After a few of the most remarkable and challenging years in living memory, many local retailers may be looking for a new symbol partner that better meets their specific needs as they continue to emerge from the long shadow of Covid.
The last few years have changed everything. The world of local retailing has been turned on its head, shaken to within an inch of its life and spun round in circles until retailers are dizzy and exhausted after a period unlike any they’ve ever known.
It hasn’t all been downsides, of course. Most retailers probably saw sales and profits hit levels they’ve never hit before – but all that financial success has come at a cost.
As the Covid-era continues to recede into the distance, the world of local retailing has been left unrecognisable. What retailers could really be doing with now is a period of calm, measured normality to help them steady the ship, but that’s clearly not going to happen any time soon.
The energy crisis is set to take an enormous bite out of all retailers’ bottom lines; staffing challenges are getting worse rather than better; availability remains a huge problem; inflation and the rising cost of living are likely to soften consumer spending; DRS is on the horizon; the list goes on and on and on.
New direction
For many retailers, the time has come where they have reached a crossroads. They have had some successful if challenging years, so they may have some money in the bank even if they have no gas in the tank. The big question on the lips of many at this point is: would my business be better, stronger and more profitable with a different symbol or franchise partner?
This a fundamentally critical question to ask, but it’s a very difficult one to answer. The last few years have been just as hard for wholesalers as they have been for retailers. It’s tempting to think that your specific wholesaler hasn’t given you the service you needed over the last few years, but it’s worth remembering that the issues facing the entire supply chain have been industry wide.
Yes, some symbol groups and wholesalers may have faced the onslaught of challenges better than others, but nobody escaped the pandemic unscathed. Nobody.
So it will take a very clear eye and a very dispassionate analytical approach to decide whether the grass is greener and moving to another symbol group would put you in a better position to achieve your aims.
Comparing one symbol group with another is a daunting and complex task. Some would say that there is no completely reliable way to analyse how good a symbol group is until you’ve signed on that dotted line and actually started trading. The proof of the pudding is very much in the tasting.
But if you are keen to test the waters, we have produced a brief guide to some of the leading symbol groups in Scotland and across the UK. There are some very clear differences between the groups and Covid has served to accentuate some of those differences. The key however, is not to judge a symbol group on just one or two factors like delivery charges, promotional pricing or claimed availability levels. Try to judge each group in the round and try to establish what each group could bring to your specific store with your particular customer base.
What’s right for a 1,000sq ft store in Glasgow city centre might not be right for a 2,000sq ft store in Dumfries.
Busy year
It has, as everyone will have noticed, been a busy year for the symbol groups. Recruitment activity is, arguably, more aggressive than it’s ever been. The major UK groups like Costcutter, Nisa, Premier and Londis have been pushing harder and harder into Scotland, with some noticeable high profile successes for some of them.
The Scotland-focused groups have also been busy on the recruitment (and retention) front, but one thing is for sure: if you are looking to change group, you’ll have a long line of suitors at your door. That said, it would be foolish to expect too many sweetheart deals. Times are tough for wholesalers and all groups appear to be focusing more on quality than quantity.
In return for the enormous support that symbol groups can offer local retailers, they will be looking for commitment and drive from their retail partners. There are very few quick wins in this game and only be forging a strong, positive partnership with your symbol group can you maximise your returns over the longer term.
So have a look through the guide and start lining your ducks up – and, of course, talk to some other retailers who have experience of any groups you might be shortlisting. Inside information is invaluable. But probably don’t take absolutely everything at face value. If another retailer feels like they had a bad time with a particular group, that doesn’t mean you will too. There are countless factors that affect how well a partnership works and in these incredibly trying times, never forget the old adage: it takes two to tango.
Premier: delivering bigger profits
The UK’s leading symbol group continues to grow and example with almost 4,000 stores nationwide thanks to a relentless focus on delivering profit for retailers.
Premier is the UK’s number one symbol group with almost 4,000 stores nationwide. The group is committed to delivering more profits for retailers and a better shopping experience for consumers.
Premier has seen nineteen years of consecutive growth. Premier continues to advertise on TV. Premier is advertised every day, which will be seen over 100 million times annually. The TV advert features Premier’s famous Mega Deal promotions along with retailers to emphasise the local aspect of Premier Store.
As well as this, retailers also benefit from a full promotional programme covering all categories of fresh, frozen, grocery and impulse to ensure great value for shoppers to drive footfall into stores. This leading promotional package, along with own-label and price-mark-packs, really drives the value message to help Premier retailers grow their business.
