Co-op food to "exit 60% of Somerfield acquisitions"

[Louisa]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27049101

We all know the co-operative group is in trouble, mostly due to the banking division. However, just been reading this article on the bbc news website which says that the group will be selling off a majority stake of its Somerfield store acquisitions, more especially the larger stores, where does this leave our big store on lordship lane? Is our store considered larger? The thought of yet another empty large retail space fills me with dread.

Louisa.

[dbboy]

It would not remain empty long, the likes of Costa, KFC, McDonalds would snap it up in a jiffy.

[edcam]

We all know where this will lead. We haven't had a Waitrose/M&S thread in a while.

[nxjen]

"The thought of yet another empty large retail space fills me with dread."

Can you remind me of where the others are in ED?

[Louisa]

Are you taking the Michael? We have a whole host of empty or about to become empty shops alongside pending planning issues on numerous current stores. If we add the co-op to that uncertainty it's not a great future for us is it?

Louisa.

[nxjen]

I was asking where the LARGE empty retail spaces are. Besides, whilst there are a few shops closing, we have no idea what negotiations are going on to assign leases. Just think such alarmism is very premature.

[Louisa]

nxjen whilst I appreciate alarmism may be premature, looking at the case study of 86-90 Lordship Lane (Iceland) we know what incoming and proposed ideas can do to polarise the community and lead to long term uncertainty. If, as appears to be the case, the Co-operative group decides to let our store go, we potentially are heading for another severely polarised and long drawn out argument about any incoming retailer (no names mentioned) which will further damage community relations as well as the high street. I just would like some more certainty over what the future of this store is going to be, we can't have yet another crazy planning nightmare on our hands.

Louisa.

[Alex K]

Panicky... IF Co-op divest themselves of the LL property, ED is POTENTIALLY heading for X, and Y, and Z...

That's two conditionals away. Relax! It may never happen.

[Seabag]

Draaaaaaamaaaaaa

It's the nature of retail, things come, things go

It's a prime site, either they'll stay or another prime retailer will move in

Maybe a Poundland, to add balance to the social mix