Morrisons will launch online food deliveries in Warwickshire direct from the Dordon CFC in January, the retailer has confirmed in it third quarter trading statement.
That will be quickly followed by an extension to Yorkshire using a delivery spoke in Leeds.
“By the end of 2014 we expect to be serving over 50 per cent of UK homes, including London,” it said.
Morrisons saw like for like sales fall 2.4 per cent in the quarter – though total stores sales were up one pre cent. It said that low exposure to the sector’s key growth areas of convenience and online continues to impact the sales performance of the Group.
It has now opened a total to 69 M local stores across the country, of which around half are in London and the South East, and expects to have 100 M local stores open by the end of the current year.
“We confirm today that our target is to open a further 100 M locals in 2014/15. Our new distribution centre in Bury is now operational and will support the expansion of our convenience network in the North West.”
Chief executive Dalton Philips said: “We continue to grow our sales in this tough market while making great progress on our strategy to be a multi-channel retailer. I said at the outset that our online offer would be unmistakably Morrisons and I’m very confident that the service we unveil in January will live up to that promise.
“Many of our customers will be able to experience our distinctive online food service early in the new year and we expect to be able to serve 50 per cent of UK homes by the end of the year.”
