Deal conditional on OFT approval
Waitrose has acquired five former Safeway stores from Morrisons. The stores are at East Grinstead, Durham, Lewes, Wilmslow and London's St Katherine's Dock.

The retailer said that on January 30, the gross assets of the five stores was£30.6 million. Store staff will transfer to Waitrose on completion of the contract, which is expected to happen by early November. The deal is subject to approval by the Office of Fair Trading.

The news comes as the supermarket recovered from a dip in trade, making£55.7 million in sales last week. The retailer said that the week's performance was against strong comparatives last year, which benefited from barbecue sales and hot weather.

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