Morrisons is on schedule to triple the number of operational M Local convenience stores to 100 by the end of the year.
The multiple today reaffirmed its commitment to the convenience channel as it reported a 1.6% drop in like-for-like total store sales in the six months to August 4.
It also announced a 10% drop in underlying profit to £401m, but total turnover was in line with last year at £8.9bn.
At present 33 M Local c-stores are now trading and “performing well”, with dozens more set to open this year, half of which will be in London and the South East. It has secured a new distribution centre in Bury to support M Local stores in the North.
Morrisons is also on target to launch its online food proposition in January 2014, in partnership with Ocado.
Chief executive Dalton Philips said: “Our strategy for growth in convenience and online is now set. We have made significant progress in building our presence in the key growth channels of convenience and online.
“Morrisons.com will be making home deliveries of our great fresh food by the end of January 2014, supported through our long-term service agreement with Ocado.”
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