Somerfield has denied it will be working more closely with buying group Nisa-Today's after a management reshuffle promoted former Nisa-Today's director Keiron Mayes to deputy buying director. The multiple surprised the industry in January when it teamed up with the buying group for limited functions. Mayes said: "This does not indicate a development of the relationship." He admitted: "The relationship has developed a little slower than anticipated, but we have identified a couple of areas ­ joint sourcing of own label and overrider negotiations ­ where we are working together." Mayes said the changes would introduce a slimmed down senior management team. But he said there were no departures as a result of the reshuffle, which has seen the buying department divided into four categories. Each of the categories will be headed by a director, Mike Osmond, Mike Rutter, Valerie Tutcher and Sue Cronin-Jones. Somerfield has also reshuffled its marketing team, with Ed Owen moving from commercial director to marketing to take responsibility for developing store concepts, own brand and merchandising. {{NEWS }}

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