Morrisons writes to reassure anxious UK farmers over US takeover

Private equity bids for supermarket chain have raised fears among Morrison's thousands of suppliers

Morrisons has written to the UK farmers whose produce fills its supermarket shelves to reassure them that the takeover offer led by US investment firm Fortress will protect the character of the business and its relationship with its suppliers.

In a letter to the 3,000 farmers who supply the grocer, seen by the Guardian, Morrison's chief executive, David Potts, writes that the company's board believes the Fortress would be a suitable and responsible owner", and that its pledges about the future of the company carry genuine weight".