Bradford based Morrisons has announced the purchase of six HMV stores from the company’s administrators, Deloitte, and 49 Blockbuster stores which it will convert into Morrisons M local stores as part of its fast growing convenience estate.
The purchase comes on the back of acquiring seven former Jessops shops as it looks to increase stores across London and the South East, due to open across the summer.
Morrisons could not confirm whether these new stores include the former Blockbuster stores in Stockport or the Jessops and HMV stores in Stockport town centre. Morrisons currently trades 13 convenience stores across the UK and look set to exceed its target of operating 70 convenience stores by the end of 2013.
Morrisons is also offering its colleagues a £500 finder’s fee if they find convenience properties for Morrisons that are subsequently opened. Gordon Mowat, Managing Director of Morrisons Convenience said:
“We have either opened or acquired 70 stores just one month into our financial year so we are pleased that we will exceed our 2013 target. Our focus is now on opening these stores as soon as we can as well as pushing on to secure even more sites. This is a big expansion year for us and we have got off to a great start.”
Stockport staff at Republic are still waiting to find out whether their store has a future after alleged approaches have been reported from interested retailers including JD Sports, Matalan and Sports Direct.
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