Not the most exciting share, but with safeway conversion now complete (and how much better the old safeway stores are now) the shares should start to come back. Already started a nice rise from a recent low. Costs for conversions will still hold the price back but when that is out of the way, should be be nice. 190p

Can't see Tesco, Sainsbury or Asda (Walmart) getting involved, wouldn't they come up against the competion regulations?
Why not a European company someone like Carrefour, are MRW's margins attractive to them? Or maybe the two German co's wishing to hoist their %age of the market.
2517

They have to reduce the store sizes ie floor space to be able to compete with the German stores. Must get the store overheads down, otherwise they are going to come under huge pressure from Aldi etc.

Bosses of Morrisons and Marks & Spencer under increasing pressure after Philip Clarke quits Tesco

By Rupert Steiner

Published: 22:01, 21 July 2014 | Updated: 07:50, 22 July 2014

Under pressure: The positions of Dalton Philips at Morrisons and Marc Bolland (pictured) at M&S, have been seen as vulnerable given the poor performances of their businesses



The bosses of Morrisons and Marks & Spencer were under increasing pressure last night following the departure of Philip Clarke as chief executive of Tesco.


The positions of Dalton Philips, the chief executive of Morrisons, and Marc Bolland, head of M&S, have been seen, along with Clarke, as vulnerable given the poor performances of their businesses.


One City expert said: ‘After the Tesco decision, if Morrisons doesn’t deliver in trading then Dalton is next in line – and I don’t think Marc is a million miles behind.


‘Sainsbury’s has just had a change and Andy Clarke is doing well as Asda smelt the coffee that customers wanted straight forward pricing 18 months ago.’


Tesco announced that Clarke would be replaced in October by turnaround specialist David Lewis, who is president of the personal care business for Unilever.


Clarke will leave with a year’s salary, shares and pension pot worth a total of around £21m.


Tesco was left yesterday with another profit warning, its second in two years.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2700353/Morrisons-M-S-bosses-pressure-Philip-Clarke-quits-Tesco.html#ixzz38DRO1qWT
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The irony is that while Morrisons has a property estate that’s fairly fit-for-purpose — compared to Tesco, which has those huge stores to deal with — its terrible trading recently has put it on the radar of activist investors who smell blood, and perhaps value.

You see, Morrisons owns around 90% of its stores, warehouses and offices (as well as its own abattoirs!) This property is worth £9-£10billion. Yet with a share price a little over 250p, Morrisons is valued at less than £6 billion.

You don’t need to be Warren Buffett to see an opportunity here. Theoretically Morrisons could be acquired, all the property sold, and investors could pocket £3 billion for their troubles.

In reality that won’t happen — for a start, who’d buy all those supermarkets, if not Morrisons? Plus while the supermarket is having a tough time – sales plunged a breath taking 5.6% over Christmas — it’s still a profitable enterprise with millions of loyal customers.

Finally, Morrisons has debts as well as assets, although it also has cash and inventory that would go some way to covering its obligations.

A very crowded sector. Expansion plans of Aldi and Lidl into a saturated market makes me question there sanity.

Something has to give very soon.

Tanker: Exactly. It is still a profitable enterprise with millions of customers.

But if there were a bid, the SP would shoot up, thereby valuing the properties into the business and thereby also lowering the perceived likely profit dramatically.

So would a bid work? Would it end up being worthwhile? Hmmm?

Why not move towards a online/wharehouse HOME DELIVERY OPERATION only. Over many years of course but if they own most of their own property, margins in this low margin area would be better than competitors competing for home deliverys.

Something to think about as long as they source thier products from local farmers etc etc.

Juicy plums and Tomatoes, lettuce from Bridlington etc, etc.

land is running out land can only go up
they own prime land fact

I see, how back in 1999, the 'dot com crash' had a bad effect on them too. The share price took about 8 years to recover the lost ground.

and just a little info for you all talk of mrw closing some stores andbuilding their own homes on these sites for rent . they have looked at their new site in lawley telford
were homes are built above the shop sold out in days

I suppose it's a good use for redundant/excessive store-space, but I recall Lawley is a fairly down-at-heel Area; so I'm surprised there is enough demand ( at the right price of course ), and the residents will be awakened by deliveries . . . or has MRW actually closed the store?
Tesco has been snapping-up small sites, like larger pubs where there is a good housing stock, car-parking and as a Bonus a history of selling Alcohol. Maybe MRW has a few of these too...?

their is now hundreds of new homes all round the new mrw store and a loverly place to live

Where is it, Tanker?

in telford my friend as moved their because of is job he loves it comes from oxford
says he wished he had moved their years ago I said its new you would of lived in a barn .

the apartments above mrw are great I would buy one if one comes on the market

Sounds like the area is Lawley Village, Telford. The flats would appear to be behind the Morrisons unit with five 'loft flats' at the top of the building. Can't see any windows though, Tanker. Is this the right place?

yes you need the other angle to the store .

their are hundreds of apartments behind the store .