{
  "id": 7765081,
  "title": "Morrisons sales rise as debt-ridden grocer cuts costs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/morrisons-sales-rise-as-debt-ridden-grocer-cuts-costs",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-16T10:30:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/morrisons-sales-rise-as-debt-ridden-grocer-cuts-costs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Morrisons, the UK grocery retailer owned by private-equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), has reported stronger sales growth as it strives to reduce its substantial debt. Like-for-like sales climbed by 3.2 percent to £1.4 billion in the three months ending July 31st, driven by record summer temperatures and the World Cup, according to CEO Rami Batiéh. The retailer has achieved £53 million in cost savings during the same period, bringing its total savings to £995 million since launching cost-cutting measures in March 2023. These savings are aiding in reducing net debt and mitigating the impact of rising supply costs and consumer confidence concerns caused by the Iran conflict. Batiéh highlighted that all Morrisons business units, including supermarkets, online, convenience, pharmacy, and Myton manufacturing, are experiencing positive growth. In response to the escalating price war in the UK grocery sector, Morrisons announced it would match rivals' prices on hundreds of essential items, including bananas, bread, chicken, bacon, and pizza. The company has also committed to accelerating its expansion of the Morrisons Daily convenience stores, opening 71 new locations this year with plans for hundreds more in the future. Despite selling the freehold rights to many of its properties and considering selling Myton manufacturing assets, Morrisons has maintained control of the majority of its supermarket estate. The firm has managed to cut its debt by 46 percent since 2022 and aims to raise its target to £750 million for cumulative cost savings.",
  "summary": "Morrisons has toasted faster sales growth as the private-equity-owned grocer nears £1bn in savings as it races to trim its huge debt pile. The grocer saw like-for-like sales jump by 3.2 per cent to £1.4bn in the three months to the end of July, as its chief executive attributed this “stronger sales momentum” to the [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}