Jump to content

Morrisons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Wm Morrison)
This article is about the British supermarket. For other uses, see Morrison's (disambiguation) and Morrison (disambiguation).

Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited
Morrisons
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded1899; 125 years ago (1899)
FounderWilliam Morrison
HeadquartersBradford, England
Key people
Rami Baitiéh (CEO)
Products
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Florist
  • Food and drink
  • Homeware
  • Magazines
  • Petrol
  • Tobacco
Brands
RevenueIncrease £18,479 million (2022)[1]
Increase £251 million (2022)[1]
Decrease —£25 million (2022)[1]
OwnerClayton, Dubilier & Rice
Number of employees
110,000 (2021)[2]
Websitemorrisons.com
A Morrisons petrol station in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England

Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited, trading as Morrisons, is the fifth largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. As of 2021, the company had 497 supermarkets across England, Wales and Scotland,[3] and one in Gibraltar.[4][5] The company is headquartered in Bradford, England.[6]

Founded in 1899 by William Morrison, hence the abbreviation Wm Morrison, it began as an egg and butter stall in Rawson Market, Bradford. Until 2004, its store locations were focused in the North of England but, with the takeover of Safeway in that year, the company's presence increased significantly in the South of England, Wales and Scotland. As of February 2021, Morrisons employed 110,000 employees and served around 11 million customers each week.[2]

The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) in October 2021. Many changes were made after the takeover, and the company was struggling financially.

Morrisons is the fifth largest supermarket in the United Kingdom by market share (8.8%),[7] overtaken for fourth place by Aldi in September 2022.[8]

History

[edit]
Morrisons, Lakeside, Ashby, North Lincolnshire

Founding

[edit]

The company was founded in June 1899 by William Morrison, who started the business as an egg and butter merchant in Rawson Market, Bradford, England, operating under the name of Wm Morrison Limited.[9]

His son Ken Morrison took over the company in 1952, aged 21. In 1958, Morrisons opened a small shop in the city centre.[9] It was the first self-service store in Bradford, the first store to have prices on its products, and it had three checkouts. The company opened its first supermarket, "Victoria", in the Girlington district of Bradford in 1961.[9]

In 1967, Morrisons became a public limited company listed on the London Stock Exchange.[9]

Safeway

[edit]
Morrisons expansion into Scotland following acquisition of Safeway led to the first Scottish store opening in Kilmarnock in 2004

In March 2004, Morrisons acquired Safeway, a British supermarket chain which owned 479 stores, giving Morrisons a larger presence in southern England.[10] The company was purchased for £3.3 billion, comprising 1 new Morrisons share (enabling Safeway shareholders to have a 50% stake in the enlarged group and reducing the Morrison family's shareholding to 18%), plus 60 pence in cash (paid for by the divestment of 52 overlapping stores) for each Safeway share held. The acquisition quickly ran into difficulties caused in part by changing the accounting systems six weeks before the transaction was completed,[11] leading to a series of profit warnings being issued by Morrisons, poor financial results[12] and a reversion to manual systems.[13]

The programme of store conversions from Safeway to Morrisons was the largest of its kind in British retail history, focusing initially on the retained stores which were freehold, over 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m2) with separate car parks. Within a few weeks, Safeway carrier bags were replaced by those of Morrisons, and Morrisons own-brand products began to appear in Safeway stores.[14]

Originally 52 shops were to be compulsorily divested after the takeover. Two closed for other reasons, John Lewis Partnership purchased 19 to be part of its Waitrose chain,[15] J Sainsbury plc purchased a further 14,[16] and Tesco bought 10 in October 2004.[17] At the time Morrisons chose not to move into the convenience store sector, although it later did so with its M Local stores. In accordance with this policy decision, 114 smaller 'Safeway Compact' stores were sold to rival supermarket chain Somerfield in 2004 in a two-part deal worth £260.2 million.[18]

In Northern Ireland Morrisons sold the Safeway stores, and a store in Bangor that opened after the Morrisons takeover, to Asda.[19]

Waitrose purchased five stores in 2005,[20] followed by six more on 18 July 2006, including the former Safeway store in Hexham, Northumberland, which became England's most northerly Waitrose branch.[21]

In May 2005, Morrisons announced the closure of Safeway and BP joint venture convenience store/petrol station. Under the deal, the premises had been split 50/50 between the two companies.[22]

Morrisons also sold Safeway's Channel Islands stores, in Guernsey and Jersey, to CI Traders where the stores continued to trade as Safeway, although the products they sold carried the brand names of chains such as Iceland.[23] In 2011, Sandpiper CI/CI Traders sold the Channel Island Safeway stores to Waitrose, and the Safeway brand disappeared from the Channel Islands.[24] On the Isle of Man, the Douglas store was sold to Shoprite and the Ramsey store was sold to The Co-operative Food.[25] The Gibraltar store was originally offered for sale, but was ultimately converted. In November 2006, plans were submitted for the extension and redevelopment of the store to introduce the full Morrisons format.[26]

