Morrisons is quick to snap up empty stores across Sussex (From The Argus)
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Morrisons is quick to snap up empty stores across Sussex
12:30pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News By John Keenan, business editor
The former Jessops shop in Queen's Road, Brighton
A major grocery chain has rescued a trio of doomed high street stores.
Morrisons has snapped up three stores in Sussex to convert into local convenience stores – and more could follow.
Up to 60 new jobs will be created when Blockbuster stores in Littlehampton and Worthing and the Jessop’s outlet in Queen’s Road, Brighton, are rebranded as Morrisons M.
Now the fate of 340 Sussex jobs hangs in the balance as administrators hammer out a deal with potential buyers – including Morrisons – over the future of 17 more stores in the area.
Blockbuster went into administration last month with Deloitte announcing it was to shut 164 stores, including those in Chichester, Hove and Burgess Hill. The branches in Peacehaven, Hastings and Shoreham had already been earmarked for closure.
More than 60 people are employed at HMV stores in Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Horsham and Crawley.
Neighbourhood stories
Morrisons has trailed Tesco and Sainsbury’s in developing smaller neighbourhood stores and is now bagging high street stores at knock down prices in an attempt to close the gap.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We are rolling out the Morrisons M local estate at pace this year and these acquisitions will help us secure a solid foothold in this key sector. The convenience market is growing as more people shop locally and we want to be in a position to take advantage of this.
“Morrisons M locals offer a fresh shopping experience with half the space dedicated to fresh food and scratch cooking all at great prices.”
A spokeswoman for Deloitte said: “We are continuing to negotiate with a number of interested parties to secure the future of these stores.”
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Comments(5)
Thetruth666
says...
2:11pm Fri 1 Mar 13
mustaphaLeeko wrote:Do you not think that maybe Jessops went under due to the fact everything they sold was available much cheaper on line from companies that would be around to honour after sales obligations such as repair and replace?when you are charging £45 for a memory card that costs £15 on Amazon you are doomed.As for your comment regards camera phones that is total tosh as the sales of medium to high end camera's has actually increased.It's just that the public tend to purchase on line.Peter Jones and his take over of Jessops to become an on line store proves my point.Didn't think your comment through did you?While on the subject of Optical zoom and mobile phones i have a high end mobile that has a great zoom feature.Obviously not the same as a SLR but great for taking pictures without having to carry extra kit.Does this make me a "Numptie"?No.Does your comment make you sound foolish?Yes.Please feel free to take yourself back up north now.I would hate for your quality of life to be effected by all the soft southerners and there mobile phone cameras.
Shame Jessops went to the wall, all these numpties thinking their camera phones are as good as a proper camera... Just ask them what optical zoom their phones have! lol!
Mind you at least it's Morrisons, a nice Northern store (hope they have a rail to tie Whippets up to outside), I'm from the North btw and have a sense of humour before fellow Northerns or soft Southerners comment!
Although I am surprised Tesco didn't buy it, to have a local next to their existing local (which is actually not bad, I shop there at least once a week! hahaha!
Sean Jenkins
says...
5:44pm Fri 1 Mar 13
mustaphaLeeko wrote:If anything camera phones have stimulated an interest in photography. Premium SLR cameras sell better than ever. Your comment is a little silly.
Shame Jessops went to the wall, all these numpties thinking their camera phones are as good as a proper camera... Just ask them what optical zoom their phones have! lol!
Mind you at least it's Morrisons, a nice Northern store (hope they have a rail to tie Whippets up to outside), I'm from the North btw and have a sense of humour before fellow Northerns or soft Southerners comment!
Although I am surprised Tesco didn't buy it, to have a local next to their existing local (which is actually not bad, I shop there at least once a week! hahaha!
Wiggum
says...
9:50pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Now, where can I get myself a coffee as well ?
Juleyanne
says...
10:06am Sat 2 Mar 13
which I have noticed are often half the price of other supermarkets.
mustaphaLeeko says...
12:41pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Mind you at least it's Morrisons, a nice Northern store (hope they have a rail to tie Whippets up to outside), I'm from the North btw and have a sense of humour before fellow Northerns or soft Southerners comment!
Although I am surprised Tesco didn't buy it, to have a local next to their existing local (which is actually not bad, I shop there at least once a week! hahaha!