Safeway strengthens front line strength
Lawrence Christensen to take over retail operations
May 2 2003
Safeway is focusing on boosting its all important sales figures by handing responsibility for its retail operations to Lawrence Christensen, its supply director.
The additional role for the widely respected Christensen, who will report directly to Safeway chief executive Mr Carlos Criado-Perez, sends a clear signal that the UK supermarket operator is going all out to maintain market share as potential buyers consider their bid price for the business.
Two weeks ago, the company reported a ‘marginal’ 0.1 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in its fourth quarter, but conceded that uncertainly over the future of the business has hit trading since January.
Christensen joined Safeway in 1974, becoming supply director in 1999. He is already responsible for the group’s retail operations in Northern Ireland. He is well regarded in the industry, and is understood to be high on rival operator Morrison’s list of executives it would retain if successful in acquiring Safeway.
