Sainsbury has bought Bells Stores, the family-owned convenience chain with 54 outlets in the north east of England.
The supermarket group will operate Bells Stores as a separate business unit under the current management team of Steven Bell and David Graham.
The chain is ranked number 12 in The Grocer Top 50 list of the UK’s biggest independent grocers, with an annual turnover of £56.4m and year-on-year growth of 8.7%.
Steven Bell, joint managing director and vice chairman of Bells Stores said he was delighted with the deal. He added: “Sainsbury's provides access to an outstanding product range which we know will appeal to our local customers and the financial resources to continue developing our business in the north east region.”
No financial details were disclosed but Sainsbury said the move was to increase its presence within “one of the fastest growing segments in food retail” - the £21.5bn convenience sector.
Sainsbury said it would work with Bells to introduce its fresh and convenience foods into the chain’s offer, while Bells' head office and distribution centre would be retained to minimise the resource
required from the supermarket's own business.
The supermarket runs 66 Sainsbury Local stores, plus 15 in partnership with Shell UK and plans to extend the joint fuel and c-store operation to 100 Shell locations across the UK.
The acquisition of Bells Stores will take Sainsbury's presence in the convenience sector to about 220 stores.
The supermarket group will operate Bells Stores as a separate business unit under the current management team of Steven Bell and David Graham.
The chain is ranked number 12 in The Grocer Top 50 list of the UK’s biggest independent grocers, with an annual turnover of £56.4m and year-on-year growth of 8.7%.
Steven Bell, joint managing director and vice chairman of Bells Stores said he was delighted with the deal. He added: “Sainsbury's provides access to an outstanding product range which we know will appeal to our local customers and the financial resources to continue developing our business in the north east region.”
No financial details were disclosed but Sainsbury said the move was to increase its presence within “one of the fastest growing segments in food retail” - the £21.5bn convenience sector.
Sainsbury said it would work with Bells to introduce its fresh and convenience foods into the chain’s offer, while Bells' head office and distribution centre would be retained to minimise the resource
required from the supermarket's own business.
The supermarket runs 66 Sainsbury Local stores, plus 15 in partnership with Shell UK and plans to extend the joint fuel and c-store operation to 100 Shell locations across the UK.
The acquisition of Bells Stores will take Sainsbury's presence in the convenience sector to about 220 stores.
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