Sainsbury’s has promoted a long-serving consultant to the strategically important role of buying and merchandising director for clothing as it seeks to push its non-food sales.

David Francis started working for the grocer before the launch of Sainsbury’s Tu brand in 2004 and has played a significant role in driving its soaring clothing sales.

Sainsbury’s is also recruiting a head of product development, who will work alongside Francis to improve the product offer.

The recruitment activity signals the importance of clothing to Sainsbury’s. In August, the retailer brought back in-house its Tu childrenswear range under the same management team as Tu women- and menswear. The grocer employs 140 staff at its Tu site in Coventry.

Sainsbury’s head of clothing Adrian Mountford said: “David has a wealth of valuable clothing and retail experience.”

Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King has vowed to ramp up non-food sales by more than£1 billion in the three years to March 2010. Clothing will be a critical growth component.

Separately, Delta Two, the Qatari-backed investment vehicle planning to acquire the grocer, had yet to make a formal offer as Retail Week went to press.

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