Partner Article

Morrisons adds 200,000 sq ft of new stores

Bradford-headquartered Morrisons has delivered a surge of new store space in the first three months of 2013 adding approximately 200,000 sq ft of new sales space across the country.

The expansion is part of the firm’s strategy to increase total sales space by two million sq ft (net sales) within the next three years via its traditional superstore and new Morrisons M local formats.

Through a combination of openings, acquisitions and planning consents, Morrisons is stepping up its UK presence and making significant inroads into the convenience market and into London and the South, both areas in which it is currently under-represented.

The stores are spread across the country in locations including London, Harrow, Royal Leamington Spa, Little Hampton, Sittingbourne, Blyth and Middlewich. In the Yorkshire region, a store has opened at Elland, West Yorkshire (25,000 sq ft net sales).

Terry Hartwell, group property director at Morrisons, said: “We’re actively targeting growth and want to add two million sq ft of net new sales space to our store portfolio within the next three years.

“By adding over 200,000 sq ft to our footprint in the first three months of 2013 alone, we’re sending a clear message to our customers and to the property market that we’re keen to acquire more stores and more sites right across the UK.

“With the flexibility our Morrisons M local convenience format now gives, we have a property proposition that’s right for all locations and for sites of all sizes.

“We’re focused on securing quality new space to bring Morrisons’ great fresh food offer to more people than ever before.”

Morrisons’ property requirements now span from 2,000 sq ft net sales (3,000 sq ft gross) convenience stores through to 40,000 sq ft net sales (75,000 sq ft gross) superstores. Its total store portfolio stands at more than 27 million sq ft across the UK (gross).

The Morrisons M local convenience format was introduced in 2012 and Morrisons has a target to have at least 100 M locals open and trading by the end of the 2013/14 financial year.

The business is focusing on high-footfall locations including high streets, transport hubs and district centres.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .