For a small business, getting access to Sainsbury's can be a big deal. Levi Roots' Reggae Reggae Sauce is on our shelves and selling fast thanks to our Supply Something New initiative. It's our way of getting interesting new products to our customers and taking interesting businesses on the journey of a lifetime.

Getting new products from new places to our shelves is a business-wide effort. From her place on the Logistics Scheme Sabrina Hoque helps smaller businesses make the transition to supplying one of the UK's largest retailers.

“Over a week, I could be visiting a potential supplier to look at their production capabilities and work with them to ensure they can meet sudden spikes in demand. I might be involved in any transport issues they have or visit one of our distribution centres to review how we hold and transport their stock. It's all about getting the right amount of product to the right stores at the right time.”

Finance trainee Mark Smith might be all the way over in Poland, but decisions he makes there are felt in our stores back in the UK.

“I manage and implement the financial controls that a growing office like Poland needs to have in place. I have to get my head around the Polish bureaucracy and that's a challenge in itself. I deal with Polish suppliers all the time - a vodka distillery one day, a lighting manufacturer the next - I have to work out whether using them can save money for the business and for customers at home.”

Maddy Abbott completed the Product Technology Scheme last year and she is now the Product Technologist for Fresh Pizzas, Pasta and Party Food. So far, her career has taken her around the world. “I've travelled to Morocco to work alongside tomato and herb growers, Thailand and Kenya to sample vegetables and Italy to work with our pasta manufacturers. Every trip is amazing; I learn about different cultures and farming methods and help keep customer's experience of our products as consistent as it can be.”

But Maddy's job is usually closer to home. She helps new suppliers like Levi with the all-important details.

“Helping a small business make a contract with Sainsbury's work, makes a real difference to them and adds a bit of spice to our customers' shopping trollies.”