• Sainsbury’s plans to set up a tech hub at its Manchester office
  • New technology staff will be focused on software development
  • Grocer has more than doubled its technology staff in the past year

Sainsbury’s is hiring 150 new digital and technology employees to improve its online offer as it bids to compete with Amazon and Tesco.

The new staff, including software developers and engineers, will be based at the grocer’s Arndale Centre office, in Manchester, and work with its 900-strong technology teams in London and Coventry. 

“Our vision for Sainsbury’s is to have a world-class digital and technology function to ensure that we can deliver great services for our customers whenever and wherever they want to shop with us,” said digital and technology director Jon Rudoe.

Sainsbury’s has doubled its technology staff in the past year with 480 new roles.

The group is investing heavily in digital as it finalises its buyout of Argos in an effort to differentiate its offer from etail giant Amazon and rival supermarket Tesco.

Sainsbury’s is the latest retailer to set up a tech hub following John Lewis, which plans to open a hub in conjunction with its Birmingham flagship in September.