TODAY, October 12, marks 25 years to the very day since Sainsbury’s on Lord Street first opened its doors to shoppers.
The store, which opened on October 12, 1982, has seen lots of changes over the years, including the introduction of food scanning at checkouts in 1990, two refurbishments in 1995 and 2002, and three different staff uniforms.

Shoppers pile into Sainsbury’s when it first opened, on October 12, 1992 Picture taken from the Sainsbury’s Archive Museum in Docklands

Nicky Plaistow, a customer services assistant for the store, has worked there for 18 years since starting evening shifts in 1989.
Nicky said: “We have got a good group of people at Sainsbury’s and we have had some great times.
“There’s a really good social life here.”

Store staff in 1994

Over the last quarter of a century, the store has seen its staff getting up to all kinds of mischief in the name of charity, in particular, Comic Relief.
Staff member Andy Whiting sat in a bath of beans for an entire day for Comic Relief in 1997, and brave Paul Lord and Michael Williamson had their legs waxed to raise money for the charity in 1999.
Staff have even been known to dress up as Ninja Turtles to collect money.

Paul Lord (front left) and Michael Williamson (right) have their legs waxed for Comic Relief in 1999

Staff in fancy dress on Red Nose Day in 1991

In addition to their many fundraising events, the store organised a big clean-up of Southport beach in 1991, when staff raised £500 for the Mayor of Sefton’s charity.
The branch has also produced some award-winning staff, such as Clare Thursfield, who, as well as scooping the award for ‘Most helpful retail assistant working in a national retailer’ at the Southport Ambassador Awards in April this year, was also nominated for Colleague of the Year at a national awards ceremony.
Clare, 26, whose father David was manager at the store during the late 1980s, began working at Sainsbury’s after sitting her GCSEs.
She took part in the beach clean-up as a 10-year-old, her photo featuring in the Visiter at the time.
She said: “I first started when I was 16, after sitting my last GCSE exam. I worked here while I was doing my A-levels, and during holidays when I was at university.
She added: “The people here make it brilliant. It’s the people that keep you here, it’s such a good team.”

Nicky Plaistow (left) and Clare Thursfield (right), who was nominated for Colleague of the Year this year, with Ken McMeikan, retail director of Sainsbury's

What are your memories of working or shopping at Sainsbury’s? Leave your comments below.

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