Sainsbury’s plays down rumours of move to Leeds

Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s on Thursday played down rumours that it will move its London staff to a new office in Leeds after its £14 billion merger with rival Asda.

Sainsbury’s said: “Sainsbury’s and Asda remain separate businesses. The suggestion that we are looking to develop a new Yorkshire base is simply untrue.”

It has been known since 2015 that Asda House, the HQ of the grocer, could be demolished to make room for the planned high-speed railway HS2 by 2033 in Yorkshire.

Asda is in talks with the council to stay in Leeds. Argos, bought by Sainsbury’s for £1.4 billion in 2016, has kept its HQ in Milton Keynes.

Sainsbury’s has offices in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Coventry and Milton Keynes.

There are no plans to move staff, it added.