A SUPERMARKET chain has revealed it is ready to ditch one of its stores. The Co-op sign could soon be coming down at the Welcome store in Engayne Avenue, Sandy. But good news is the Co-op says there will be no job losses. For weeks there have been concern

A SUPERMARKET chain has revealed it is ready to ditch one of its stores.

The Co-op sign could soon be coming down at the Welcome store in Engayne Avenue, Sandy. But good news is the Co-op says there will be no job losses.

For weeks there have been concerns that the store was closing with the loss of many jobs.

Now the company has said it is selling the store as a going concern but has refused to reveal who the buyer might be.

The Co-op says negotiations with a potential buyer are at an early and confidential stage and remain on-going this week.

Last week the Co-op said there was no truth in the continued rumours in Sandy that the store was either closing or would have a new owner very soon.

This week, though, following a confidential letter passed on to The Comet by a Sandy resident signed by a senior member of the Co-op management clearly outlining the sale of the store, the Co-op finally revealed why it is getting rid of the store.

The letter, signed by Laura Brooks of the company's customer relations department at its headquarters in New Century House, Manchester, said: "An announcement will be made in due course regarding the store.

"Selling this store was a difficult decision to make and one that we reached after lengthy consideration of the size, performance and potential of the store individually and within our wider strategy.

"In doing so we are creating new opportunities to expand further into the medium and smaller stores, similar to others already in the Sandy area, where the Co-op is strongest where we can and will continue to offer our customers the range of produce and levels of service that they have come to expect from us as a community retailer.

"We will continue to strongly support these stores."

An official statement from the Co-op on the Sandy store said: "We are not closing the Sandy store, but we are in negotiations to sell it as a going concern.

"Staff were consulted about our plans and we are keeping them informed during the ongoing negotiations.

"The good news is that the employees will be retained if the transfer of the business goes ahead.