Somerfield has completed a major revamp of its retail field teams in a bid to better support its newly restructured 977-strong store estate.

Former regional director Nick Wood moves to the new role of retail development director. He will be reporting to group strategy director Oliver Meakin.

Wood's new role will help to define growth strategies for the business and drive Somerfield's standing as a convenience retailer. He will also work to identify innovative ways of using excess space in some of the retailer's larger stores.

Somerfield's store portfolio will now be split across four geographic zones, each of which will managed by a regional managing director.

Chris McKendrick will take responsibility for the north, John Pattison the west, Alan Ritchie the east, and Kevin Taggart will look after central operations.

Each RMD will be supported by a team of 12 to 13 regional managers, whose roles remain largely unchanged, although some might be looking after larger store portfolios than before.

Somerfield said the new teams would work together to deliver improved customer satisfaction, drive the store investment strategy, "and ensure Somerfield has an active talent pool and succession plan within the shops and field teams".

John Cleland, Somerfield group retail director, said the changes represented a further step in the retailer's recovery. "It establishes a new level of stability in the retail team.

"For all of us this is a great opportunity to improve the way we work and to become even more passionate about our customers and the prosperity of the business," he said.

"These changes will establish a lasting, effective, and efficient organisation to deliver our objective to be the leading local fresh and convenience retailer."

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