The planned £2bn sale of Somerfield could be shelved after it emerged only one bid had been tabled by last week’s deadline, according to The Times.
The newspaper said the Co-op was understood to be the only retailer to have tabled a full proposal for the supermarket chain.
Asda, has yet to make an offer, said The Times.
Chief executive Andy Bond, at a media briefing yesterday on the George clothing brand, declined to answer questions about Somerfield.
Bond had indicated last month that a bid for Somerfield might be on the cards, although it is thought to be interested only in the larger sites.
Industry observers blamed the global credit crunch for derailing the auction process.
