RIP Safeway: 1962-2005 - Morrisons have finally done it

[Alarsne53]

Epitome - (pronounced as ep-it-omee) is another word for archetype.

[nwtv2003]

This is the point though. It would have made so much more sense to roll Safeway out across the existing Morrisons stores and I think the point about Ken being up himself hits the nail on the head.

He's the epitome of the "Northern Tosspot" IMO. Let's be honest.

I couldn't have seen any wrong doing if they kept both names alongside each other for some time longer, though Safeway was a recognised quality name in all parts of the UK, Morrisons though isn't recognised in the South, in the North, well mainly Lancashire and Yorkshire, the Supermarket is well established and it's success was built in the stores in these areas of the country.

As a Morrisons employee myself (core Morrisons, not ex-Safeway) I couldn't agree more with the general comments about the way Morrisons has changed the Safeway stores, it was all done too quick, and rather going "Back To Basics" in more than one way, more like back to 1960. Though overall it's affect has been pretty bad, due to a ban on Overtime, the rather low amount of recruitment than what we were getting this time last year. It's also taking some staff 'incentives' if you wish to call it that, such as there will be no Profit share in 2007, no free gift at Christmas etc.

What they would have been better off doing is keeping both Names, though make clear that Safeway is part of Morrisons, and maybe they should have experimented by converting a few stores to Morrisons, in areas that have more than one Safeway, then build up any existing growth plan on that. Even the tag line 'More Reasons to Shop at Safeway' didn't sound too bad either, which was shown in some Press adverts.

Though I really want to see how Morrisons can get themselves out of a £300 Million black hole, if they wished to modernise every store, it would probably cost them double that.

The problem is with Morrisons, is that it hasn't Modernised, even before it took over Safeway, it was just a standard Supermarket, where as Asda, Tesco and in some way Sainsburys, have all grown expanded and modernised. But though this might have made Morrisons stand out slightly, it has done no favours when they got their hands on Safeway, who are modernised, have their own way of doing things and have more than one size of store and more than just Food.

[James Martin]

If they really wanted to they could have bought in a common logo. Something like Central was before it was renamed Carlton would have been nice, a halfway sort of thing.

[Square Eyes]

Sometimes you have to see beyond the yellow and black facade, and once you start looking for it you will find areas where Morrisons is innovating. As an example Morrisons have revolutionised the presentation of banana retail in this country.



Each bunch uniquely hung on a hanger, individually priced and displayed on a revolutionary revolving green wire framed cage. A Morrisons banana operative stands one side where each bunch is lovingly weighed and displayed, before the cage is turned around and the customer is invited to make a choice from a selection of well hung bananas.

I hope they are awarded banana retailer of the year.

[Nick Harvey]

Yes, but they only sell the bananas in "Morrisons yellow", though, don't they?

[James Martin]

Well at least Lee Stanley will appreciate it.

[tvmercia]

with mock tudor beams and artex cladding in the leeds branch AND their banana display system, morrisons really are thinking outside of the box aren't they. it almost seems they are aiming themselves at ironic customers, people who want to shop there because its so odd.

[all new Phil]

I've got to say also, Morrisons is the only place I've ever seen that sells purple popcorn.

[Square Eyes]

with mock tudor beams and artex cladding in the leeds branch AND their banana display system, morrisons really are thinking outside of the box aren't they. it almost seems they are aiming themselves at ironic customers, people who want to shop there because its so odd.

Oh yes, the store in the Leeds Merrion Centre, not to be missed, untouched since the 70's. Legend has it that the retro M O R R I S O N S facade is in fact covering a modern sign featuring fruit and vegetables.

Post your Morrison photos here.

[tvmercia]

with mock tudor beams and artex cladding in the leeds branch AND their banana display system, morrisons really are thinking outside of the box aren't they. it almost seems they are aiming themselves at ironic customers, people who want to shop there because its so odd.

Oh yes, the store in the Leeds Merrion Centre, not to be missed, untouched since the 70's. Legend has it that the retro M O R R I S O N S facade is in fact covering a modern sign featuring fruit and vegetables.

Post your Morrison photos here.

i do hope they intend to roll out that rather nice display cabinet idea with selections of produce and price tags accross all stores, especially the safeway stores.

[tvmercia]

here is a snap of happier days from my safeway scrap book. its a shame you cant see the fruit and veg signage on the frontage though isnt it. i doubt sir ken would approve of the woman on the left wearing male attire, its not the kind of thing that is done in yorkshire.