Travers Smith LLP has advised long-standing client McColl's Retail Group (McColl’s), one of the UK's leading neighbourhood convenience retailers, on a new long-term supply chain partnership with WM Morrison PLC (Morrisons).
Morrisons will provide a fresh food and grocery offer to McColl’s growing portfolio of 1,300 convenience store and 350 newsagents. More specifically, Morrisons will supply its newly relaunched Safeway branded products, and other branded products, to McColl’s on an exclusive basis for a period of 12 months, with a phased rollout programme starting in January 2018. The agreement will significantly advance McColl’s fresh food credentials and provide its customers with an enhanced range.
The Travers Smith team was led by Commercial, IP and Technology Partner Ben Chivers, who was assisted by Associate Michael Cuthbertson and Trainee Tessa Gilligan. Head of Competition Nigel Seay advised on competition law aspects of the deal.
Morrisons was represented by Ashurst, their team led by Partners Chris Bates and Dominic Ross and including Counsel Brian Murphy and Associate Dodge Grootemaat.
Ben Chivers commented: “We are delighted to have assisted our long-standing client, McColl's, on its transformative partnership with Morrisons, which will allow McColl’s to significantly advance its credentials in the convenience market."
McColl’s has been a client of Travers Smith for a number of years. The firm has acted for the convenience store group on a range of transactions including on its acquisition of a portfolio of 298 convenience stores from the Co-operative Group in 2016 and on its previous wholesale supply contracts.