Nevertheless, Johnstone thinks question marks hang over Netto's long-term future, or at least Sainsbury's involvement in it, due to the latter's recent Argos buyout: "Sainsbury's is having to fight multiple battles, not least funding a price war to defend and grow its market share, as well as integrating the Argos business, as it tries to compete better in an increasingly omni-channel environment," he says. "As a result, expanding Netto may be a case of having too many balls in the air."