Somerfield now to become a Co-op?

[macroban]

The sale of Somerfield seems to be floundering.

[EDIT: Thread title changed as there are now serious detailed negotiations]

[Asset]

I don't think if Co-op or Asda got hold of Somerfield the LL branch would become one of those stores. More likely they would do what Morrisons did on the takeover of Safeway, and sell off certain sites. Then Waitrose could buy it.

[macroban]

I was hoping for a return of the Co-op to Lordship Lane rather than a closure.

Apax still has time before making a decision. I guess.

[????]

I was hoping for a new mega-walk in licensed Ladbrokes

[macroban]

What is a "mega-walk"?

[shoshntosh]

well put macroban!

[????]

it's a badly punctuated version of 'mega walk-in', forgive my dyslexia

[Marmora Man]

M y niece - who works for Waitrose, assures me that East Dulwich is a target area. At one stage she alleges they briefly considered taking over the Morrisons in Peckham but decided it was too far from their client market. Not sure I believe the MOrrisons one - but them keeping an eye on ED seems logical - and Somerfields would be a good site.

[PeckhamRose]

I just can't believe there is not a M&S Food shop or a White Company shop in East Dulwich.

This really is too bad....

[fish]

It is so frustrating watching those seductive M&S food adverts and not being able to indulge locally. ;-)

[bon3yard]

So Somerfield are closing, that explains a lot. Like why the attitude of nearly everyone who works there is so piss-poor or the fact that they only have one of those 'next customer please' partition signs between 3 tills or the fact that its so dingy in there you need to take your own light source with you in able to distinguish between the tinned beans and the tinned spaghetti...etc. Grumble.

[macroban]

The conversion of Somerfield to a Coop may be on again.

[Asset]

They'd sell the ED plot though, not right for a co-op IMO

[KalamityKel]

Why not Asset?

[Asset]

basically because it is too gentrified and upmarket round here, surely you can see that? More likely Waitrose or M&S would buy it from co-op. Co-op for all its cooperative credentials struggles to give an impression of good quality. Look at the thread about the one on Forest Hill Road.

[KalamityKel]

Thats an old Co-op tho surely if they do move back to LL then the outfit would be modern.

The Somerfield we currently have looks nothing like the one in Camberwell...

[Asset]

Agreed, but aren't the co-ops franchises anyway? Personally I think the marketing peeps know their stuff and as it is likely that co-op would sell off a lot of the plots if they buy Somerfield I would expect the LL plot to be one of those.

[Guest]

Please please please let it be a Waitrose.

[dulwichmum]

Indeedy, my poppets simply adore all of the meat/poultry/fish from Waitrose (sigh). Wouldn't it be simply fab. Couldn't they close Foxtons and open a small branch of Harvey Nichols too?

[Guest]

Hint of sarcasm in the air? Come off it. How could you not love the firm that manages to combine fair trade (before it was fashionable) and making all employees partners with actually selling very nice food?

[bignumber5]

KalamityKel Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thats an old Co-op tho surely if they do move back

> to LL then the outfit would be modern.

V.True - some of the more recently done out co-ops are really nice, all fresh fruit'n'veg and fairtrade all over the place. I think they're re-marketing themselves, and it's a decent result so far. But I'm not sure about the franchise situation - if they are franchises, starting up on LL takes somes stones and a butt-load of start up capital.

[SimonM]

It is far too small to be a Waitrose. It would be the right size for an M & S food only thingy though.

[macroban]

2008-04-12

"John Lewis reported a 10.7 percent decrease in sales to 75.4 million pounds at its supermarket chain Waitrose last week."

Perhaps not in an expansionary mood at the moment.

People trade down in a recession.

[Asset]

co-op news

[macroban]

Thanks, Asset, this could be very good news for East Dulwich (we need some).