Bolton: Sainsbury's work praised by Yasmin Qureshi MP

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East and opposition spokesperson for women and equalities, visited Sainsbury's to see for herself how workers were trying to help people with the cost-of-living crisis.

She heard how the company has recently reached a significant milestone by donating its 10 millionth meal to people in need in a period of just 18 months.

Ms Qureshi discussed the work the business is doing around the community in Bolton (Image: Office of Yasmin Qureshi MP)

Ms Qureshi said: “The work Sainsbury’s do in the local community is crucial to supporting charities and ensuring our wider Bolton family can flourish and support the most vulnerable.”

The Bolton MP said she hoped that this could show the way for other businesses to work in partnership with the government.

She said: “The next Labour government is committed to a partnership between government, business, and workers to ensure we develop sustained economic growth and spread prosperity throughout the country.”

Staff at Morrisons also explained how they are working to reduce plastic use (Image: Office of Yasmin Qureshi MP)

During her visit, Ms Qureshi heard how the company says it has invested £550million in trying to keep prices low, despite the pressures posed by inflation to all sectors of the economy.

By doing so, Sainsbury’s says it hopes to match prices with budget chain Aldi with many of its products, while the company has also been investing in a ‘price lock’ initiative.

Ms Qureshi heard about the various schemes underway (Image: Office of Yasmin Qureshi MP)

She also heard how the company, through its food donation platform Neighbourly, has partnered with Urban Outreach and Fortalice to help support vulnerable people in Bolton.

Ms Qureshi also said that she welcomed moves the supermarket chain was taking to support its own workers.

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These measures included a 10 per cent pay increase over the last year, free food provided to them during shifts and staff discounts around pay day to help them stock up for the month ahead.

Cllr Martin Donaghy, who is the store's Fortalice ambassador said he hoped the visit would spark wider interest in the community work he and his colleagues do.

He said: "This was first and foremost a fact finder to find out about what we've been doing for our community.

"We had a chat and we discussed our work with local schools, local charities and of course with Fortalice.

"Yasmin of course was interested to hear what Sainsbury's was doing about the cost-of-living crisis."

Ms Qureshi was also at the Bolton store to find out more about the efforts Sainsbury’s was making to move towards a more environmentally friendly business model, particularly by reducing the use of plastic bags.

She heard from staff how Sainsbury’s is the first UK retailer to vacuum pack all beef mince saving 450 tonnes of plastic each year.