UK - Somerfield looks to revive ailing Kwik Save chain

Ever since Somerfield's £1.3bn merger with Kwik Save in February 1998, the performance of Kwik Save has lurched from disappointing to poor with same store sales often in negative territory. Continental discounters and budget brands from UK grocers have squeezed the once successful chain to breaking point. In response to this the Somerfield Group has taken an axe to its Kwik Save store portfolio, closing its unprofitable Kwik Save stores or converting them to the Somerfield fascia.

Indeed in 2005/06 a further 126 stores were earmarked to be converted to Somerfield. In 1999, shortly after the merger of the two retailers, 58% of the store portfolio was trading as Kwik Save stores, whereas in 2005 this figure had fallen to just 37%.

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• Topics
• UK / Ireland
• Consumer