Morrisons completes Safeway conversion
The huge undertaking involved completely refurbishing the stores as well as implementing many changes in operational and supporting systems.
25/11/05 The biggest retail conversion exercise ever undertaken in the UK comes to an end at 9am on Thursday 24th November, as former Safeway stores in Stevenston, Camden, Clevedon and Rubery re-open as Morrisons.
The UK's fourth largest supermarket chain will be trading as one group under the Morrisons banner after converting and refurbishing well over 200 stores across the country in just 16 months. There are now over 360 Morrisons stores across the UK.
This huge undertaking involved completely refurbishing the stores as well as implementing many changes in operational and supporting systems.
Morrisons the UKs 4th largest supermarket (with over 9 million customers every week) started life as a family run business in the northern markets. Even though the egg and butter market stall has long gone, the family beliefs of quality, value and service are still evident in today's business. Morrisons still has a family member at the helm, in the UK's longest serving FTSE100 chairman Sir Ken Morrison.
Morrisons unique approach to food retailing is evident in all areas of the supply chain. It maintains a high degree of vertical integration, manufacturing and/or packing many of its own label fresh foods. Whilst giving its customers quality and value, this also brings Morrisons very close to its agricultural suppliers, particularly growers and farmers.