UK upmarket retailer Waitrose has remained silent on reports it is in negotiations to buy sandwich chain Eat.
A spokesperson for the retailer told just-food today (29 March) that it would not comment on reports that it is in talks to buy 100 branches of the Eat sandwich and coffee chain from Niall and Faith MacArthur, its founders.
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It is understood that the couple own about 45% of the shares and the sale price will be around GBP100m, The Sunday Times reported yesterday.
Waitrose has a month to finalise the deal, the publication reported, which requires approval from the John Lewis Partnership, its owner.
The John Lewis Partnership also declined to comment. Eat was unable to be reached for comment.
Waitrose last week signalled that it is planning to expand into the convenience sector with the opening of its first smaller format outlet this summer.
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By GlobalDataThe company said that it will open the first of its smaller stores, which will range in size from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, will open in Cambridge.
