"It's the Business" programme, 3 December 1996

Recording of "It's the Business" programme for Sainsbury's staff (mainly store management teams). "It's the Business" was the anchor business television programme on the "SMART" network (Sainsbury's Management and Retail Television). This programme was broadcast live on 3 December 1996 by satellite to Sainsbury's stores, depots and offices. It was presented by John Howard in the studio.

Contents:
1. Introduction.
2. Report about the opening of Sainsbury's first store in Northern Ireland at Ballymena, with reporter Anne Hailes. Discusses Ballymena and the reasons for opening a store here; the features of the store including new store formats and the first in-store bank in western Europe; reactions to the opening of the store in the area; the differences between opening a store in Northern Ireland compared with the rest of the UK; using local suppliers; staffing; prices compared with other local stores; setting up in Northern Ireland with obstacles including distribution; future plans in Northern Ireland; planning difficulties; feedback about the store; support from staff from stores in England, Scotland and Wales; views of local newspaper editor about the opening of the store. Features interviews with Councillor James Curry (Mayor of Ballymena); Melanie Redmond (Chief Display Assistant, Grocery); customers; Brian Lucas (Store Manager); David Clapham (Retail Director); and Maurice O'Neill (Editor, Ballymena Guardian). Includes footage of: Ballymena store interior and exterior; Ballymena town centre and other stores in the area; opening day with David Sainsbury and customers; customers shopping; and First Trust in-store bank.
2. Interview with David Clapham (Retail Director) about Christmas trade - includes ordering procedures, changes to trading hours, lessons learned from last year - focus on customer, Reward Card (Sainsbury's loyalty card scheme).
3. Interview with John Adshead (Director) in the studio about Christmas product availability (ensuring shelves are fully stocked in Sainsbury's stores) including concerns from stores, and issue of Channel blockade.
4. News reports - five new stores (Clapham, March, Aberdeen, Drumchapel and Ballymena) opening; conversion of 160 Texas Homecare stores to Homebase stores; first group staff council meeting with David Sainsbury commenting on the meeting; Sainsbury's petrol stations receiving award for environmental awareness by the AA with City Diesel and vapour recovery system being commended; Sainsbury's Choir of the Year dates; pin badges being sold to raise money for Break Through charity. Includes footage of visit by Prime Minister John Major to the new store at Clapham and comments by John Major; signage at Texas Homecare store changed to Homebase; a staff council meeting; a Sainsbury's petrol station with City Diesel and customer using petrol pump.
5. Report about centrally packed meat (‘CPM’) being introduced to all stores (butchery and packaging of pre-packaged fresh meat being done by suppliers rather than by Sainsbury's staff inside each store). Discusses: new packaging techniques developed with suppliers ABP; techniques specific to meat for Sainsbury's; special packaging used to keep meat fresh; ability to use packaging for marketing; benefits to customers and stores of the new process including availability; how butchers will now work on fresh meat counters (where available) to serve customers rather than in the back room; change in role of meat manager in stores. Includes interviews with Graham Stimpson (Sales Manager, ABP Ellesmere); Basil Dungey (Technical Manager, ABP); David Smith (Sainsbury’s Regional Director, Midlands); two butchers at Weedon Road store; Colin McCracken (Meat Manager, Weedon Road). Includes footage from Weedon Road in Northampton of meat displays; butchery, meat processing and packing at ABP Ellesmere plant; and fresh meat counter at Weedon Road.
6. Studio discussion with Stuart Mitchell (Director, Meat Division) and Nigel Broome (Director, Personnel Operations) about centrally packed meat (‘CPM’). Includes reasons for decision to change to CPM; impact on jobs and staff roles for in-store butchers with many staff to move to new roles; benefits for customers; teething difficulties; staff skills; ensuring sufficient capacity from suppliers; ensuring cold chain isn’t breached and cold stores are adequate. Phone-in questions from: John Butt (Beeston) with some concerns about quality/appearance and asks about procedures to ensure high quality and availability; Peter Buckingham (Crawley) about potential resentment of staff in other departments with former butchers being paid at a higher grade; Graham Lazenby (Surbiton) about whether meat counters will be installed in more stores; Robert Felconer (Straiton, Edinburgh) about whether there will be pre-sliced meat on counter (no); Tony Tudor (Ladbroke Grove) on timing of introduction shortly before Christmas.
7. Children in Need. Video with a message from Terry Wogan (TV and radio broadcaster) from the BBC Radio 2 studio thanking Sainsbury’s staff for their support.
8. End of programme. Request for roll pallets to be returned.

Duration: 41 minutes. Produced by Sainsbury's Group Internal Communications in association with c/t/n [Corporate Television Networks].

There are 12 additional videos of unedited footage ("rushes") for this video.