A Musgrave Group spokesperson has told Retail Intelligence that it expects to cut ties with further retailers trading under the Londis brand in the UK this year, "although not to the same level as in 2014".
The spokesperson was responding to claims in The Sunday Times that Musgrave may be seeking to sever ties with as many as 200 Londis stores this year, as it sought to restructure its underperforming UK arm.
"We anticipate that net numbers at the end of 2015 will be lower than those at the start of the year," the spokesperson told RI.
"Our strategy is focused on the quality of the store operation representing our brand. We have a target of opening 100 stores by the end of 2015 and refitting 100, and are on track for our Q1 target of opening 20 stores."
The move is part of a strategy to "focus on quality not quantity", the spokesperson added.
Last month, Musgrave announced the appointment of John Pattison, the former retail director across both the Londis and Budgens brands, as Londis brand director, with a view to developing a 'streamlined approach that will improve accuracy in ways of working'.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
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