Former Safeway store in Consett, County Durham. Since replaced with a new-build store in November 2012

In September 2005, the company announced the closure of former Safeway depots in Kent, Bristol and Warrington with the loss of 2,500 jobs.[27] The Kent depot was later sold to upmarket rival Waitrose, and the Warrington one to frozen food rival Iceland. Part of the Bristol depot was sold to Gist.[28] The store conversion process was completed on 24 November 2005 when the final Safeway fascia disappeared from the UK.[29]

Morrison family step down

[edit]

Following the acquisition of Safeway, Morrisons encountered a number of difficulties. The company had issued five profits warnings since the acquisition, and it was felt that Morrisons' "northern" format did not work as well in the south. To reinvigorate its new national image, Morrisons appointed Dutchman Marc Bolland, the chief operating officer of Heineken, as its new Chief Executive.[30]

On 13 March 2008, Sir Ken Morrison retired as chairman after 55 years at the company, and was made Honorary President.[31]

Expansion and partnerships

[edit]

When the Co-operative Group completed its takeover of the Somerfield supermarket chain in March 2009, it was required to sell a number of stores by the Competition Commission. Morrisons purchased 35 stores from the combined group, mostly trading under the Somerfield name.[32] These new stores were the first of more than 100 identified by Morrisons for expansion into smaller supermarkets, with the aim of having a store within 15 minutes of every UK home.[33]

Morrisons supermarket, High Street, Saltney, Flintshire
Produce department, Morrisons, Wetherby, West Yorkshire.

Marc Bolland departed to become the CEO of Marks & Spencer in December 2009, and Dalton Philips was appointed as his replacement in January 2010.[34]

In 2010, Morrisons signed a deal with budget retailer Peacocks, the first concession store opened as part of a refurbishment at the retailer's store in Idle, Bradford.[35] The Peacocks section was rolled out into other stores before launching its own children's-wear brand 'Nutmeg' into 85 stores on 21 March 2013.[36]

The first Morrisons M local store opened in Ilkley, Yorkshire, in 2011. All M Local stores were later rebranded as the short-lived "My Local" chain in 2015.[37]

In December 2012, a television advertising campaign which showed a dog being given pieces of Christmas pudding was criticised by the British Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club, as raisins are harmful to dogs. Morrisons said that veterinarian advice they received said that there would be minimal risk.[38]

In May 2013, Morrisons formed a partnership with Ocado to use its technology systems and distribution infrastructure to help launch its own online service.[39]

Restructuring

[edit]

Richard Pennycook, who had joined Morrisons in October 2005,[40] was replaced as Chief Financial Officer at Morrisons in June 2013 by Trevor Strain, previously Finance Director Corporate.[41]

In February 2014, it emerged that younger members of the founding Morrison family, who own 10% of the company and who are thought to include two of Honorary President Sir Ken Morrison's children, William Morrison Junior and Andrea Shelley, along with Sir Ken Morrison's niece and her husband, Susan and Nigel Pritchard, had approached a number of private equity firms about taking the company private. They were said to be unhappy about the company's financial performance, and Dalton Philips's corporate strategy.[42]

Following a new three-year corporate strategy revealed in March 2014 aimed at recovering sales and market share, at Morrisons Annual General Meeting in June 2014 Morrisons former chairman Sir Ken Morrison criticised Dalton Philips's approach.[43] Morrison's nephew Chris Blundell, who controls most of the remaining family stake in the supermarket, agreed, telling told the board it needed rescuing, and welcomed the decision by chairman Sir Ian Gibson to leave the business in June 2015.[44]

In June 2014, Morrisons announced that plans had been put in place to cut 2,600 jobs as a result of changes to its management structure.[45] Morrisons stated that it had trialled the new structure and believed that better performance was achieved via these methods. These cuts would primarily affect department manager and supervisory positions. Morrisons claimed they would create 1,000 jobs in Morrisons M local convenience stores and 3,000 in new supermarkets. Following this, Morrisons sold its distribution centre in Kent to a real estate investment company for £97.8 million. The depot in Kemsley was to be immediately leased back to the supermarket chain on a 25-year agreement, for a rent of £5.4 million per annum.[46]

Following a 3.1% drop in like-for-like sales in the Christmas 2014 trading period, Sir Ian Gibson stood down six months early and was replaced by former Tesco chief financial officer Andrew Higginson at the end of January 2015. On 25 February 2015, Morrisons named former Tesco director David Potts as its new chief executive.[47] Dalton Philips[48] and five other executives also left the company in March 2015.[49]

Morrisons also announced the closure of ten loss-making stores (eight former Netto UK stores and two former Somerfield stores, bought under Philips's leadership) in Cramlington, Accrington, Ravensthorpe, Bransholme (Hull), Telford, West Bromwich, Wallasey (Seacombe), Newton le Willows, Rugby and Crawley.[50] In addition, six unprofitable convenience stores would close, and the roll-out of the convenience store chain would be slowed, as a batch of 40 sites would no longer be bought.[51]

