The Co-operative Group has declined to comment on a newspaper report which claims that it is in talks with major UK supermarket chains with a view to selling on around 200 Somerfield stores in the event of a successful outcome to the current acquisition bid.


THE Association of Convenience Stores ? whose members include the Co-operative Group, United Co-operatives and Plymouth & South West Co-op ? has called on the Government to block Tesco's £ 54 million purchase of 45 c-stores in central London. ACS Chief Executive David Rae says the proposed acquisition of Cullens, Europa Foods and Harts stores from private company Adminstore, coupled with the multiple's plans to quadruple its Tesco Express c-store portfolio to 1,000 outlets ...