Morrisons has bought 38 c-stores on the Channel Islands from local partner SandpiperCI as it builds its convenience business.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, gives Morrisons control of shops that it previously supplied and 19 of the stores already traded under the Morrisons Daily fascia.
The shops, on Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, include six forecourts and in the last 12 months turned over £124.5m, or £118.9m excluding fuel. Morrisons and SandpiperCI signed a long-term franchise and wholesale supply agreement in 2018.
Around 520 SandpiperCI staff will transfer to Morrisons.
Morrisons has been building its convenience presence and now has 1,600 c-stores across the UK, 600 of which are franchises.
Morrisons chief executive Rami Baitiéh said: “We have had a solid and successful supply and franchise partnership with SandpiperCI and we have a strong relationship with the business.
“Our convenience business is now well set and growing rapidly. The addition of a further 38 stores will bring us another opportunity for growth and a strong position in the important Channel Islands’ convenience market.”
Convenience is an increasingly fiercely fought market for the big grocers. Asda is also focusing on building its convenience operations through its Asda Express chain. Tesco and Sainsbury’s have a big presence, having pushed into convenience long before Morrisons and Asda.
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