Supermarket giant Morrisons has been named as one of the most successful retailers of the last year.

The Bradford-based chain enjoyed sales of £2.97 billion in 2000, shooting it into the 'Top 12' of UK retailers.

It's a massive improvement for the company which had been sitting at 25th the previous year. And according to industry analysts Retail Intelligence, the future for Morrisons and the country's other leading stores is bright.

At 12th position, Morrison's may still be some way behind leaders Tesco (£16.958 billion sales), but it has jumped 13 places up the pecking order since 1990.

That rise is in stark contrast to the fortunes of Marks & Spencer, which has dropped two places to number five.

A decade on decade forecast by Retail Intelligence suggests that the leading four supermarkets, Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Safeway, with combined sales of more than £46 billion in 2000, are likely to lengthen their lead.

Introducing greater diversity in products and services was highlighted as vital for all chains, with the Internet expected to play a much bigger role in sales by 2010.

The complete positions and sales of Britain's biggest retailers in 2000 were as follows (1990 position in brackets):

1 - Tesco £16.958 billion (2)

2 - J Sainsbury £13.57 billion (1)

3 - Asda £9.2 billion (6)

4 - Safeway £7.659 billion (5)

5 - Marks & Spencer £6.482 billion (3)

6 - Kingfisher £6.098 billion (7)

7 - Somerfield Stores Ltd £5.465 billion (4)

8 - Boots UK Retail £4.666 billion (8)

9 - GUS £3.81 billion (13)

10 - Dixons Group £3.377 billion (15)

11 - John Lewis Partnership Plc £3.374 billion (9)

12 - Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc £2.97 billion (25)