Read what’s happening in the convenience & independent retail space. Who are the latest innovators & winners in this marginalised retail sector?
Morrisons has opened its first convenience store under the M-local brand and is putting the emphasis on fresh foods. The Ilkley,Yorkshire, store opened at 1pm today and is the first of a three-store trial designed to evaluate the convenience offer,
The Co-operative is supporting Welsh Cambrian Mountains lamb with the launch of five seasonal products into selected larger stores nationwide this week. From today (Wednesday 6 July 2011), five cuts of Cambrian Mountains lamb will be available under the retailer’s
Spar has teamed up with the NSPCC today (4 July 2011) to launch an initiative designed to encourage people to share their favourite childhood recipes online and raise money for Childline, the 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The
Spar claims it has helped National Lottery operator Camelot achieve its best-ever annual sales performance. In the year to 31 March 2011 Camelot grew total sales, including those from Spar stores, to over £5.8bn, up 6.8% year-on-year. Total National Lottery
Spar has won an award for its revamped own label wine range, which has recorded strong sales growth. The retailer took home the Own-Label Range of the Year Award at the Grocer Gold Awards held last week, thanks to the
The Midlands Co-operative Society is claiming an industry first by diverting all food waste and packaging at its 172 food stores from landfill. The retailer piloted a landfill-free total waste solution at six Midlands Co-operative stores in April 2010, using
The Co-operative Group has been named Green Retailer of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards for the second year running. The retailer beat off competition from a number of other businesses, including Tesco, at the event hosted by trade
The Co-operative has teamed up with Cadbury Twirl to raise £50,000 for Mencap and ENABLE Scotland, the retail group’s charity of the year. Cadbury Twirls, featuring a Mencap fundraising message, will be available in around 3,900 Co-operative food stores across the
Spar wholesaler, James Hall, is planning to build its business with retailers in the north west by promoting fresh foods and in-store investment. The move follows the opening of a new depot in Preston. The Bowland View depot, which became fully
Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co has quenched the thirsts of more than 1,000 cyclists raising money for the NSPCC, as part of Spar UK’s ongoing support of the children’s charity. The Preston-based wholesaler and distributor donated 2,000 bottles of
Ethical plasters, designed by students from Bushey Meads School, are going on sale in Co-operative stores today (1 June 2011). The One Careplast plasters are the result of a nationwide competition to design the next One product for Global Ethics,
Spar’s worldwide sales grew 4.5% to €29.8bn in 2010, aided by aggressive expansion of stores into new countries and regions. The results continue a positive sales performance with cumulative growth of 10.4% in the last two years. Gordon Campbell, managing
Spar International is expanding its presence in Africa with the opening of its first store in Malawi. It is the 34th country in which the retailer is now present. Spar Malawi plans to open up to 10 more supermarkets and
Spar’s wine range has scooped a total of 98 awards in three top wine competitions. The convenience retailer won accolades for its own brand and branded wines in The International Wine and Spirits Competition, The Decanter World Wine Awards and
The Co-operative Group has invested £1m in creating a ‘village’ stand to showcase its businesses at a series of agricultural and other shows throughout the summer. The village incorporates Co-operative Group businesses including food, farms, travel, pharmacy, banking and funeral
Spar said it is proud to be the only convenience retailer proactively supporting National Wine Month. The initiative, which is being co-ordinated by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, is launching this year for the first time and hopes to
Local shops have welcomed the Government review of the high street and the appointment of Mary Portas as an independent advisor to lead the project. ACS chief executive James Lowman, who is attending today’s High Street summit at the Department
The Co-operative is launching a Family Fun voucher scheme offering shoppers a booklet of vouchers worth £80 in savings when they spend £10.00 or more on groceries. The booklets will be on offer from 18 May to 14 August 2011
Spar Czech Republic has donated the leftover fresh products from its Fresh Food congress, recently held in the capital, to Prague Zoo. Event organisers donated leftover ice, fruits and vegetables to polar bears in the zoo. According to Spar, the event itself
The Co-operative has won two gold awards for products in its premium Truly Irresistible range at the Grocer Own Label Food and Drink Awards 2011. The Co-operative’s Truly Irresistible Fairtrade Milk Chocolate with Butterscotch won gold in the Grocery Confectionery
Google is launching a competition to find the best independent retail website in the UK. The Best of British Web Competition aims to inspire small retailers to make the most of their websites and reap the business rewards of being
Spar UK is giving away free schools’ sports day kits for children, as part of the symbol group’s ongoing UK Athletics sponsorship. According to Spar, retailers across the UK can use the branded sports day kits locally as they choose.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the renewed Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy published today, but has called for a more integrated approach to Government tobacco control policy. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Customs agents are doing a
Spar wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang has completed its acquisition of AM Landsburgh (St Andrews) and added 10 stores to its 95-strong estate. Scott Malcolm, managing director of CJ Lang, said: “When we sold our cash & carry and foods services
The Co-operative Group is to provide live national broadcast coverage of the Royal Wedding on its in-store radio for customers and staff across the UK on 29 April 2011. The broadcasts will be transmitted in all Co-operative food stores with
