SAINSBURY, the store consistently among the top performers, has suffered its first slump in profits for 22 years.

Not, you understand, the kind of slump which is going to send its owners looking for part-time work - the profits fell from £809 million to £712 million last year, which make it far from a poor earner.

There are now moves to introduce a "loyalty card", or club card, for customers in the hope of perking up the takings, but there are other measures which might prove useful.

Frankly, Sainsbury would have held on to its corner of the market far better had it been a little more generous with its shelf space for other branded goods.

The store is fine, but the customers need a few more names to go at than the ubiquitous "Sainsbury" one.

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