A new Morrisons Daily store has opened in a major UK city, marking a fresh chapter for a long-standing local business. The franchise, located on King Street in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, began trading on May 29.
The store is run by Sarj and Kindy, a couple who have been serving the Fenton community since 1988. They recently closed their family-run shop, which had been operating for decades, and transitioned to the Morrisons Daily franchise at 351 King Street.
In a heartfelt Facebook post on the new branch's page ahead of the opening, the couple wrote: "This business has always meant more to us than just a shop. It’s where our family grew up, where friendships were built and where generations of local families have walked through our doors."
They expressed gratitude for the community's support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying: "Through good times and difficult times, this community has supported us in ways we’ll never forget, especially during COVID, when the kindness and support shown to our family was truly overwhelming."
The couple assured customers that while the location has changed, the people behind the counter remain the same. "Thank you for supporting our family for almost 40 years," they added. "We can’t wait to welcome you all into our new home."
Morrisons operates 1,600 Morrisons Daily convenience stores across the UK, of which around 600 are franchise stores. These franchises allow individuals or businesses to sell goods or services under the Morrisons brand through a licensing agreement.
The opening comes amid Morrisons' broader strategy to streamline its convenience store portfolio. The supermarket giant recently announced plans to close approximately 100 company-owned Morrisons Daily stores, which were acquired as part of a £190 million rescue deal for McColl's in 2022. These stores have been loss-making despite efforts to improve trading.
Morrisons attributed the underperformance to "significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices," including rises in the national living wage and employer National Insurance contributions. However, the chain confirmed that franchise stores like the new King Street branch are unaffected by the closures and continue to expand.
A HM Treasury spokesperson defended the government's economic policies, stating: "We have the right economic plan - reforming business rates, with a £4.3 billion support package to limit bills rises, capping Corporation Tax at 25%, cutting red tape and taking action on the cost of living to boost the sector."
The new Morrisons Daily store represents a new beginning for Sarj and Kindy, who have deep roots in the Fenton community. Their transition to a franchise model allows them to continue serving local residents under a well-known brand while maintaining the personal touch that has defined their business for nearly four decades.
