Midlands Co-op has boosted its food retail estate to 162 stores with the acquisition of The Grocer Top 50 member Metro Discount Stores.
The eight-store Burton-based chain is the latest in a string of Nisa members to be swallowed up in recent consolidation.
Shortlisted in the best independent retail chain category in The Grocer Gold Awards, Metro’s turnover was up 20% to £13.2m in the year to June 2003. The family business also owns First Choice Cash & Carry in Burton, which is not part of the deal.
Metro director Graham Ainger declined to comment on plans for First Choice, which has a delivered arm, but confirmed that company bosses would not be joining Midlands Co-op.
The Metro deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Midlands, which recently picked up three stores from Budgens and 30 Alldays stores from the Co-operative Group.
The stores will re-open on November 3 after a two-day closure for stocktaking and restocking with a wider range of fresh products and Co-op own label lines, said chief executive Willie Tucker. They will trade as Metros until the new year.
The UK’s third largest co-op, Midlands posted a 5% rise in food retail sales in the half year to August 7.
The eight-store Burton-based chain is the latest in a string of Nisa members to be swallowed up in recent consolidation.
Shortlisted in the best independent retail chain category in The Grocer Gold Awards, Metro’s turnover was up 20% to £13.2m in the year to June 2003. The family business also owns First Choice Cash & Carry in Burton, which is not part of the deal.
Metro director Graham Ainger declined to comment on plans for First Choice, which has a delivered arm, but confirmed that company bosses would not be joining Midlands Co-op.
The Metro deal is the latest in a string of acquisitions for Midlands, which recently picked up three stores from Budgens and 30 Alldays stores from the Co-operative Group.
The stores will re-open on November 3 after a two-day closure for stocktaking and restocking with a wider range of fresh products and Co-op own label lines, said chief executive Willie Tucker. They will trade as Metros until the new year.
The UK’s third largest co-op, Midlands posted a 5% rise in food retail sales in the half year to August 7.
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