Morrisons' headquarters in Bradford, West Yorkshire

In June 2015, Morrisons cut the price of 200 'everyday items' by up to 33%[52] The store chain's like-for-like sales had fallen by 2.9% in the first three months of 2015, after falling 2.6% in the last three months of 2014. The company responded by deciding to 'simplify' its head office in Bradford at the cost of 720 jobs.[53]

In September 2015, Morrisons announced the sale of its 140 M Local stores to Mike Greene and Greybull Capital, to be re-branded My Local, for £25 million[54] and that it planned to close 11 supermarkets, with a reported 900 jobs lost.[55] In January 2016 Morrisons bosses announced that a further 7 stores would be closing to help optimise their existing assets and address areas of underperformance.[56]

Following a well-publicised crash in UK milk prices in November 2015, Morrisons launched a variety milk labelled 'For Farmers', with a large Union Jack on the label, claiming an extra 23p per 4-pint bottle would to be given to farmers – 10p per litre. Following complaints, Morrisons admitted that the extra money was actually paid to the supplier of the milk, Arla Foods, to be divided among several countries, with only a fifth of the 23p going to UK farmers.[57] Morrisons later changed the scheme in 2017 such that the total additional payment went directly to a selected group of 300 British farmers. A smaller group of 50 farmers were tasked with supplying the range, with additional welfare standards applied to the production of the milk.[58][59]

From March 2020, the company aimed to cut down 3,000 management roles, and created 7,000 shop-floor jobs as part of its restructuring plan.[60]

In December 2020, Morrisons was criticised for retaining Paula Vennells on its board, despite her role as CEO of the Post Office during the subpostmasters' scandal and criticism of her leadership there as "both cruel and incompetent" by a Conservative peer and various MPs.[61][62] Vennells eventually left her role as a non-executive director on 26 April 2021.[63]

On 16 August 2021, a worker led a protest against the company for raising deformed birds at four of its intensive farms. The Independent reported that campaigners from Open Cages, Animal Equality UK and The Humane League UK were urging Morrisons to sign the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), banning the use of fast-growing breeds susceptible to lameness and heart attacks, and giving birds natural light and more space. The company responded that they cared about animal welfare, required suppliers to maintain standards, and had asked for a full investigation.[64]

CD&R takeover

[edit]

In June 2021, Morrisons rejected a £5.5 billion takeover bid from private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) believing it "significantly undervalued" the company.[65]

In July 2021 a bid to take over Morrisons, led by US private equity firm, Fortress Investment Group and backed by the Canada Pension Plan and Koch Industries, valuing the company at £6.3 billion ($8.7 billion), was made. This bid was provisionally accepted by the board, subject to shareholder approval, on 3 July 2021.[66][67] Following the Fortress bid, Apollo Global were considering a bid, leading to speculation of a bidding war,[68][69] but Apollo Global withdrew and supported the Fortress bid.[70] On 6 August 2021, the Fortress-led consortium increased its offer to £6.7 billion ($9.29 billion) after Silchester International Investors, Morrisons largest shareholder, said the previous offer was too low.[71] The Morrisons board once again recommended the deal to shareholders.[72] However, on 19 August 2021 an improved offer of £7 billion from CD&R was recommended by the board of Morrisons to shareholders; the board dropped its recommendation for Fortress's offer.[73]

In October 2021 the £7 billion CD&R bid was accepted;[74] the takeover was approved by the High Court on 26 October 2021.[75]

In May 2022, Morrisons purchased McColl's in a pre-packaged insolvency arrangement with its administrator, with all stores eventually converting to the Morrisons Daily fascia.[76]

In February 2023, 16 months after the CD&R takeover of the 124-year-old chain, it was reported as having "fallen into a hole that just keeps getting deeper".[77]

The chain's underlying profits had dropped by 15% to £828 million in the year ending 30 October; sales dropped by 4.2% despite prices increasing sharply—implying an even greater loss in volume of sales—for a pre-tax loss of £33 million. Morrisons' net debt obligations had been £3.2bn before the CD&R takeover, and had increased to £7.5 billion. A former senior Morrisons executive said "[CD&R] paid too much and now they have to claw that back".[77] Unlike any other UK supermarket, Morrisons has a manufacturing arm including abattoirs, vegetable packing houses and fish processing plants comprising a vertically integrated supply chain. An industry insider suggested that this may be sold, which would mean a complete change of course for the company.[77]

On 6 November 2023 Rami Baitiéh succeeded David Potts as Chief Executive.[78]

Financial performance

[edit]

The financial results have been as follows:[79][80]

