A SUPERMARKET has changed hands as part of a multi-million pound deal.

The Safeway store in New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, is one of 114 bought by Somerfield for £260m.

Somerfield said jobs would not be affected and it would be business as usual for shoppers until the stores were converted.

Stores will continue to be operated by Morrisons until they are handed over to Somerfield for refitting and re-branding.

When regulators allowed Morrison's to buy the Safeway chain, they insisted on the disposal of a number of outlets.

Most of the smaller stores sold by Morrisons, including Larkfield, are around 10,000 sq ft, fitting its strategy of operating "convenience stores" in town centres.

The transfer of the individual stores will be managed by a phased programme between now and April 2005.

A Somerfield spokeswoman was unable to confirm when the Larkfield store would be converted.

Steve Back, Somerfield's chief executive, said: "The transfer of 114 Safeway stores into the Somerfield estate is great news for our business, good news for customers and good news for all of the staff who are joining our team at such an exciting stage in our growth plan."

Somerfield currently operates 650 Somerfield stores and 500 under the Kwik Save banner. The business dates back to 1875 and has an annual turnover of £5bn.

The company employs more than 53,000 people and reported a 1.1 per cent like-for-like sales increase in the first quarter of 2004.