Somerfield stores to start rebranding

Somerfield, but not for long (Photo: Courtesy of Somerfield plc)

Somerfield stores are to start rebranding into the Co-operative brand.

Of the first stores to rebrand, Downend, in Bristol, will close on 25th April and re-open on 30th April as a Co-operative Food store.

The rebranding follows the Co-operative’s ?1.565bn acquisition of Somerfield, which was completed last month, and will take approximately two years to complete all 650 stores.

As part of the acquisition, the Office of Fair Trading ruled that the Co-operative Group must sell off around 130 of the Somerfield stores – including the one in Gillingham.

The acquisition places the Co-operative Group fifth in the UK’s grocery market, with 3,000 stores and over ?7bn in annual sales.

The Somerfield Group have produced a Question and Answer guide on the acquisition.