Supermarket shake-up: why Asda or Morrisons could vanish within a decade
Source: The Guardian ·
Talks between Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have set industry tongues wagging, with analysts saying the market is ripe for changeTesco lifts profit forecast and says shoppers are resilientBusiness live – latest updatesThey may be two of the most recognisable brands in Britain, with a combined 188 years serving shoppers, but industry watchers agree that either Asda or Morrisons – or both – could…
From the source
They may be two of the most recognisable brands in Britain, with a combined 188 years serving shoppers, but industry watchers agree that either Asda or Morrisons – or both – could disappear within a decade. This week, it emerged that Sainsbury’s and Morrisons – the UK’s second- and sixth-largest supermarket chains – had held merger talks between last November and February, before the larger player decided to walk away. News of the potential deal has relaunched speculation that the UK grocery market is now ripe for consolidation and revealed that the Sainsbury’s boss, Simon Roberts – who has been in post for six years – is at least willing to consider the possibility of buying one of his troubled rivals. Sainsbury’s, which has 600 supermarkets and almost 900 convenience stores, has until recently been seen as wary of trying to revive merger talks with its rivals after its bid to buy Asda for £7bn in 2019 was blocked. However, industry experts say Asda and Morrisons’ owners have held…