52/53 weeks to Turnover
(£m)		 Profit/(loss) (£m)
Before tax After tax
30 October 2022 18,479 (33.0) (25.0)
2 February 2020 17,536 408.0 348.0
3 February 2019 17,735 320.0 244.0
4 February 2018 17,262 380.0 311.0
29 January 2017 16,317 325.0 305.0
31 January 2016 16,122 217.0 222.0
1 February 2015 16,816 (792.0) (761.0)
2 February 2014 17,680 (176.0) (238.0)
3 February 2013 18,116 879.0 647.0
29 January 2012 17,663 947.0 690.0
30 January 2011 16,479 874.0 632.0
31 January 2010 15,410 858.0 598.0
1 February 2009 14,528 655.0 460.0
3 February 2008 12,969 612.0 554.0
4 February 2007 12,462 369.0 247.6
29 January 2006 12,115 (312.9) (250.3)
30 January 2005 12,116 193.0 105.0
1 February 2004 4,944 319.9 197.6
2 February 2003 4,290 282.5 186.3
3 February 2002 3,915 243.0 143.7
4 February 2001 3,496 219.1 120.0
29 January 2000 2,969 189.2 103.1

Current operations

[edit]
A Morrisons branch at the Merrion Centre, Leeds showing new branding introduced in 2015

In July 2020, Morrisons had 497 superstores[81] in the United Kingdom, including those it retained following its purchase of Safeway plc. Until 2004, Morrisons superstores were largely concentrated in the English Midlands and the North of England, but had expanded southwards, beginning with a store at Erith, Greater London, which opened in 1998.[82]

In April 2021, Morrisons said that it would replace plastic bags with paper bags to cut plastic use.[83]

Store formats

[edit]

Most Morrisons superstores have produce in Market Street. Packaged meat is near or next to a butcher's counter, a delicatessen with cheese fridge is nearby, and there is a rotisserie counter named Oven Fresh.[84]

Convenience stores

[edit]
A Morrisons Daily forecourt store, Wetherby
A Morrisons Daily store in Aberdeen, Scotland
A Morrisons Daily store in Aberdeen

Following the failure of the supermarket's M Local stores, Morrisons returned to the convenience market in 2016 with a new chain of five trial forecourt stores under the Morrisons Daily brand in partnership with Motor Fuel Group.[85] Soon after in 2017, this trial ended with the stores closed and a new partnership was formed with Rontec to open 40 stores across the company's forecourts.[86] In 2019, Morrisons Daily stores operated by MPK Garages and Essar began to trade under a similar deal.[87]

In 2018, Morrisons agreed on a franchise and wholesale supply deal with SandpiperCI to operate 43 Morrisons Daily convenience stores in the Channel Islands,[88] which were previously operated under the Nisa brand.[89] By 2022, SandpiperCI had converted 19 of their stores in the Channel Islands[90] to the Morrisons Daily format, including the former Benest's of Millbrook store at Lisbon House.[91][92][93]

A partnership agreement in 2021 saw Morrisons and McColl's committing to the conversion of 300 existing McColl's convenience stores into Morrisons Daily stores over the next three years, following a successful trial of 30 conversions in the months prior. This extension is of a deal, first struck in 2017, which saw Morrisons acting as McColl's sole supplier until at least 2027, with the supermarket supplying over 1,200 of their stores.[94] Morrisons converted all McColl's stores to the Morrisons Daily fascia by September 2024.[95]

Morrisons revived the Safeway brand in 2016 for use in stores of its wholesale customers and in Morrisons Daily stores,[96] along with two MPK Garages forecourt stores which operate with Safeway Daily branding.[97][98]

Online retail

[edit]

In 2012, the group launched its first retail website called "Morrisons Cellar" selling wine from around the world.[99]

Unlike its competitors, Morrisons did not offer online shopping for many years. In May 2013 Morrisons announced a partnership with Ocado to use its technology systems and distribution infrastructure to help launch its own online service.[100] Morrisons also signed a deal with Amazon to supply products for their Prime Pantry.[101]

Market share

[edit]
Morrisons market share decreased after its purchase of Safeway, but it eventually grew again after the store disposals and conversions.

Morrisons' UK market share declined steadily since 2019;[77] in September 2022 it was 9.1% – behind Tesco (26.9%), Sainsbury's (14.6%), Asda (14.1%), comparable with Aldi (9.3%), and ahead of Lidl (7.1%).[102]

According to CACI, as of 2006, Morrisons had market dominance in 10 postcode areas, half of which were in its home county of Yorkshire; SY (Shrewsbury), LD (Llandrindod Wells), WS (Walsall), TS (Teesside), TD (Hawick), BD (Bradford), HG (Harrogate), LS (Leeds), WF (Wakefield) and HD (Huddersfield).[103]

Vertical integration

[edit]

Morrisons produce more than half of its products in-house.[104]

Home-delivery service

[edit]

Morrisons now offer a home delivery service, as do most UK supermarkets.[105]

In June 2020, at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Morrisons, introduced a home delivery program with telephone ordering for elderly and vulnerable people, limited to those residing within 10 miles of a Morrisons shop.[106] Morrison's Doorstep Delivery continued to be available, with some changes (in particular, a limit of three items per order to prevent stockpiling was dropped), after pandemic restrictions were removed.[107]

Petrol stations

[edit]

