Spar has attacked the Londis senior management team, as it ruled itself out of the auction for the rival convenience group.

Jerry Marwood, managing director of Spar UK, said the Londis directors were wrong to call the convenience sector beleaguered and said that Spar was not interested in buying its rival.

Marwood pointed to the growth in the convenience sector, and Spar's five per cent rise in underlying year-on-year sales. He also urged Londis directors to put up or shut up. He said: “If you are leaving, get on with it, but do not rubbish the potential to get out.”

Marwood, a former Tesco management trainee, said a tie-up with Londis would have brought insufficient gains.

The race for Londis remains wide open after its board was forced to abandon plans for a £40m recommended offer by Musgrave, the Irish group that owns Budgens.

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