The Grocer is organising a seminar to help everybody in the trade get to grips with the wider implications of the increasingly complex Safeway auction process.

Speakers confirmed so far include former Somerfield boss and Littlewoods chairman David Simons who will give a first-hand perspective on the issues raised by retail mergers.

Other speakers include Ed Garner from market researcher Taylor Nelson Sofres, Ian Goodliffe from consumer demographic specialists CACI and Mike Dennis, food retail analyst at CAI Cheuvreux.