Morrisons launches first store in convenience chain
SUPERMARKET Morrisons has launched its first new convenience store since chief executive David Potts disposed of the ill-fated M Local chain.
The first store is located at a 3,000 sq ft site at a Texaco petrol station run by Rontec Retail on Thurmaston Lane in Hamilton.
It will employ 12 staff and operate 24 hours a day selling food-to-go and essentials, as well as fresh vegetables, fruit and meat. It also has a bakery in store.
The Bradford-based grocer announced in November that it would be re-launching in the convenience sector selling Morrisons-branded products.
Morrisons plans on opening 10 Morrisons Daily convenience stores in Rontec petrol stations, the first being in Leicester, by February 2017.
Four Morrisons Daily stores will open before Christmas and a further six in January 2017 each up to 3,000 sq ft in size.
James Badger, Morrisons wholesale director said: “We are looking forward to working with Rontec to offer Morrisons food products to a new community.
“We’ll be listening carefully to what customers think of the grocery offer in this store.”
The ten shops that form the Rontec pilot will be supplied by Morrisons via wholesaler specialist, Palmer & Harvey.
Rontec, who have partnered with Morrisons for the scheme, operate 240 forecourts across the UK.
David Potts got rid of the M Local chain of stores which had been launched under his predecessor Dalton Philips after it was revealed that more than 30% were underperforming.
The chain, dubbed My Local, was sold to Mike Greene and Greybull Capital in September 2015.
Mr Greene had accused Morrisons of “basic errors” and expected the company to turn over a profit immediately.
The company went into administration in June 2016 putting 1,200 jobs on the line.
