Morrisons sees benefits of Safeway overhaul

Supermarket chain Morrisons received a boost from its converted Safeway stores today after revealing a 2.8% rise in like-for-like sales over Christmas.

The group said 220 shops integrated following its £3bn (€4.4bn) acquisition in 2004 secured a sales gain of 9% in the six weeks to January 8, offsetting a decrease of 2.9% from its core estate of 122 Morrisons shops. The figures exclude the impact of petrol sales.