With the opening of a Morrisons Daily store in Knowsley, north-east of Liverpool, Rontec and Morrisons have reached the significant milestone of 100 stores together.
Rontec is Morrisons longest standing Morrisons Daily franchise partner, having opened one of the first Morrisons Daily stores in Leicester in 2016.
In addition to reaching this milestone today, the contract between the two companies has been extended to 2030.
Morrisons has over 600 franchise stores at fuel forecourts and other convenient and busy locations around the country. The Morrisons Daily offer includes a core convenience range, fresh food to go and selected elements of Morrisons popular Market Street fresh food, much of which is made and prepared at Morrisons own food making operations.
In 2023 Morrisons became the first UK supermarket to introduce entry price point products into convenience stores to help customers through the cost of living crisis. Today, up to 40 Morrisons Savers products are available in over 600 Morrisons Daily stores, including all 100 Rontec owned stores.
Separately, with the conversion of the former McColl’s convenience store in Ware, Hertfordshire into a Morrisons Daily on 24 May, Morrisons now has reached the significant milestone of 1,000 wholly-owned convenience stores in the UK and the Channel Islands.
Morrisons rescued McColl’s from administration in May 2022 and since then has completely rebuilt the business under the Morrisons Daily brand. Throughout the conversion programme, the former McColl’s stores’ like for like sales improved by an average of 20% as soon as the Morrisons Daily brand and offer was introduced.
Rami Baitiéh, Morrisons Chief Executive, said: “We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Rontec and I am very pleased to be reaching the significant milestone of 100 stores together today.
“Rontec’s stores are very well managed, have strong standards and are led by a committed and talented management team, so we’re proud to be able to extend our partnership together.
“In just eight years our convenience business has grown from zero to over 1,600 stores nationwide and our partnership with Rontec has been an important part of that growth.
“The recent acquisition of a further 38 stores in the Channel Islands took us past 1,000 wholly-owned stores and I look forward to making further progress as our unique convenience fresh food offer continues to resonate and to attract new customers.”
Sir Gerald Ronson CBE, Rontec Chairman, said: “Our partnership with Morrisons over the last eight years has been positive and fruitful for both parties, and I’m delighted to reach the milestone of 100 stores.
“We have invested significant capital into upgrading our Morrisons Daily sites and have developed a strong convenience and food to go offer for our customers.
“Our teams work extremely well together, with both teams striving to deliver the highest standards and levels of service in all our stores.
“I appreciate the support from Rami and his team, and I am pleased we have been able to extend the contract to 2030.”