Sainsbury’s to the rescue as Bruntsfield deli closes

Peckham’s on Bruntsfield Place shut yesterday for the final time, with chain bosses keen to concentrate on their other sites – including outlets in Aberdeen, Glasgow and the Capital’s South Clerk Street – in a bid to consolidate its presence within Scotland.

All 15 staff at the specialist wine and food store will be offered positions within the new Sainsbury’s branch at the behest of Peckham’s director Tony Johnston, it has emerged.

The chain has already sold three shops at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, Lenzie, and Newton Mearns.

In July, it was reported that Peckham’s delicatessens had been put up for sale, having been under increasing pressure as the Waitrose supermarket chain expanded.

The business had been valued at £3.5 million.

Mr Johnston said it was with a “heavy heart” that they were calling time on the Bruntsfield store.

“After 16 years of happy trading, the time is right for us to step aside and concentrate our efforts on our other branches,” he said.

“I am pleased, however, to have secured Sainsbury’s to take over the premises, as this closure would never have gone ahead until I was 100 per cent comfortable that the right retailer would take our place and secure the jobs of our current employees.”

He added: “There has been a period of careful co-operation between Peckham’s and Sainsbury’s over the last few months and whilst it is never nice to have to close one of your stores, this is the right move for both parties.”

In March last year, the News reported how Peckham’s in Stockbridge was to be sold for £500,000, with the company aiming to buy bigger retail sites and sell off some of its smaller stores.

Five months later, joint administrator Zolfo Cooper said that the remaining 11 stores in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen would be up for sale.

Jim Bishop, Sainsbury’s head of convenience acquisitions in Scotland, said: “Sainsbury’s sees the opening of a new store in Bruntsfield as an opportunity to compliment what is already a high-quality shopping area.

“During the negotiations, we had to respect the wishes of all parties and keep these proposals out of the public realm. However, we are now delighted to be able to confirm our position and excited about opening in Bruntsfield.”

Additional Sainsbury’s Locals are planned for Edinburgh “helping further strengthen Sainsbury’s high street presence”.

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