Somerfield stores snapped up
Sainsbury's has bought four supermarkets of 16,000 sq ft to 23,000 sq ft (1,485 sq m to 2,135 sq m) from Somerfield.

The stores in Bodmin, Cornwall, Canvey Island, Essex, Sleaford, Lincolnshire and Northallerton, North Yorkshire will reopen as Sainsbury's supermarkets in autumn.

300 former Somerfield staff will transfer to Sainsbury's under the TUPE regulations. The financial details were not available.

The chain has also acquired a larger, 35,000 sq ft (3,250 sq m) store in Urmston, Manchester, where the town centre is being redeveloped. The store will be food-focused store and open in 2008.

Sainsbury's supermarkets are usually larger than these new stores, averaging about 40,000 sq ft (3,715 sq m).

In May, Sainsbury's said it planned to speed up the expansion of its property portfolio under property director Peter Baguely. Sainsbury's has 455 supermarkets and 301 convenience stores.

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