An investigation by Simply Info this week has revealed J Sainsbury plc are in trouble with local trading standards officers in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, as a result of just such greed and, it appears, pressure from management to sustain profits at any cost.

At the Sainsbury petrol station near its main store close to The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, a mistake by a tanker driver resulted in diesel fuel being pumped into tanks reserved for unleaded petrol, and unleaded petrol ending up in the diesel tanks. Staff on duty quite properly closed all connected pumps immediately.

With all diesel pumps then closed, a senior local manager felt that the loss of profit would be unacceptable. The pumps were re-opened, even though around 5,000 litres of unleaded petrol was contaminating approximately 12,000 litres of the diesel already in the tanks when the unfortunate tanker driver made the mistake. Motorists filled vehicles unaware of the problem until local trading standards officers intervened. It seems that a prosecution is now expected, and drivers whose vehicle engines have been damaged may be able to claim compensation.

Senior managers at the Tunbridge Wells store were unavailable for comment as was Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Sir Peter Davis. A spokesman for Sir Peter at the company’s head office in London said, "It seems that mistakes were made at a local level. Our overriding priority is for quality in everything we sell, and such action by local staff is certainly not company policy. We will be investigating further."

** Sainsbury’s were criticised in March of this year by the Advertising Standards Authority over a misleading advertisement for fruit and vegetables, which was taken by some to imply that pesticides were not used on any of their produce.

Simply Info News - 19th May 2001

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