Its Business Outlook report this week predicts that values will remain buoyant over the coming year as competition for retail space grows.
It also predicts that The Co-operative Group may again be looking at an acquisition in order to enter the symbol group arena. Last year takeover discussions with Nisa-Today’s came to nothing
And, says the report, there will be more consolidation among the co-operative societies, following the merger of Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-operative with West Midlands Co-op to form The Midcounties Co-operative and the Ipswich and Norwich Co-operative’s merger with Colchester and East Essex Co-operative to form the East of England Co-operative Society last year.
The volume of forecourt deals being handled by Christie & Co rose last year and its head of retail, Tony Evans, said there would be no slowdown this year. Tesco, Somerfield and United Co-operatives are the most acquisitive in this arena.
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