New supermarket chain Haldanes has snapped up a further eight stores from The Co-operative Group.

The acquisition of four Somerfield stores and four Co-op sites means Haldanes has 26 stores just two months after it opened for business. The new stores also take Haldanes, which has the majority of its sites in Scotland, further south. They stretch from Wigton in Cumbria to Dovercourt in Essex and are expected to reopen as Haldanes between 17 March and 20 April.

“All 245 jobs at the eight branches are being guaranteed,” said chairman Arthur Harris. “Other supermarket groups have boasted a reputation for good-quality products, but we will go further than that; we’ll be dedicating a higher percentage to freshly grown, local products. That policy extends to using local bakers and butchers as suppliers.”

In addition to local producers, Haldanes’ main suppliers are Nisa-Today’s and Total Produce.