UK retailer Morrisons has acquired 30 stores in the Channel Islands from its partner SandpiperCI.
In 2018, Morrisons entered into a long-term franchise and wholesale supply agreement with SandpiperCI, the company noted.
Since then, 19 SandpiperCI stores have been converted to the Morrisons Daily format.
Rami Baitiéh, Morrisons chief executive stated, “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.”
Channel Islands Network
All acquired stores, located on the islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, are currently supplied by Morrisons in some capacity.
The transaction includes six fuel forecourts.
In the last 12 months, the stores generated a turnover of £124.5 million (€144.9 million), or £118.9 million (€138.4 million) excluding fuel, the retailer added.
The deal will see around 520 SandpiperCI workers in stores, operations, and managerial positions become Morrisons employees.
'Successful Supply And Franchise Partnership'
Baitiéh added, “We have had a solid and successful supply and franchise partnership with SandpiperCI and we have a strong relationship with the business.
“I look forward to welcoming 520 more colleagues into the Morrisons family, together with 38 popular and well-located convenience stores.”
The business will be managed by Joseph Sutton, convenience, online and wholesale director at Morrisons, and his team, which includes Miles Foster, convenience operations director.
Morrisons operates around 1,600 convenience stores across the UK, of which 600 are franchise stores.
In March, the British supermarket group reported a seventh straight quarter of underlying sales growth and said its overall performance was improving under new chief executive Rami Baitiéh.