Morrisons operate 339 petrol stations across the UK (as of 2022), offering Petrol & Diesel at all sites and LPG Autogas at selected sites. Most petrol stations are located in the car park area within selected stores, but there are also a number of standalone petrol stations operated by either Morrisons Daily or Morrisons Select.[108]

Over the years, Morrisons petrol stations underwent several different re-brands and colour schemes. These were:

Petrol station branding Colour scheme Example image(s) Years introduced Notes/Comments
Miles Better Value Black text on yellow
Pre-circa 1998 These colour schemes remained on some petrol stations until 2008.
Yellow text on black v1
Yellow text on black v2
circa 1998 — 2007
Yellow with green text on white
2007–2011 These colour schemes remained on some petrol stations until 2020.
Grey with green text on white
M Refuel White text on green
2011–2016
Morrisons Daily / Select White and yellow text on green
2016 — present

Fuel cards

[edit]

For many years until 2014, Morrisons petrol stations provided a loyalty card scheme known as the Miles card. Each member earned 10 points whenever they purchased a litre of fuel, along with a £5 shopping voucher if they bought a total of 500 litres or more. This was replaced by the Match & More card in 2014, followed by the More card in 2016 and My Morrisons in 2021, later rebranded as Morrisons More with deals such as Fiver, where purchases give customers points, 5000 points being worth £5 in 2023.[109]

Morrisons also offer the fuelGenie fuel card scheme.[110]

Former operations

[edit]

Kiddicare

[edit]

In 2011, Morrisons bought children's retailer Kiddicare for £70 million to give it the knowledge to sell clothing and homewares online.[111] In 2012 10 former Best Buy stores from the Carphone Warehouse were acquired to expand Kiddicare into retail stores.[112] Kiddicare was sold to the Endless private equity firm for £2 million in July 2014, and sold on to Worldstores two months later for an undisclosed sum.[113]

FreshDirect

[edit]

Morrisons purchased a 10% stake in New York-based online grocer FreshDirect for £31 million in 2011. After having sent a team to New York to learn from the business ahead of the predicted launch in 2013, Morrisons began a home delivery initiative in January 2014. In March 2014 Morrisons CEO Dalton Phillips announced the company had agreed to sell its stake in FreshDirect due to financial difficulties the company was facing and, as it had set up its own online shopping site, it no longer needed FreshDirect.[114] The sale was completed in August 2016 for £45 million.[115]

Convenience stores

[edit]
Morrisons M local, Church Street, Liverpool

The company operated a number of smaller stores called "Morrisons M Local" in major places such as Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol. These stores had a similar format to small Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local stores, but included a wider range of ready-to-eat hot food such as pastries, coffee, rotisserie, porridge and also a salad bar. Items were supplied from nearby superstores and shoppers could also order foods, including fresh meat and fish.[116]

A distribution centre in Feltham, West London was acquired to provide a distribution network to the stores in London and the South East where there are relatively few Morrisons superstores.[117]

Around 70 stores were opened by the end of 2013, boosted by the purchase of 7 Jessops and 49 Blockbuster stores from administrators.[118] On 26 February 2013, a further six HMV stores were acquired from administrators.[119] The M Local chain was sold to a private equity group in 2015 and rebranded My Local, but entered administration itself less than a year later.[120]

Marketing and branding

[edit]

Logos and slogans

[edit]
The Morrisons logo, 1985 – March 2007
The Morrisons logo, March 2007 – June 2016
The Morrisons logo, 2015 – present.

On 15 March 2007, Morrisons unveiled what they proclaimed as a "more modern brand image", which was rolled out to all stores, vehicles and distribution sites. This kept the main 'Morrisons' signage and colour scheme, while replacing the familiar 'M' logo. The low price in-house brand, Bettabuy, was also changed to a 'more modern' brand called Morrisons Value,[121] which was again rebranded to M Savers in January 2012.[122] The change saw the replacement of the old yellow and black logo, with the 'More Reasons To Shop at Morrisons' strap line replaced with 'Fresh Choice For You'. In 2010 this was replaced by 'Eat Fresh. Pay Less'. This was later changed again in 2013 to 'More Of What Matters'. It also involved the replacement of external signage, with the previous Morrisons signs being retained alongside the new logo, as well as changes to product packaging, point of sale, advertising, staff uniforms (replacing the old blue ties and bows with green ones) and distribution vehicles. The rationale behind the decision was the need for Morrisons to attract a wider national customer base, capitalising on its expanded geographical spread following the acquisition of Safeway.[123]

In 2015, Morrisons released a new logo and slogan 'Morrisons Makes It' to try and draw on the brand's heritage, with the new logo being installed on all store signs as well as new uniforms and new in-store looks.[124]

In May 2023, Morrisons launched a new advertising campaign which saw the old 'More Reasons to Shop at Morrisons' slogan and jingle being revived.[125]

Loyalty card

[edit]

