Store sales from back of a lorry

SAFEWAY and Argos are locked in a row over a controversial decision by the supermarket to sell cut-price electrical goods - from the back of a lorry. In a highly unusual strategy, Britain's fourth-largest grocer has been selling discounted goods, from vacuum cleaners to TVs, from trailers in its supermarket car parks.

The branded goods are being sold at a discount of up to 25% from six trailers that travel to stores nationwide and operate at weekends.

However, Safeway is furious that Argos is apparently trying to block the scheme. It believes Argos employees called council officials to a sale at Safeway in Skegness, Lincolnshire, demanding that the trailer be moved on. Safeway was forced to switch to the supermarket foyer after planning officers invoked a minor clause, dating back to when the supermarket was built, that banned trailers from its car parks.

Argos, a subsidiary of the GUS empire, denies that it blew the whistle. 'It wasn't us - we are not scared of competition,' sniffed one Argos source. 'Besides, I'm not sure our customers want to be seen buying goods from the back of a trailer.'

But Safeway is unrepentant and says the initiative has been hugely successful, despite the interventions. 'We've been told it was definitely Argos that complained to the council,' says a spokesman. 'Mind you, it's easy to see why if our goods are so much cheaper than theirs. It won't stop the sales, in fact we are going to be investing in more trailers.'