UK: Co-op 'fifth biggest food chain' after Somerfield buy out

The Co-op today hailed its return to the big league of food retailing thanks to a £1.6bn (€2bn) takeover of rival Somerfield.

The deal – the biggest in its history – cements the Co-op’s position as the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, creating a chain of more than 3,000 outlets with a market share of 8%.