Supermarket saga has yet another twist

In an unexpected move, the commission has ordered Somerfield to sell its old High Street premises to a rival supermarket chain, and put the block on a proposed sale to the clothing store Mackays.

It means that Littlehampton should once more have two town centre supermarkets, and that shoppers will benefit from competition being restored.

John Stevens, chairman of Littlehampton Traders' Partner-ship, was delighted with the commission's ruling.

"That is great news," he said, when told by the Gazette of the decision. "We now have the excellent prospect of a food supermarket coming back into the town and a fresh face will give new impetus.

"I am sure our members will warmly welcome this. There will be considerable relief not only for many of them, but also for members of the public who have no choice but to shop in Littlehampton, for example if they don't have cars."

Following the closure of Somerfield's High Street branch in February, many traders at that end of the High Street and in Surrey Street suffered an alarming drop in business and the situation was made worse by problems at the former Safeway supermarket in the early weeks of its conversion to Somerfield.

Town and Arun councillor Mark Butler, whose stonemasonry business, Marks of Respect, is based at the western end of High Street, said he was "ecstatic" over the announcement by the commission.

"This will be such a shot in the arm for the town centre. It's been all gloom since the old Somerfield shut down, and all of us with businesses this end of the High Street have seen the number of people coming along here fall dramatically."

The commission's decision follows a lengthy inquiry into the Somerfield chain's purchase of 115 stores from Morrisons, including the former Safeway store at Anchor Springs, Littlehampton. The commission felt that Littlehampton was one of 12 towns where Somerfield's action was likely to substantially reduce competition.

It ruled that, at Littlehampton and Kelso, in Scotland, Somerfield must sell stores it had closed after taking over Morrisons outlets.

Francis Royle, chief press officer for the commission, said Somerfield was being instructed to initially offer the High Street premises to a top tier of supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury, the Co-op, Budgens and Waitrose.

If none of these were interested in purchasing the store after a reasonable period, it could then be offered to chains with a narrower range of lines, including Aldi and Lidl.

Finally, if still no purchaser was secured, the commission would appoint its own consultant to dispose of the premises, possibly to a regional grocery retailer.

Mr Royle added that the commission was delighted with the response to its request for comments on the future of the Littlehampton supermarket. More than 20 individuals and organisations, including the traders' partnership and town council, wrote in.

Somerfield said this week it would be holding a board meeting today (Thursday) to decide on its response to the commission's findings.