The new franchise agreement means that the UK's fourth largest supermarket chain will take over Sandpiper's chain of 'mini supermarkets' across the Channel Islands, with a number already open in Jersey before the St Peter's ‘Morrisons Daily’ opened today.

While the stores will be supplied with Morrisons’ own-brand merchandise and other branded products, they will also sell locally produced goods from more than 30 suppliers across the Channel Islands, including Guernsey Dairy, Beauvoir Nurseries, Bon Appetit, Castel Farm Eggs, Cimandis Bakery, Guernsey Mushrooms, Fresh Guernsey Herbs and Somerleigh Farm.

Pictured: the first store opened this morning, and was busy with interested islanders. 

Sandpiper’s CEO Tony O’Neill said: “I think Guernsey consumers will be pleasantly surprised with the ‘Morrisons Daily’ brand. Morrisons’ substantial buying power means we’ve been able to lower our current Foodhall prices by at least 5% on an average shopping basket and significantly more on many of Morrisons’ own-label products. The opening of the first store in St Peter’s marks the start of a major investment programme in our Guernsey retail estate which will include complete new fit outs, major refurbishment and full Morrisons branding from store fascias to our colleagues’ uniforms. We’re also taking advantage of the refurbishment programme to upgrade our Wine Warehouse brand to enhance its retail offer.

“Morrisons is unique in making more than half its own fresh food products so we’ll be introducing the ‘Morrisons Makes It’ products with ranges of: fish, meat, bakery, fruit and veg. They’re also British farming’s biggest supermarket customer allowing our customers access to Morrisons’ branded fresh meat which is 100% British.”

The six mini supermarkets in Guernsey have all had to be refurbished ahead of the rebranding programme. Local contractors have done the work, with the L'islet store next in line for the refresh and rebrand.