Morrisons sales rise as it attracts new customers

Supermarket giant, Morrisons, has benefited from an influx of new shoppers in its stores as like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 2 November, excluding new stores and fuel, rose 8.1%.

According to Marc Bolland, the supermarket’s chief executive, 700,000 new shoppers are visiting its stores each week, as a result of the ‘challenging economic environment‘. The group said it had experienced a good 2008, with its ‘fresh but cheap‘ approach to food retailing, which proved to popular in the wake of rising inflation earlier in the year.

The news comes just two days after rival Tesco announced its weakest performance in growth since the 1990s.

Morrisons has also outperformed Asda and Sainsbury’s who reported that sales were up 6.9% and 4.3% respectively.

According to figures from research firm TNS, in the 12 weeks to 2 November, Morrisons held an 11.4% share of the market. Tesco remains ahead with a 30% market share.

In the meantime, Morrisons is buying 38 stores from the Co-op for £223 million, following its takeover of Somerfield.

Assuming the Competition Commission gives the green light on the stores, which are a combination of existing Co-op and Somererfield branches, they will be converted next year. It is believed that the majority of the stores will be situated in the south of England.

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