Sandpiper CI has opened the first of its ‘Morrisons Daily’ stores at St Ouen’s Village. The current food hall sited opposite the Parish Hall is the first of 16 Morrisons supermarkets that will open across the island before the end of October.
Sandpiper announced earlier this year that it had reached a new franchise and wholesale supply agreement with Morrisons which is currently the fourth largest supermarket chain in the UK. The new partnership will create around 100 new job roles and see most of Sandpiper’s
Channel Islands’ mini-supermarkets being rebranded into ‘Morrisons Daily’ stores.
The stores will be supplied with Morrisons own-brand merchandise, alongside other popular branded products as well as locally produced goods from more than 30 local suppliers, including: Jersey Dairy, Classic Catering, Fauvic Nurseries, Woodside Farms, Jersey Royal, La Chasse Produce, Potage Farm and Somerleigh Farms.
Sandpiper’s CEO Tony O’Neill commented: “This is a significant step-change for our food retail operation. Morrisons substantial buying power means we will be able to lower our current Foodhall prices by at least 5% on an average shopping basket and significantly more on many of Morrisons own label products. The opening of the first store in St Ouen marks the start of a major seven figure investment programme. We will be working with local contractors to convert around one store every week which will include full Morrisons’ branding from store fascias to our colleagues’ uniforms.
“Morrisons is unique in making more than half its own fresh food products so we’ll be introducing the ‘Morrisons Makes It’ products which includes: fish, meat, bakery, fruit and veg. They’re also British farming’s biggest supermarket customer allowing our customers access to Morrisons- branded fresh meat which is 100 per cent British.”
As part of this agreement, Morrisons will also supply Sandpiper with its recently-revived, Safeway branded products along with further national branded products for Sandpiper’s other fascia stores.
Once the Morrisons Jersey store conversions are complete, a similar conversion programme will commence in Guernsey.
