Morrisons creates 2,400 extra jobs

The jobs are on top of the 2,000 new posts the company is creating this year.

Many of those jobs will be in the Bradford area as the firm develops its massive Farmers Boy food processing plant at Girlington and goes ahead with plans to build a new supermarket in Thornbury.

The extra 2,400 new jobs were announced as the growing chain reported its annual results.

The company announced a 5.6 per cent rise in turnover to £2.29 billion and saw an 11.5 per cent increase in its pre-tax profits to £151.4 million.

The chain, which has stores dotted from Carlisle to Northampton, said it would build seven new branches as part of its on-going expansion programme.

While the locations of five of the new sites have not yet been named, Morrisons said it would develop two outlets at Norwich, Norfolk and Letchworth in Hertfordshire.

Morrisons., which has headquarters in Thornton Road, has already started building superstores at Brampton in the Dearne Valley, Banbury, Erith and Retford. It's site at Halfway in Sheffield will be ready for trading by the end of this month.

The group, which runs 85 stores, said it had bought an existing superstore at Anlaby in Hull.

It will increase its number of branches to 99 by the year 2000.

Chairman Ken Morrison said: "The number of jobs is great news. There will be many opportunities for team-spirited people who understand what good old-fashioned customer service is all about.

"Although the industry remains extremely competitive we believe our unique shopping environment and low prices will continue to attract new shoppers as well as ensuring we retain our loyal customer base.

"The recent investment in our central facilities will enable us to take advantage of buying opportunities as and when they arise and to operate at improved levels of both service and cost."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.