Morrisons buys 49 Blockbuster stores

British supermarket Morrisons has bought 49 shops from failed DVD and games rental chain Blockbuster in Britain as it steps up plans to expand its convenience business.

The deal will not prevent any of the job cuts already announced by Blockbuster administrators Deloitte, but Morrisons said it hopes to create around 1,000 jobs as it reopens the shops as convenience stores.

Britain’s fourth-biggest grocer also announced the re-branding of its M Local convenience business to Morrisons M local.