valued and respected Budgens retailer and we look forward to continued success together.”

The Kavanagh Group, which employs more than 1,100 people, is a family owned business which comprises 16 supermarkets across Ireland and Britain.

Sainsbury’s currently has a supermarket at Pulborough and also a superstore in Horsham.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is reported to be the second largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom with a share of the UK supermarket sector of 16.9 per cent.

This week a spokesperson for the Sainsbury’s chain declined to confirm the Billingshurst deal, but added: “We are always looking for new sites .’’