Retailer Douglas Fraser’s Nisa store in Thurso has undergone a £260k refurbishment.
Douglas, a Nisa retailer since 1983, provided the investment to rejuvenate the building and provide fresh propositions across the store for customers.
The 3,000sq ft store, which opened its doors again to the public in early March after a three-week shutdown, now boasts an improved food-to-go section including hot bake & bite food, Rollover hotdogs, an fwip ice-cream machine, a new Skwishee machine offering frozen raspberry, mad mango and redberrylicious flavours, and a pattiserrie counter by the checkout counter.
Also popular with passing trade is the newly-installed Smokin’ Bean coffee machine.
Douglas told SLR: “The refit was needed as the last one was in 2006 and existing chillers were not energy efficient and prone to breakdowns and felt we could introduce hot food etc.”
Store Director Lesley Mill added: “We had to think about what the next big opportunity is and without a doubt we’ve found it in the new food-to-go section.
“The reaction has been crazy from customers and we are getting the best part of £1,000 a day through the machines.”
Maintaining prominent local links, the store offers a range of freshly made bakery products, sandwiches, and pastries from 22 local suppliers.
“We’re a store with the community at the heart of what we do so we had to make sure we work with local suppliers where we can,” added Lesley. “It is a point of difference for us compared to some of our larger competitors and we know if we can support them, they will support us.”
A newly-installed beer cave – the first one in the region – and new chillers have also proved popular. The store also offers the National Lottery, PayPoint, and a free to use ATM for customers.
The store also plays an important role in supporting local community groups through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity. To date, the store has donated more than £15k to initiatives including Thurso Community Café, Caithness Mental Health Support Group, and Thurso High School.
Lesley added: “We needed the store to be far more energy efficient so this was the perfect opportunity to go ahead with the refurbishment.
“The response from customers has been amazing. They think they’re in an upmarket Marks & Spencers or something like that. It is early days and there will be lessons to be learned but we are delighted with the early reaction.”
Phil Knox, Retail Development Manager at Nisa, said: “This has been a brilliant project to be involved with and full credit to Douglas and the team for the high standards this store now shows.
“The store is working with a host of suppliers both nationally and locally and I can’t wait to see where this store will progress to over the coming months.”