The Match & More card, introduced in 2014, price matched the chain's customers' comparable grocery shopping in store and online with Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda. If a customer spent £15 or more and could have paid less for their comparable groceries, Morrisons automatically gave them the difference in points on their card at the checkout. For 1p difference in the cost of shopping, customers got 10 Match points—and for £1 difference they got 1,000 points. The difference was calculated at the checkout on national brands and comparable own label products and fresh food, even those that are on promotion elsewhere.[126] In 2016 the Match & More loyalty cards were rebranded as the "More" loyalty card and all customers were issued a new card in line with the rebranding.[127] The loyalty scheme was rebranded once again in May 2021 as "My Morrisons", in line with the company dropping the points collection feature.[128] The Morrisons More loyalty scheme was reintroduced on 22 May 2023, replacing My Morrisons. This latest change to their loyalty card format - the fourth in less than ten years - to the original Match & More scheme announced in 2014.[129]

Product ranges

[edit]

Morrisons stocks thousands of lines sold under their own brands. These include Morrisons Savers, formerly M Savers, an economy brand including items ranging from food and drink to toiletries, in 2015 the UK's fastest-growing grocery brand.[130]

Tommy's Afternoon Tea Box

[edit]

Morrisons launched a special 'Tommy's Afternoon Tea Box' to support shoppers wishing to mark the end of World War Two anniversary on 2 September 2020. The boxes benefitted the Tommy Tea initiative through the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), with £1 on every box heading to the charity, as well as an additional £10,000 provided by the company.[131]

Distribution

[edit]
Morrisons distribution centre, Bridgwater, Somerset

In 2005, Morrisons purchased part of the collapsed Rathbones Bakeries, which supplied Morrisons bread, for £15.5 million.[132]

In 2007, Morrisons opened a new Distribution Centre in Swindon[133] and announced that it had bought a new site on Junction 23 of the M5 in Bridgwater in Somerset, for redevelopment as a fresh produce packing facility.[17]

