Sainsbury's is closing the doors to the last of its 61 in-store cafes today, marking quite the blow for loyal customers. The retail behemoth had previously signalled earlier this year that its cafes would be shutting down but hadn't given a set time frame for their closure. The supermarket chain has cited that the majority of their shoppers seldom frequented its cafes. Moreover, Sainsbury's unveiled plans to shut down other services such as its patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters, as well as announcing cuts to head office roles in an effort to reduce around 20% of its senior leadership team over the next few months. At the time these changes were made public, Sainsbury's declared that combining all the proposed measures could lead to losing over 3,000 jobs. CEO Simon Roberts stated, "As we accelerate into year two and beyond of our strategy, we are facing into a particularly challenging cost environment which means we have had to make tough choices about where we can afford to invest and where we need to do things differently to make our business more efficient and effective." Roberts went on to say, "The decisions we are announcing today are essential to ensure we continue to drive forward our momentum but have also meant some difficult choices impacting our dedicated colleagues in a number of parts of our business. We'll be doing everything we can to support anyone impacted by today's announcements." Sainsbury's has sounded the alarm on potential price hikes for shoppers following tax increases outlined in the October Budget. The retailer is bracing for an extra £140 million in costs, raising concerns about the impact on consumer prices. A hike in the employer's National Insurance rate from 13.8% to 15%, paired with a lowered earnings threshold from £9,100 to £5,000 per annum, are among the changes, reports the Mirror. Moreover, the national minimum wage has seen a boost. Adults over 21 will now earn a minimum of £12.21 per hour, up from £11.44, while wages for 18 to 20-year-olds have risen to £10 from £8.60, and under-18s and apprentices are set to take home £7.55 per hour, climbing from £6.40. A Sainsbury's spokesperson shared, "In January, we shared the difficult decision that our remaining Sainsbury's cafes would be closing and this will take place on April 11. We are sorry for any disappointment this may cause." The representative further noted, "Our stores continue to support the customers and communities they serve in a range of ways, including through fundraising, volunteering and donations to good causes. We're exploring future opportunities for the space and will keep our colleagues and customers updated." Despite the challenging climate, Sainsbury's has previously committed to bestowing its workforce with a 5% salary increment by 2025. Concurrently, the supermarket heavyweight is embarking on a mission to cut costs by £1 billion over the next few years. In 2024, Sainsbury's made the tough decision to cut around 1,500 jobs. This move came as a bit of a shock to workers, especially since the retail giant boasted its "biggest ever" Christmas sales and is expecting to rake in about £1 billion in annual profits. Full list of Sainsbury's cafes closing Hereford Bognor Regis Lincoln Pinhoe Road Wakefield Marsh Way Isle of Wight Truro Sedlescombe Road Durham Winterstoke Road Harrogate Weedon Road Monks Cross Bury St Edmunds Chichester Wrexham Cannock Fosse Park Thanet Westwood Cross Marshall Lake Barnstaple Ely Hempstead Valley Morecambe Godalming Macclesfield Castle Point Springfield Rustington Hedge End Waterlooville Nantwich Scarborough Newport Denton Leek Penzance Longwater Hazel Grove Bamber Bridge Swadlincote Whitchurch Bargates Pontypridd Emersons Green Rugby Cheadle Pepper Hill - Northfleet Torquay Kings Lynn Hardwick Dewsbury Darlington Marsh Mills Larkfield Rhyl Keighley Stanway Talbot Heath Bridgemead Pontllanfraith Warren Heath Leicester North