UK grocery retailer Somerfield has announced that it has acquired the entire issued share capital of Scottish convenience store firm Aberness Limited.

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Aberness, which was founded in 1857, owns and operates 36 convenience stores, has franchise arrangements with operators of five other stores, and distributes to a further 130 stores, all of which operate under the ‘Mace’ brand. Net assets acquired were £4.8m (US$8.8m) as at 31 March 2003, Somerfield said.


John von Spreckelsen, executive chairman of Somerfield, said the purchase complemented the company’s existing store portfolio in Scotland.


The acquisition is the latest in a series of deals between supermarket retailers and convenience store chains. In the last few months Tesco has acquired 45-store chain Adminstore and Sainsbury’s has purchased 54-store chain Bells.

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