Safeway shows Scottish support - stores to receive remodels - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Eurofood, Oct 11, 2001

Safeway announced a 100m [pounds sterling] (159.05m [European Dollar]) facelift that will benefit up to a quarter of its Scottish stores over the next twelve months, creating up to 2 000 new jobs.

The announcement comes days after the UK's biggest supermarket group Tesco said it would create 1 500 new Scottish jobs in the next year as part of a worldwide expansion plan.

The revamped stores will have greater emphasis on customer service, product availability and more special deals. Safeway's chief executive officer Carlos Criado-Perez said, "Our customers will be able to experience what we mean when we say we want to make shopping fun." Safeway has brought in specialist staff to help train workers to present food in a more attractive and entertaining way.

The supermarket also revealed its commitment to increase traceability and the stocking of Scottish produce. Criado-Perez said, "Consumers in the north of England and Scotland are different from the South and are far more discerning. They most definitely want produce which they know about and is quality assured."

Over recent years, the number of Scottish suppliers has increased from 400 to 700, and this is still growing at around 20% each year, though it was noted that they were definitely in need of more organic produce across the spectrum.