Somerfield sales improve on back of refit strategy

Improving first-half like-for-likes at Somerfield indicate that the chain's refurbishment strategy is paying off.

The supermarket, a takeover target earlier this year, is in the middle of a turnaround spearheaded by executive chairman John Von Spreckelsen.

He said: 'The performance of the Somerfield stores continued to improve, benefiting from good growth achieved from the refit programme.'

Von Spreckelsen said that in the first half, the sister Kwik Save chain extended its store investment programme to take in another 16 stores, following successful trials in 14 shops last year.

Group like-for-like sales for the six months to November 8 increased by 0.9 per cent.