Channel Islands based food group Le Riche is stepping up its assault against Safeway with a new hypermarket in Guernsey under the Checkers fascia. At 52,000 sq ft, the store will dwarf other retailing outlets on the island. The opening is scheduled for October this year. The divisional managing director of Le Riche's supermarket business, Kevin Keen, admitted the group's five Foodhall supermarkets had struggled to compete against Safeway, which has two large stores on both Jersey and Guernsey. Too large to be branded convenience stores, but without the range of a superstore, the supermarkets were "stuck in retailing no man's land", explained Keen. However a strong performance from the group's Stampers convenience stores and the 22,000 sq ft Checkers store in Jersey offset the lacklustre trading figures at the Foodhalls and wine shops. But trading was dull at Le Riche's Marks and Spencer franchise in Jersey, which accounts for around a sixth of turnover, with like for like sales down 2.7% in the 12 weeks to December 30. Le Riche also owns a property business and a foodservice and beverage operation supplying the island's restaurants and hotels. {{NEWS }}

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