Sainsbury's ups non-food ante

Sainsbury's is to launch its non-food range with an assault on the homewares market this autumn, before turning to clothing and kids next year.

Chief executive Sir Peter Davis gave details of the staggered approach at the Deutsche Bank Food Retail Conference in Madrid. The retailer's health and beauty range will be expanded at the same time as the non-food push.

Sir Peter said that the non-food offer would appeal to Sainsbury's core customers, but ranges would also be edited and sold through Savacentre.

Sainsbury's will also test more new store types over the next couple of years, following Hazel Grove and Bluebird.