Lack of interest in Safeway from overseas names

The Safeway feeding frenzy is unlikely to draw in more overseas retail bidders, as many players have ruled themselves out of the auction.

Belgium's Delhaize and Carrefour of France both said they have no plans to enter the UK market and that their ambitions remain focused elsewhere.

'Nothing from Carrefour is to be expected,' said a spokesman. 'We can be a worldwide retailer and the biggest in Europe without being in the UK or Germany.'

A spokesman for Delhaize said: 'We have no ambition in the direction of the UK.'

However, a spokesman for Ahold refused to comment on the possibility of bid and said: 'We have no, and will have no, comment on rumours.'

A source at one international retailer said the cost of entering a competitive market such as the UK would be high and development could be hindered by cultural differences.

He said he expected the successful bidder to be from the UK or US.