Spar has confirmed it has bought eleven former Somerfield stores and some will be turned into EuroSpar sites.
The stores had to be sold by the Co-operative Group (Co-op) so that its acquisition of Somerfield could go ahead, after fears were raised that the deal would hinder grocery competition in some areas.
Managing director Jerry Marwood said: “The purchase of the Somerfield stores is a big opportunity for us.
“As a collection of well funded private businesses Spar is ideally placed to take advantage of the changes happening in our market place.
“Along with Somerfield stores we have also voiced our interest in individual Woolworths stores.”
Spar said sales at convenience stores in the four weeks to 4 January grew 6% compared to the same period in 2007-08.
On Friday, the Office of Fair Trading said the Co-op could buy Somerfield after the former agreed to sell off 133 stores.
