MINEHEAD'S Somerfield supermarket is to become a new-style SPAR in a deal announced as the Free Press went to press yesterday (Thursday).

The Avenue outlet will be redeveloped as one of the first EUROSPARs in the Westcountry - a new concept to mainland Britain which its owners say provides a modern shopping experience, combining the range for a big family weekly trolley shop with the traditional benefits of a local store.

The first EUROSPARs in England were opened in Nottingham and Sheffield earlier this year and Minehead's will be among the first three in the South West.

The change of retailer follows the Co-Operative Group's takeover of rival Somerfield earlier this year.

Under a deal agreed by the Office of Fair Trading to tackle local competition issues, either the Co-Op or Somerfield in Minehead had to be sold to another food retailer.

The Somerfield outlet has been bought by Appleby Westward Group Ltd, the regional SPAR distribution centre for the South West.

A spokesman for the company said all existing jobs had been secured, staff would be retrained and the current stock run down in preparation for the launch of the new store in late November or early December.

Appleby Westward Group managing director John Pattison said he was delighted to have acquired the Minehead store, which had a strong trading record.

He said the new-look supermarket would boast an extensive range of goods, including value lines, with a focus on fresh foods and food services.

In addition, it would also sell stationary, magazines, books, CDs, DVDs and toys.