Read what’s happening in the convenience & independent retail space. Who are the latest innovators & winners in this marginalised retail sector?
Working to help and support Franchisee’s doesn’t start at 9am Monday and end at 5pm on a Friday for One Stop. Not only are Business Development Managers (BDM’s) available whenever is required and support services open seven days a week,
Blakemore Retail has opened a brand new flagship petrol forecourt store in Laceby, North East Lincolnshire. The 5,000sq ft store, which occupies the site of a former Little Chef combines a Spar convenience offer with Greggs, Subway and Insomnia coffee franchises,
Spar UK is running a series of weekly promotional deals for shoppers, to help retailers drive sales during key events this year, all supported by a national media programme. Coming up in August is a burst of weekly deals running around
With social media at the forefront of community engagement it is becoming an ever more important communication tool for local retailers to get specific, targeted messages to their customers.
The Co-op is connecting festival goers at this year’s Belladrum festival in Inverness-shire. For the first time in the festival’s history revellers at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, which takes place in the Highlands between 4-6 August, will be able to
Sales at the Co-op this week have shown that the ever-popular Carnation has been outsold by the bloom-of-the-moment, the Peony. The Carnation, a quintessential British flower, has been a staple in bouquets for generations but has been overtaken in popularity by
Newspaper publisher News UK has joined forces with bigDL, the consumer money-saving app and retail marketing tool, to help drive sales in independent convenience stores. The partnership, which will enable News UK to further strengthen its relationship with retailers, will
Regional Co-operative chief executives, Mark Smith from The Southern Co-operative and Minnie Moll, joint chief executive for the East of England Co-op, have been appointed by HRH The Prince of Wales to be Business in the Community’s (BITC) Responsible Business
James Hall, the SPAR wholesaler for the north of England, has today (22 July 2016) announced the acquisition of North East Convenience Stores (NECS), a 30 store multi-award winning family owned chain based in the North East of England. James
James Hall launches new and James Hall & Co Ltd, the SPAR wholesaler for the north of England, has made a host of changes to its WebSPAR system, to bring a better digital experience to Spar retailers.
One Stop has launched ‘Carriers for Causes’, a new funding scheme where community groups can apply for funding grants of up to £1000 towards a variety of local projects.
Do you know your pilsner from your porter, your stout from your saison? Over the past two years, nearly three new breweries have opened in Britain every week, brewing an enormous variety of styles: bitters, porters, stouts, pale ales, milds,
Spar brand is introducing two new cheesecake pots, to meet the consumer demand for an everyday treat. Spar Strawberry Cheesecake and Spar Lemon Cheesecake (both RRP 60p for a 100g pot) are launching to retailers in June 2016.
Spar UK is launching two new Daily Deli lines into the Spar brand lunchtime range, in a move to grow sales in the popular savoury snacking sector. Spar Hard boiled eggs 100g (RRP £1) is a delicious, high protein snack that’s
James Hall & Co, the Spar wholesaler for the north of England, is highlighting yet another fantastic reason to join the leading symbol group – its Centralised Store Replenishment (CSR) tool. CSR is an innovative and advanced ordering system that closely
An artisan micro-distillery from Burnley has won a pivotal listing in fine food supermarket Booths, a brilliant boost for the blossoming local company.
One Stop has launched its new fresh range across its’ stores nationwide, bringing in 85 new lines across the range with a focus on fresh meat, produce and ready meals; while One Stop Franchise is launching a new messaging app
Today The Co-op launches its Summer TV campaign ‘Be as unpredictable as the Summer’. The 40-second commercial, accompanied by four 10 second ads create a contagious spirit of unpredictability that unleashes the potential for experiences to take you anywhere.
Blakemore Trade Partners has opened two new stores at the University of Nottingham with a view to growing its university-based estate. The new stores, based on the University’s Jubilee Campus and University Park Campus, offer students an extensive new convenience range
Paul Cheema, one of the UK’s leading convenience store owners, has joined forces with bigDL, the powerful digital marketing platform, to drive footfall and sales in his convenience stores. The partnership will see Cheema roll out bigDL’s breadth of marketing
Northern supermarket Booths has donated a tremendous £4,250 to the North West Air Ambulance Charity. The North West Air Ambulance Charity’s helicopters fly 365 days a year, with the doctors and paramedics on board providing rapid treatment to patients across
The Southern Co-operative has launched regional partnerships with the disability charity, Scope and a group of local environment and nature charities, the Wildlife Trusts, donating £40,000 to each as part of a new community scheme to address local concerns across
Shelley Goel has been working with One Stop as a franchisee in Acocks Green since the beginning; being one of the first fully fledged franchisees to open in 2013. After seeing some great success in his first store, One Stop
Spar brand’s revamped toilet tissue has been recognised by the Good Housekeeping Institute for its great quality and design. The popular monthly women’s title has endorsed Spar brand’s Luxury Soft White Tissue (four-pack and nine-pack) for its performance, ease of use
The Southern Co-operative is celebrating a strong increase in its annual sales. The Society, which has 250 community food stores and funeral operations in 11 counties across the South of England, reported a 4.7% increase in total income to £366.8m
