Morrisons news and analysis – Page 138
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Safeway pledge to own label expansion
Simon Mowbray Development of Safeway's own label offering will continue despite the supermarket chain's uncertain future. The company said its insistence that it was "business as usual" applied to all areas of its operations and "most...
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Press round-up ... Safeway auction
Morrisons' £2.4bn bid for Safeway received a boost yesterday when the company issued a bullish trading statement ahead of its offer document posted today.In the four weeks to 26 January like-for-like sales were up 5.2% on last year compared with...
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Confused? Don't be ...
Keeping on top of the latest developments in the Safeway auction frenzy is not easy – neither is getting a handle on the possible implications for the grocery market.But help is at hand. The Grocer has teamed up with a host of industry...
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Safeway’s commercial boss departs for M&S
Safeway’s commercial director Ian Mumby has left to become head of IT and supply chain for Marks and Spencer’s food division. Mumby has worked for Safeway for six years. His other positions included director of supply strategy and director...
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First it was Morrisons, then Sainsbury's and now we have Asd
For many commentators, this move was an inevitable extension of a well-documented trend. Consolidation, improvements in supply chain efficiencies and impressive advances in retailing have given rise to power shifting down the food chain. We now...
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If you don't like it, you'd better shout
We have said all along that the country's biggest retailer would not stand idly by while its two main rivals fought for Safeway in what is now recognised as being the last big deal in British grocery. Like every commentator, we assumed Tesco would...
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Leahy: bid not a spoiling tactic
Siân Harrington Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy was this week adamant his prospective bid for Safeway was a serious offer and not a spoiling tactic. Leahy told The Grocer he understood the market's incredulity at the news Tesco had filed a...
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Game of consequences
Sainsbury knows this is the last chance saloon. Asda is desperate not to let Safeway slip through its fingers, while Tesco can’t afford to let either of them get their hands on it. Sir Ken Morrison, meanwhile, looks set to laugh all the way to the...
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Game of consequences
How will the smaller players be hit by the fallout from the battle for Safeway asks Elaine Watson Sainsbury knows this is the last chance saloon. Asda is desperate not to let Safeway slip through its fingers, while Tesco can't afford to let...
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Confused? Don’t be...
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...
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Safeway tells shareholders to hang on
Safeway has withdrawn its recommendation of Morrisons all-share offer for its supermarkets and advised shareholders “to await developments”.Morrisons agreed to buy Safeway on January 9 which valued its rival at £2.9bn. Morrisons stocks have...
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Tesco to tussle for Safeway
Tesco has entered the battle for control of supermarket chain Safeway and said it is making a submission to the Office of Fair Trading in relation to a possible bid.Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy said: “We have always understood that competition...
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Timeline to the Auction
16/10/97 Safeway's reputation is dented by the revelation it has held merger talks with Asda, which claims it would have emerged as the dominant partner. 14/11/97 Safeway's name is again linked with its namesake in the US, and with...
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Giants battle for top spot
Morrisons reclaims the top spot in the chart this week, forcing Asda back down to second place while the remainder of the chart remains stable. Morrisons is particularly strong on alcoholic drinks, with a wide variety of brands on promotion in this...
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Who will get the break?
Suppliers are gunning for Morrisons. Consumer opinion is mixed. As for shareholders, a cash-based killer offer from Wal-Mart would be hard to turn down, but can they afford to gamble? With speculation as to who will buy Safeway changing daily, it is...
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The suppliers' favourite
Siân Harrington Morrisons is the overwhelming first choice of suppliers in the battle to win control of Safeway. Brand manufacturers and own label suppliers contacted by The Grocer expressed deep concerns about the power of Sainsbury and...
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Meanwhile, at Tesco...
If you switched on the news any night this week, the chances were you caught Sir Peter, Sir Ken or Mr DeNunzio explaining why hoisting their respective fascias over Safeway's front door offered consumers the best deal. The only supermarket boss...
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The outlook at the OFT
The T&S deal got the go-ahead from the OFT after it ruled that convenience stores were a separate market to supermarkets (a reason why some industry watchers believe Tesco could consider swooping on smaller Safeway stores). But the OFT will not...
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Why Sainsbury wants Safeway
If Christmas trading figures from the big five are anything to go by, it is no wonder Sainsbury is so desperate to pick up Safeway. Its 2.8% rise in like-for-like sales, including petrol, came in as the lowest of the major multiples with even...
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Sainsbury to table a bid for Safeway
Sainsbury this morning said it is to consider tabling a £3.5bn cash and shares bid for Safeway which trumps the offer made by Morrisons last week.Chief executive Sir Peter Davis said that Sainsbury had identified Safeway as a possible target...