Most popular questions
All about our values, stores and how to work with us.  If you'd like to find out about Sainsbury's services, food and other products, please choose another topic from the menu above.

 
 

 


My product is faulty, what can I do?

We're sorry to hear that the product you purchased from us is faulty. Simply return the product instore with your proof of purchase within 12 months and we will be happy to give you an exchange or refund.

 

I have changed my mind and no longer want the product I have bought instore

Simply return the product with your proof of purchase and in it’s original condition within 28 days and we will be happy to exchange or refund it for you.

 

What products can’t be returned to store?

Unfortunately we can’t accept returns of the following items unless there is a quality issue:
 

  • baby food and milk
  • chilled and frozen products
  • pierced jewellery
  • fireworks
  • all photo books, acrylics and canvases bought from the photoshop
  • gift cards, lottery tickets, scratch cards.

 

 

How do I return an item that I purchased online?

Please click here for the online refunds policy.

 

What are the changes to Scottish alcohol Licensing Laws?

The following restrictions will now apply in our Scotland stores.

  • Alcohol can only be sold between 10am and 10pm.
  • Alcohol can no longer be sold in Sainsbury's petrol stations.
  • Alcohol can only be displayed in one area of the store.


The recent legislation changes mean that we no longer offer multi-buy deals on alcohol in Scotland.

For more information ask a colleague instore colleague or visit the scotland.gov.uk website.

 

How can I contact you?

You can see a list of our contact details you'll need for general enquiries and our services and a feedback area from our contact us page.

 

I am disabled.  What support can I expect from Sainsbury’s?

We recognise that all our customers are individuals, with individual needs.  As part of delivering excellent customer service, all our store colleagues receive disability training to ensure that they understand the needs of disabled customers.

 

 

Where can I get some recipe ideas?

Simply search the recipe you want from the ‘search for recipes and ideas’ section from our home page.  You can also have a look at our online community where many customers share their ideas and recipes.

 

I can't find an old recipe I used to use - is it still on the website?

Sainsbury's has a database of over 3,000 recipes and tips, our recipes show nutritional information - helping you to eat a more balanced diet.  Some of our older recipes did not meet this criteria and so were removed from the database.  However, as an ongoing process we continue to add to our database all year round so please do keep checking to see whether there are any new recipes you might like to try.

 

I am doing a project for school, college or university and have chosen Sainsbury’s as a case study.
How can I get more information about the company?

Corporate responsibility
You can find lots of information on Sainsbury’s, our board, annual reports and our history by visiting our corporate website j-sainsburys.co.uk.

Archive
The Sainsbury Archive documents the history of the company. It also provides a unique illustration of the transformation that has occurred in retailing and in shopping and eating habits since the mid-19th century.

The Archive is now located at the Museum in Docklands and the collections are available via the new purpose built Sainsbury Study Centre. Visitors can view displays from the collection and browse a range of digital and paper-based resources from the library and archives, including reference books, image files, films and journals covering the history of Sainsbury's and shopping and the history of the docks and the local area. The separate search room is open by appointment for more in-depth research using material from the archive collections.

Highlights from the Sainsbury Archive can also be viewed online by visiting the new website, 'Story of a Supermarket'.  This replaces the Sainsbury's Virtual Museum educational site which was created in 1998. Much of the material from the old site has been retained, but users can now access a wealth of additional information and images from the archive, through the themes of People, Places, Products and Progress. The site also includes material for schools which supports the National Curriculum at KS2, along with quizzes, old-fashioned packaging to make and other activities for family learning.

 

Active Kids Get Cooking
Alternatively, our Active Kids Get Cooking website is specially designed for primary and secondary schools and includes fantastic fruit, healthy eating, product case studies and how products are manufactured.

 

How do I find out and apply for jobs at Sainsbury’s?

You can have a look at our job profiles and different areas to work in from our homepage by going to our recruitment pages.  Here you'll find information about how to apply as well as some online application forms.

 

I am a supplier and would like to get my product on your shelves.  How do I go about this?

We work closely with suppliers and UK partnership initiatives to find new ways of supporting local producers.  In one such initiative, named ‘Supply Something New’, we are working with Food from Britain to help small and medium-sized suppliers gain access to the retailer.

With Supply Something New, we scour the length and breadth of the UK for unique and innovative suppliers with a tradition for great-tasting food, to add to our network of producers.
If you would like to know more about the scheme, please feel free to visit the Supply Something New website at supplysomethingnew.co.uk. 

For more information on how we support local producers, please visit our corporate website at j-sainsburys.co.uk.

 

What is FSC?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network promoting the responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC carefully balances the environmental, social and economic interests, to create the best outcome for people and our planet.

 

 

 

What are spam/junk emails?

Internet users occasionally receive e-mails encouraging them to forward the message to a number of other addresses.  These are often known as ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ e-mails.  Other types of spam e-mails include messages from companies offering free gifts, prescription drugs and financial assistance, among other things.

We don’t use this type of e-mail in our marketing, and would never ask our customers to forward our e-mails round to large groups of people.  If you're in any doubt about the content of an e-mail that appears to come from Sainsbury’s, please call our Customer Careline on 0800 636262, Sainsbury’s Online Groceries on 0845 301 2020 or Sainsbury’s Bank on 0500 30 40 50.

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) should be able to offer you further advice about how to deal with unwanted e-mails.

 

What toilet cleaning products must you not use together?

You must avoid mixing acidic cleaners (most toilet cleaners, limescale removers etc) and chlorine based cleaners (bleach, cleaners with added bleach).  If the two types of cleaner are used together, the combination can give off dangerous and sometimes toxic gases, especially chlorine.  Bleaches or bleach cleaners can be used safely in conjunction with standard in-cistern or rim blocks. 

 

Why might there be white spots on my washing?

White deposits are generally left behind when the washing machine has been overloaded with clothing or when water distribution is poor.  This means the powder can’t dissolve properly.  Both non-Bio and Bio powders and liquids contain bleaching agents, but this would not cause white spots.