In 2011, Morrisons opened a new 767,500 sq/foot distribution centre in Bridgwater as part of the £11 million redevelopment project. This project also created 1,200 new jobs.[134][135] Following the opening of the new distribution centre the Swindon depot was no longer required, and it was closed in December 2011.[136]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Annual Report and Financial Statements for the 52 weeks ended 30 October 2022" (PDF). Morrisons. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Company History – Morrisons Corporate". Morrisons. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  3. ^ "About Us – Company History". Morrisons. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Morrisons in Gibraltar – the unlikely success story". 26 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Morrisons cuts petrol price to 99p a litre". The Week. 22 November 2016. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Contact Us". Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Great Britain: Grocery Market Share (12 weeks ending)". Kantar Worldpanel. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Aldi overtakes Morrisons to become UK's fourth-largest grocer". Financial Times. 13 September 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Welcome To Morrisons" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Morrisons seals Safeway takeover". BBC News. 8 March 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  11. ^ Ryle, Sarah; Wachman, Richard (20 March 2005). "Morrisons faces investor revolt". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Morrisons plunge deep into the red". BBC News. 20 October 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Morrisons face strike action over supply chain IT". Computing.co.uk. 17 August 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  14. ^ "Safeway glamour gives way to Yorkshire Bitter". 12 January 2003. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2011 – via Find Articles.
  15. ^ "Waitrose snaps up Safeway stores". BBC News. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  16. ^ Finch, Julia (15 May 2004). "Struggling Sainsburys buy Safeway stores". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  17. ^ a b "UK Business Park". UK Business Park. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  18. ^ "Morrisons sells 114 Safeway shops". BBC News. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  19. ^ Tran, Mark (6 June 2005). "Asda moves into Northern Ireland". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  20. ^ Bowers, Simon (12 August 2005). "Waitrose adds 5 more stores to its empire". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Waitrose buys stores from rival Wm Morrisons". The Independent. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008.
  22. ^ "UK Business Park". UK Business Park. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  23. ^ "CI Traders buy Safeway". Thisisjersey.com. 30 April 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. ^ "SandpiperCI to sell its Checkers and Safeway supermarkets to Waitrose". sandpiperci.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  25. ^ Morrisons pull out of Isle of Man
  26. ^ "Friends of Gibraltar – Bringing Gibraltar's Friends Together!" (PDF). Archived from the original on 27 March 2009.
  27. ^ "Morrisons staff announce walkout". BBC News. 15 September 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  28. ^ "Dematic" (PDF). Dematic. Retrieved 12 March 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  29. ^ "Safeway disappears after 43 years". BBC News. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  30. ^ "Bolland named in Morrisons lead role". The Daily Telegraph. London. 8 June 2006. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  31. ^ Hall, James. "Retirement of Sir Ken Morrison". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  32. ^ Finch, Julia (4 December 2008). "Morrisons plans to buy 35 stores from the Co-op". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  33. ^ Wood, Zoe (13 March 2009). "Morrisons heads for the high street after chain's profits and sales soar". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  34. ^ "Morrisons names Dalton Philips as new chief executive". BBC News. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  35. ^ "Morrisons signs deal to let Peacocks display". Yorkshire Post. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  36. ^ "Nutmeg Launches in 85 Morrisons stores". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014.
  37. ^ "Morrisons challenges rivals with price promise at its new convenience stores". The Guardian. London. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  38. ^ "Morrisons faces criticism over 'dog-feeding' Christmas ad". The Daily Telegraph. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  39. ^ "Morrisons to offer online shopping in Ocado deal". BBC News. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  40. ^ "Morrison's board members". Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  41. ^ "Morrisons Appoints Strain as Group Finance Director". Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  42. ^ "Struggling Morrisons linked to private equity buyout". The Guardian. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  43. ^ "The RMT's Mick Cash and Tesco's Dave Lewis win my prizes for media manipulation". The Spectator. 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  44. ^ "Sir Ken Blasts Morrisons CEO, Chairman and the board of directors". The Independent. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  45. ^ "Morrisons plans to cut 2,600 management jobs". BBC News. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  46. ^ "Morrisons sells depot for 978m". Kent Online. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  47. ^ "Morrisons names David Potts as new chief executive". BBC News. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  48. ^ "Morrisons sacks supermarket boss Dalton Philips". The Guardian. London. 13 January 2015.
  49. ^ Stones, Mike Five top Morrisons executives exit in board shakeupArchived 4 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine FoodManufacture.co.uk. 7 April 2015
  50. ^ "Morrisons plan to close 10 unprofitable stores following fall in Christmas sales". The Journal. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  51. ^ "Morrisons closing six convenience stores". The Guardian. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  52. ^ "Morrisons supermarket cuts prices on 200 'everyday' items". BBC News. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  53. ^ "Morrisons continues to see sales fall". BBC News. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  54. ^ "Morrisons sell its chain of convenience stores". BBC News. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  55. ^ "Morrisons shuts stores as profits fall". BBC News. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  56. ^ "Morrisons announces seven more supermarket closures". Liverpool Echo. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  57. ^ Mendick, Robert (14 November 2015). "Sour truth behind Morrisons' 'For Farmers' milk". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  58. ^ Black, Alex (24 August 2017). "UPDATE: Morrisons announces major changes to 'Milk for Farmers' range". Farmers Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  59. ^ "Morrisons announces 'Milk for Farmers' that supports British farmers". Morrisons. Wm Morrison Supermarkets. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  60. ^ "Morrisons axes 3,000 managers in shake-up". BBC News. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  61. ^ Meddings, Sabah. "Former Post Office chief Paula Vennells told: quit public jobs". The Times. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  62. ^ Flinders, Karl (22 June 2020). "Care Quality Commission to discuss concerns over Paula Vennells' NHS role". Computer Weekly. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  63. ^ "Post office scandal: Ex-boss quits director jobs after scandal". BBC News. BBC. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  64. ^ "Morrisons employee leads nationwide protests over 'Frankenchickens'". The Independent. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  65. ^ "Morrisons rejects £5.5bn takeover offer from private equity firm". The Guardian. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  66. ^ "Rule 2.7 Announcement – Offer from Fortress". London Stock Exchange. 3 July 2021.
  67. ^ "Morrisons: Supermarket agrees £6.3bn takeover". BBC News. 4 July 2021.
  68. ^ "Morrisons: Bidding war looms for supermarket as rivals circle". BBC News. 7 July 2021.
  69. ^ Elder, Bryce (5 July 2021). "A Wm Morrison bidding war is a failure of public markets". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022.
