Somerfield has heightened speculation that it will bid for Londis, by announcing that it wants a franchise network.

John von Spreckelsen, executive chairman of the chain, revealed that the company was considering beginning a search for franchisees in the spring in an attempt to accelerate its expansion and reduce procurement costs.

Although declining to comment on Londis, von Spreckelsen said that a franchise operation had been under consideration since last year, when Somerfield started a trial in six stores operated by TM Retail, a convenience store group.

TM Retail has said that up to 200 of its stores could operate under the Somerfield name. A Somerfield representative said: “The advantage of us is that it gives a larger supply base in terms of turnover. There are 50,000 small stores out there of which a large proportion are not affiliated to a symbol group and these guys are real entrepreneurs.”

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