The Sainsbury’s boss has broken his silence over the reason behind mass closure of the supermarket’s beloved cafes after shoppers were left devastated. Prerana Issar, Sainsbury's chief people officer, spoke on the issue at the 2025 Retail Technology Show. She said: "Customers who are going to the café are not the customers shopping in our stores. Why are we spending money on a space that doesn’t actually result in customers shopping at Sainsbury’s." It "just didn't make sense from a customers perspective" to keep them, she added. Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive, said the supermarket was facing a "challenging cost environment". READ MORE HMRC urges any parent earning under £200,000 to claim free £2,000 perk He added: "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." Fosse Park Pontypridd Rustington Scarborough Penzance Denton Wrexham Longwater Ely Pontllanfraith Emersons Green Nantwich Pinhoe Road Pepper Hill - Northfleet Marshall Lake Rhyl Lincoln Bridgemead Larkfield Whitchurch Bargates Sedlescombe Road Barnstaple Dewsbury Kings Lynn Hardwick Truro Warren Heath Godalming Hereford Chichester Bognor Regis Newport Talbot Heath Rugby Cannock Leek Winterstoke Road Hazel Grove Morecambe Darlington Monks Cross Marsh Mills Springfield Durham Bamber Bridge Weedon Road Hempstead Valley Hedge End Bury St Edmunds Thanet Westwood Cross Stanway Castle Point Isle of Wight Keighley Swadlincote Leicester North Wakefield Marsh Way Torquay Waterlooville Macclesfield Harrogate Cheadle Sainsbury’s has shared plans to accelerate into the second year of its three-year Next Level strategy. This includes proposals which over the next few months will bring more of the retailer’s core food ranges to more supermarket customers, while simplifying central divisions and management structures. Roberts, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive, said: “We launched our Next Level Strategy almost a year ago and are totally focused on making good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone, every day. As a result, we’re seeing real momentum across our business, with a best-ever value position, leading quality and increasing market share. 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. “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.”