Morrisons sales rise but profit hit by pandemic costs

However, its total revenues were down 1.1% to £8.73bn, reflecting the loss of fuel sales during the period.

The supermarket giant posted a profit before tax and exceptional items of £148m – down 25%. It blamed the coronavirus pandemic, but said costs came in at £62m, reduced by business rates relief of £93m.

During the period the supermarket started supplying the remaining 240 McColl’s stores and increased its online and home delivery capacity fivefold, with five new channels: Morrisons.com store pick, food boxes, doorstep, ‘Morrisons on Amazon’ and Deliveroo. It also recruited more than 45,000 new and temporary colleagues.

David Potts, chief executive, said: “From the start of the pandemic we stepped up and put the company’s assets at the disposal of the country to help feed the nation. Morrisons is at the heart of local communities and responded quickly when it mattered most, and we are very grateful for the British public’s appreciation of all the vital work our colleagues are doing. I believe we are seeing the renaissance of British supermarkets.

“We are now looking forward to holding on to what we created in the first half, building on our colleagues’ inspiration and innovation, and sustaining the momentum of a broader, stronger Morrisons. I’d like to again thank every Morrisons colleague for their incredible efforts: you’ve earned your key worker status several times over.”