Turnaround at William Morrison Supermarkets PLC, 2004-2007
17 Pages Posted: 11 Dec 2015
Date Written: December 11, 2015
Abstract
The paper examines the turnaround in the fortunes of the UK supermarket chain William Morrison, which followed the takeover of Safeway PLC. Three elements of the turnaround process and their linkages are examined: the role of corporate governance, the stages of strategic planning and the role of key individuals. Evidence is drawn from interview notes with senior executives and contemporary press accounts. The case illustrates the importance of corporate governance in turnaround situations as the catalyst for management change, which can then facilitate the development of staged recovery plans.
Keywords: William Morrison plc, Safeway PLC, retail, supermarkets, United Kingdom
JEL Classification: G34, L2, L81, N83
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation