Like-for-like sales in the third quarter – Morrisons has reported a 2.4pc drop

Morrisons has reported a 2.4pc drop in like-for-like sales in the third quarter, making it the worst performer of the Big Four supermarkets.

The Yorkshire-based group has blamed “low exposure” to the growth areas of convenience stores and online shopping. Dalton Philips, chief executive, has said the group has “made good progress” in its overhaul programme but investors will be asking whether he’s moving fast enough.

Morrisons, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket chain, has reported a 2.4% fall in like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, in the three months to November.

The supermarket said its sales were continuing to suffer because it does not yet offer online deliveries, and it has only a small number of convenience stores.

Convenience stores are a currently a major growth area for supermarkets.

Morrisons is planning to launch its online service in January next year.

It will start food deliveries in Warwickshire, before rolling out the service to other parts of the country. It says it hopes to cover 50% of households by the end of the year.