Northampton Sainsbury's staff dress up for last Christmas as they wave goodbye to Grosvenor Centre store

Sainsbury's has confirmed it is closing its store in Northampton's Grosvenor centre early next year
Pictured from left to right: Ben Newton (store manager) Rob Walker, Nathan Read and Ruth Bailey.Pictured from left to right: Ben Newton (store manager) Rob Walker, Nathan Read and Ruth Bailey.
Pictured from left to right: Ben Newton (store manager) Rob Walker, Nathan Read and Ruth Bailey.

In typical Sainsbury's style, staff have all dressed up as characters from the Wizard of Oz this year as they mark their last Christmas at the Grosvenor Centre supermarket.

From charity head shaves, hunting down bananas in the shopping centre and racing hundreds of miles for good causes - there isn't much the teams haven't done over the years to help on-the-doorstep charities and have fun.

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This year, for two days in December, managers are dressing up as Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Lion and will be singing kareoke on the shop floor and raising money for the emergency services.

The store managers are all dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz to mark their final Christmas together in store. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.The store managers are all dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz to mark their final Christmas together in store. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.
The store managers are all dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz to mark their final Christmas together in store. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

In September, Sainsbury's confirmed it was shutting the store in Princess Walk in March 2021, after serving customers for well over 40 years. The news also coincided with Tesco Metro, in Abington Street, announcing it is to downsize and relocating in the same street as an Express store.

It comes as a year ago, Sainsbury's announced how it would close up to 15 supermarkets before 2021, with ten new stores expected to open over the next five years. Bosses hoped the move will save the company up to £500 million.

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She said: "All the managers have been great sports and went along with it making or buying their costumes.

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"They are doing it over two days on Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, 23 being as this is our very last Christmas at Sainsburys.

"When we first got told we were closing there was a lot of tears, myself included, it was total disbelief. Because we have been busy with Christmas we have been so preoccupied but I think it will hit home that there is no going back in the New Year.

"So, we have decided to make the most of it now."

To mark their last year, Sainsbury's staff have dedicated their festive month of fundraising to police HQ, the fire station in Daventry, Barry Road Primary School, NGH dementia ward, Northamptonshire Health Charity, Nazareth House and Homestart.