Read what’s happening in the convenience & independent retail space. Who are the latest innovators & winners in this marginalised retail sector?
Collect+, the 50:50 joint venture between PayPoint and Yodel, the rebranded business of HDN and Parcelpoint, has launched a service that allows consumers and small businesses to send parcels through their local corner shop. The service is available through 3,500
Spar retailer James Graven has opened an eco-friendly forecourt store in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, in partnership with Spar’s ‘Stores of the Future’ programme. The store incorporates a number of environmental initiatives and promotes its community involvement. It is designed to combine
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has taken its campaign for an amendment to the Localism Bill to key MPs who sit on the Committee that will scrutinise and amend the new law. In the brief sent to the Public
Rutter’s Farm Stores, the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, has promoted Robert Perkins to vice president, marketing. Perkins, who joined Rutter’s in 2007, had been director of marketing. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the convenience retail industry in the
Spar Scotland retailer, CJ Lang, has launched a recruitment drive for independent retailers with a package worth up to £33,600 for stores converting to the Spar brand. The package comprises up to £25,000 per store to help with conversion, including
One Stop, the convenience chain acquired by Tesco in 2003, has beaten its own expansion target for 75 new stores by 2013 with the acquisition of the Mills Group. One Stop is buying 77 stores from the Mills Group, the
The Co-operative Group has signed its biggest ever sponsorship deal to become the official broadcast sponsor of ITV national weather. The 12-month deal will give The Co-operative Food visual and verbal branding before and after the ITV national weather report,
Spar UK is launching its first digital magazine for customers in a bid to interact with shoppers online. The first issue is a Christmas special. According to Spar, it brings consumers information and advice to help them have the perfect
Convenience retailer Capper & Co, which operates 500 stores under the Spar fascia, has relaunched its fresh produce offer under the Market Garden brand. The move is designed to drive sales and footfall with high quality produce, demonstrating the business’s
A new reward fund has been set up to help catch perpetrators of violent crime against local shops. Launched today at the ACS Crime Prevention Forum and endorsed by Home Office Minister James Brokenshire MP, the fund will allow for
The Co-operative Group is poised to complete the roll out of its brand format to Co-operative stores by the end of the year and to Somerfield stores in the early part of 2011. Speaking at the 2010 IGD Convention on
The Co-operative Group has won the RSPCA People’s Choice Supermarket Award for its commitments to animal welfare for the second year running. The Co-operative won the award for its commitments to higher-welfare products including Freedom Food-labeled free-range chicken, Freedom Food-labeled
The ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on the Low Pay Commission to recommend a freeze in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) after 1 October 2010 claiming two in five convenience stores have laid off or not replaced
Morrisons, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, is to trial a new convenience format in the first half of 2011. The retailer is also investigating the opportunities for Morrisons online – it is the only grocery retailer in the top four,
Spar UK has posted a 3.1% sales increase in the three months to end July 2010, lifted by the trend to shop locally and growth in sales of own brand products, fresh food and wine. Spar said its 2,583 stores
The Co-operative has scooped the Best Sausage award at the annual SuperMeat & Fish Awards. The prize was awarded to the retailer for its own-brand Truly Irresistible Gluten Free Sausages. The SuperMeat & Fish Awards aim to reward excellence in
Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore is investing £1m to reduce the wholesale prices of volume lines including milk, Fosters/Carling cans, granulated sugar and Red Bull. According to Blakemore, the savings are worth on average £5,000 per annum per store and build
Henderson Group, owner of the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra retail brands in Northern Ireland, has reported strong sales growth in 2009, despite tough economic conditions. Compared to 2008, sales increased by 11% to £500m last year. Ron Whitten,
The Co-operative is running a promotion with iTunes to target Father’s Day gifts. From 7-20 June 2010 inclusive, Co-operative customers will be able to save £5.00 on the purchase of £25 iTunes gift cards in over 500 stores nationwide. According
Spar (UK) is spending more than £2m on promotional support to help retailers back the world’s biggest sporting events this summer. Throughout June and July this, Spar retailers across the UK will support the World Cup, European Athletics Championships and
Spar has launched the Change4Life healthy living campaign at its Filton Avenue, Bristol, store. It is the first convenience store in the south west of England promoting the initiative, which is designed to help families achieve and maintain a healthier
Retailers who play background music in their stores will be able to reclaim up to £20m in overpaid fees after an appeal from the music licensing body PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) was rejected by the high court. The Copyright Tribunal
The Co-operative Group has teamed up with Hallmark Cards to raise money for the 2010 Variety Club Gold Hearts Appeal Valentine’s Day. Five pence from the sale of every Hallmark Valentine’s card sold in Co-operative stores will go directly to
Spar wholesaler, AF Blakemore (AFB), and the retailers it supplies are gearing up for 2010 following a series of road shows. More than 125 retailers attended four regional events to discuss current industry forecasts and AFB’s plans to help retailers
