The longest-standing Sainsbury’s employee has said that ‘it’s amazing' to see the Friar Street store reach its 60th birthday’ as she celebrates an almost 40 year's at the store.

The landmark supermarket, located at 52-55 Friar Street, has seen generations of families pass through its doors.

From the beginning, the prominent Reading stop has been a popular location for shoppers visiting the town centre.

Liz Taylor, 65, originally from Liverpool moved to Reading after getting married and was soon employed as a Sainsbury’s employee in the Friar Street branch.

Liz explained the changes she remembers happening throughout her time at the store.

Liz said: “There has been a lot of changes throughout the years. When I first started there was 225 staff and now there is 50 staff.

“There was a proper butcher and the bakery had single cakes when I started, and there’s been a lot of changes to the layout. We used to have the produce down at the bottom of the store. There were 7 checkouts on the small side of the store and 14 checkouts here at the front of the store where the kiosk now is.

“I’ve made loads of friends throughout the years and there is definitely a sense of family within the team.”

The celebration was organised by Karen Orchard and Jackie Daniels, both long-time employees of the store. 

The Chronicle spoke to some of the other members of staff who have spent decades of their lives an employee's at Sainsbury’s.

Paul Bowyer, Sainsbury’s Customer Trading Manager for the Greater Reading area joined the brand following the pandemic and started in Friar Street three months ago.

He said: “I came here for the first time when I was eight months old with my mum. She was one of the first people to come into the store. We have lived in Reading all our lives and I remember how it has changed.

“This store has been a part of so many people’s lives for so many years. If you ask anyone, they will tell you that it one of the last parts of old Reading.

“There’s definitely more of a camaraderie feel in the Friar Street branch because you do have so many people who have been here for so long.”

“Friar Street’s very unique. It’s like a family. People that come in are surprised that we are very close-knit. Even if someone comes in just to work for a short amount of time, they are treated as family.”