Somerfield results

Somerfield’s results for the 12 weeks up to, but not including, Easter have indicated an increase in like for like sales (excluding fuel) of 6.4%.

The company has also announced that it will open three new stores in Hove, Bristol and Hopton-on-Sea next month as part of its ongoing store investment and regeneration programme. These stores are part of the 250 new stores that the Company will open over the next three years, 50 of which will start trading in the next 12 months. All stores will be located in high street, city or small town locations that fit with Somerfield's strategy to be ‘Britain’s favourite local grocery shop’.

A further 200 existing stores are scheduled for refitting over the next 12 months, in addition to Somerfield’s £100m investment in regenerating 250 stores over the past year. Parallel to these investments Somerfield will continue to dispose of stores which are not aligned with its overall strategic objectives and has announced that it has agreed to dispose of seven trading stores to Tesco.

Paul Mason, Chief Executive of Somerfield, said: "Somerfield continues to deliver an excellent performance with like for like sales (excluding fuel) growing at +6.4% for the 12 weeks up to, but not including, Easter. Customer numbers are in strong growth and we have outperformed the food retail industry, as measured by IGD, for 16 of the last 20 weeks. This is a solid endorsement of our customer-focused strategy to be ‘Britain’s favourite local grocery shop’."