Discovery Retail, the parent company of the Eddy’s Food Station convenience chain founded by former Dundee United Chairman Stephen Thompson, has entered administration.
Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang & Son has already snapped up three Eddy’s stores in Larbert, Greenock and Leuchars, saving 35 staff from an uncertain future. The fate of a fourth store in Buckhaven remains uncertain.
Ironically, a number of Eddy’s Food Station stores had previously traded under the Spar fascia.
Eddy’s Food Station launched in May 2022 with a store in Alloa. Thompson had plans to open a total of 30 within five years, backed by London-based Nash Capital. As well as those already mentioned, the chain also acquired a store in the village of Ceres, Fife. This was subsequently sold to Greens Retail and the Alloa site now trades as a Keystore More.
Last July, the Greenock and Buckhaven stores underwent a £600,000 refurbishment when the retailer started a partnership with Iceland that saw the Buckhaven site converted to a dual-branded fascia with Iceland Local.
Commenting on the acquisitions, CJ Lang boss Colin McLean said: “We are happy to welcome these three convenience stores into the Spar Scotland family, following the sad news of its previous owner recently entering into administration.
“We recognise the challenges facing many convenience store operators at the moment, but we are pleased we have been able to work quickly to secure the future of these stores and the store staff involved. This will ensure local jobs are retained and the stores remain open to continue serving their communities.”
Thompson is the son of, and worked alongside, Eddie Thompson, co-founder of convenience store chain Morning, Noon & Night. One of the most significant retail deals in Scotland saw the chain of 50 stores sold for £30m in 2004.
