Safeway 'Compact' 蓄える／店s up for sale

By This Is Money
Updated: 00:00 BST, 30 June 2004

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WILLIAM Morrison Supermarkets 確認するd today that it 計画（する）s to sell off some of the 120 Safeway Compact 蓄える／店s it acquired during the £3bn 引き継ぎ／買収 of Safeway in March.

The 引き継ぎ／買収 gave Morrison 554 蓄える／店s and 解除するd the Bradford-based chain to fourth pl エース behind Tesco, Wal-市場 and J Sainsbury.

'At the time of the 取得／買収 we said we were surprised by the 重要な levels of 利益／興味 shown in the smaller 蓄える／店s. That level of 利益／興味 has been 持続するd and we now 計画（する） to 実験（する） its 十分な extent in the market,' a 広報担当者 said.

The challenge 直面するing Morrison in 統合するing Safeway 蓄える／店s was 最高潮の場面d on 4 June when 産業 data showed Safeway sales continue to 落ちる. Market 研究 会社／堅い TNS said Safeway's market 株 in the 12 weeks to 23 May fell to 8% from 8.2% in the 12 weeks to 25 April. Safeway had a 9.1% 株 in the corresponding period a year earlier.

Morrison 株, which have 成し遂げるd in line with their 部門 this year, were up 0.4% at 232p to value the 会社／堅い at £6.2bn ($11.2bn).

事前の to 完成 of the 引き継ぎ／買収, there had been 報告（する）／憶測s Morrison, which had no 蓄える／店s smaller than 15,000 square feet, would 溝へはまらせる／不時着する the Safeway 指名する 完全に and/or sell some of its smaller 出口s.

But it 発表するd a 'Compact' 判型 for the 120 Safeway 蓄える／店s of いっそう少なく than 15,000 square feet, with chairman Sir Ken Morrison 説 of the smaller 蓄える／店s: 'We need to get to know them.'

Morrison has now sent 詳細（に述べる）s of those Safeway Compact 蓄える／店s to several 利益／興味d parties, the 広報担当者 said.

A 広報担当者 for Big Food Group would not comment on 報告（する）／憶測s it was one of those Morrison sent the 詳細（に述べる）s to. John 吊りくさび, also tipped as a possible 買い手, was not すぐに 利用できる for comment.

The Safeway 引き継ぎ／買収 was （疑いを）晴らすd on the basis Morrison would sell 52 Safeway 蓄える／店s. That 過程 is 井戸／弁護士席 under way, with John 吊りくさび having bought 19 and Sainsbury 14.