UK grocery retailer Morrisons is set to move into the convenience category in the first half of 2011, while it is also investigating the possibility of opening its own internet grocery outlet as part of a range of new investments being planned by the company.

The British supermarket operator will begin a trial of a new convenience format during the opening six months of next year, which it believes, along with internet shopping, offers “attractive opportunities for future growth”.

Morrisons made the announcement in a statement on its interim results for the half year to 1 August 2010, during which it recorded a 0.9 per cent increase in like-for-like sales, excluding VAT, fuel and the contribution made by new stores.

However, the retailer’s turnover during the period was up by 9.1 per cent year-on-year to £8.1bn , compared with £7.5bn in the first half of 2009.

In its statement, Morrisons said that, as anticipated, the UK’s consumer environment had remained challenging, with disposable incomes coming under pressure from a rising tax burden and consumer confidence impacted by concerns over unemployment and public sector spending cuts.

However, although market growth in the UK grocery sector – at 3 per cent – was at its lowest level for five years, the retailer said pressure on consumers had been eased through the virtual elimination of the food price inflation seen in the previous two years.

Despite this, Morrisons said it anticipated a similar low level of market growth during the remainder of 2010, with further pressure on consumer spending.

In the statement, Morrisons’ non-executive chairman, Sir Ian Gibson, said: “Our first half performance has been solid, in a tight market.

“At a time when value is a priority for everyone we have continued our run of market beating sales growth, attracting more customers to Morrisons than ever before, reflecting our broad appeal.”

In a separate development, Morrisons has announced that non-executive director and board member Paul Manduca will retire from the company onthe announcement of its full year results for the current financial year scheduled for 10 March 2011.

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