  70. ^ "Prospect of Morrisons bidding war recedes". BBC News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  71. ^ "Fortress-led group increases offer for Morrisons to £6.7bn". The Guardian. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  72. ^ "Morrisons agrees to raised £6.7bn takeover offer from Fortress". BBC News. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  73. ^ "Morrisons backs US firm's improved takeover offer". BBC News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  74. ^ "Morrisons: US firm wins auction to take over supermarket chain". BBC News. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  75. ^ "£7.1BN Morrisons takeover sanctioned". Insider Media. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  76. ^ "Morrisons wins race to buy McColl's ahead of Asda owners". The Guardian. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  77. ^ a b c d Butler, Sarah (27 February 2023). "Is private equity tearing the soul out of Morrisons supermarket?". The Guardian.
  78. ^ "What does new CEO Rami Baitiéh need to do to turn Morrisons around and how is he likely to go about it?". The Grocer. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  79. ^ "Annual Report 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  80. ^ "Links to Financial Reports". Morrisons Corporate. Cumulative, years added as required.
  81. ^ "Company History – Morrisons Corporate". Morrisons. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  82. ^ "Morrisons sail into Southern supermarket battle".
  83. ^ "Morrisons to stop selling plastic carrier bags". BBC News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  84. ^ "Merrion Centre Morrisons Gets Bigger and Bigger". Town Centre Securities. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  85. ^ Ruddick, Graham (14 December 2015). "Morrisons again turns to convenience stores with new brand launch". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  86. ^ "Morrisons and Rontec to open a further 40 c-stores". erpecnews. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  87. ^ "NEW ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT FOR ESSAR AS MPK SITE OPENS WITH MORRISONS DAILY". Essar Oil UK. 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  88. ^ "Morrisons to become wholesale supply partner for Channel Islands retailer". Morrisons Corporate. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  89. ^ Wells, Liz (14 February 2018). "Morrisons agrees franchise and wholesale deal with Sandpiper CI". Talking Retail. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  90. ^ "Morrisons Daily". SandpiperCI. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  91. ^ "Family-run supermarkets sold". BBC News. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  92. ^ Beschizza, Rob (25 February 2020). "Chipsteaks are unique and delicious, with tremendous protein value". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  93. ^ "BENEST". SandpiperCI. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  94. ^ "Morrisons and McColl's wholesale supply partnership extended" (PDF). Morrisons Corporate. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  95. ^ PLC, Morrisons. "Morrisons to acquire McColl's". Morrisons. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  96. ^ "Morrisons to revive Safeway brand name". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  97. ^ Lyons, Ben (5 March 2019). "The UK's first Safeway Daily store is opening in Derby tomorrow". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  98. ^ "PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE 52 WEEKS ENDED 3 FEBRUARY 2019" (PDF). Morrisons Corporate. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  99. ^ Bamford, Vince. "Morrisons to take wine online with Cellar site". The Grocer. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  100. ^ "Morrisons to offer online shopping in Ocado deal". BBC News. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  101. ^ Ruddick, Graham (29 February 2016). "Amazon to start selling fresh and frozen Morrisons food". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  102. ^ "Aldi becomes Britain's fourth-largest supermarket". BBC News. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  103. ^ "Tesco 'top' in more parts of the UK". BBC News. 11 October 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  104. ^ Wood, John (14 March 2016). "Morrisons' food manufacturing splits analysts". Foodmanufacture.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  105. ^ Team, Which? (17 February 2023). "Morrisons review: are Morrisons' supermarkets and online delivery service any good?". Which?.
  106. ^ "Morrisons launches new 'doorstep delivery' service for the vulnerable and elderly". Kentlive. 6 June 2020.
  107. ^ Shopping and Help Accessing Food Directory (PDF) (Report). Impact Initiatives - Ageing Well Service. 18 November 2022. pp. 3–4.
  108. ^ "Petrol Stations – Morrisons Help Hub". morrisons.com. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  109. ^ "Morrisons More card is now My Morrisons – here's everything you need to know". Yours. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  110. ^ "fuelGenie Morrisons Fuel Cards | fuelGenie". www.fuelgenie.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  111. ^ Wood, Zoe; Hawkes, Alex (15 February 2011). "Morrisons buys Kiddicare for £70m". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  112. ^ "Morrisons buys Best Buy stores for Kiddicare expansion". BBC News. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  113. ^ "Kiddicare bought by retailer Worldstores just two months after Endless acquisition". Retail Week. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  114. ^ "Morrisons restructuring sparks fears of new price war". BBC News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  115. ^ "UK supermarket Morrisons completes sale of Fresh Direct stake". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  116. ^ "Insight Research – Global Convenience Store Focus – Morrisons opens third M-local convenience store". Globalcstorefocus.com. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  117. ^ "Morrisons plans London DC for convenience stores". Logistics Manager. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  118. ^ "acquires Blockbuster stores for convenience expansion". Morrisons. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  119. ^ "Morrisons acquires 6 HMV stores". Retail Gazette. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  120. ^ "My Local enters administration with 1,000 jobs at risk". BBC News. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  121. ^ "The Grocer Today". The Grocer. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  122. ^ "Morrisons unveils M Savers value range". Marketing Week. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  123. ^ Lovett, Gina (12 March 2007). "20/20 rebrands Morrisons". Design Week. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  124. ^ Hobbs, Thomas (10 March 2016). "Morrisons rebrands as it focuses on being 'surprisingly good' at pricing". Marketing Week. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  125. ^ PLC, Morrisons. "Morrisons is bringing back "More reasons to shop at Morrisons"". Morrisons. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  126. ^ Christie, Sophie (26 October 2014). "Morrisons takes on discount rivals with 'bold' loyalty card. Is it any good?". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  127. ^ "Morrisons launches new-look More loyalty scheme". Decision Marketing. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  128. ^ "My Morrisons – More Card changes". Morrisons. May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  129. ^ Wright, Georgia (22 May 2023). "Morrisons brings back More Card loyalty scheme nationwide". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  130. ^ "Morrisons forges ahead despite trading blips". TheGrocer.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  131. ^ "Morrisons launches Tommy's Afternoon Tea Box to mark 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two". Daily Record. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  132. ^ "Morrison buys Rathbone Bakeries". The Guardian. UK. Press Association. 3 May 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  133. ^ "Depot strengthens Morrisons in the South". The Grocer. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  134. ^ "Morrisons Distribution Centre Preview". Bridgwater Mercury. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  135. ^ "Morrisons Warehouse approved in Bridgwater". BBC News. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  136. ^ "200 jobs to go as DHL depot to close". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morrisons.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morrisons&oldid=1259088273"