Premier works hard to ensure that retailers have the best choice of products to suit their individual store. This includes both Euro Shopper, Booker’s entry level exclusive own-brand and Happy Shopper, the mid-tier option.
This is complimented by working closely with branded suppliers to ensure the best choice so shoppers can clearly see the great value available.
Backed by Booker, the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, Premier retailers can take advantage of delivery at cash & carry prices, as well as having the ease and convenience of shopping at any Booker branch.
‘Spend & Save,’ where retailers can save up to 5% on their non-tobacco purchases, is also proving popular with Premier members as this delivers real savings and adds to their bottom lines.
Premier does not operate any membership or joining fees and installs the fascia and imagery free of charge. A wide range of additional services such as energy savings, free Epos and central billing are also available that have been specifically created to add value and keep operating costs low for Premier members.
The group continues to go from strength to strength and its relentless focus in increasing choice, lowering prices and improving service has helped Premier members deliver fantastic convenience stores.
Budgens
As the UK’s longest-standing symbol group, Budgens offers retailers vast experience combined with a thoroughly modern package.
Budgens is the UK’s oldest grocery symbol retailer and whilst we remain true to our heritage, focusing on serving local communities with quality fresh produce and great value own brands, we are also continuing to develop our offer to cater for food-to-go, chilled meals, vegetarian and vegan options.
Budgens is available nationwide and has a flexible format suitable for neighbourhood centres, forecourts, suburban shopping parades, towns or villages of between 1,000 and 5,000sq ft. It is a great source of pride that in the 2021 Lumina symbol track report Budgens had the highest “likely to recommend” score of all symbol groups.
At Budgens we have focused on developing our chilled ranges to meet the needs of retailers who value their independence, recognising the enormous benefit that longer shelf life and smaller pack sizes bring to retailers in optimising availability and minimising wastage. We have also enhanced our offer by introducing additional fresh and chilled meal solutions such as ‘evening meal for tonight’ and ‘lunch time meal deal’ which now include healthier low calorie options, as well as increased vegetarian and vegan options.
To meet the shoppers’ rapidly increasing appetite for eating on the move, Budgens ahs partnered up with the likes of Cook, Laithwaite’s, F’real, Stone Willys and more. By introducing an improved hot ‘on the go’ solution we have also introduced new bakery ranges, iced drinks and a dessert offer to meet shopper needs in the fast growing ‘treat’ sector.
Backed by Booker, this guarantees access to group and channel exclusives, great quality and a fantastic promotional package with strong retail margins.
Budgens runs over 100 promotional offers every four weeks, including the new ‘WOW’ footfall-driving deals and – whilst focusing on every day lower prices on key lines such as bread, milk, fruit and vegetables – our marketing team provides free support all year round with personalised leaflets, point of sale, and seasonal kits to help retailers bring a seamless shopper experience. Budgens also supports retailers on all mainstream social media platforms and is the industry-leading symbol brand on Facebook with over 230,000 followers. Our dedicated team creates content to help drive footfall and interest around the brand which is advertised with geo targeting to store locations, sharing everything from fun offers and animations to delicious recipes for inspiration.
Budgens operates a zero cost model meaning there are no joining, membership or weekly fees. This includes a free fascia and installation package. Our mission is to support independent retailers to ensure continued supply, counter cost pressures and to help our retailers grow their business through expertise advice on fresh through our committed Retail and Forecourt Development Teams.
Benefits of joining Budgens:
- No joining, membership or weekly fees
- Industry leading rebate scheme*
- Extensive own brand ranges from entry level to premium
- Expert fresh food support
- Over 100 promotional offers every four weeks including the new ‘WOW’ footfall driving deals
- Free marketing support
- Industry-leading symbol brand on Facebook with over 230,000 followers
- Up to six day multi-temperature deliveries plus top-up at your local Booker branch
- Free collection of waste cardboard and clear polythene wrap
* Terms and conditions apply.
Budgens, Equity House, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 1LT | Tel: 0808 178 8644 | Key Contact: Stewart Fenn, Sales Director – BRP
Londis
As one of the fastest-growing symbol groups, Londis offers retailers channel exclusives, great quality and a fantastic promotional package with strong retail margins.
Londis is one of the fastest-growing symbol groups in the UK with over 2,200 members. Londis works in partnership with independent retailers, regional groups and large multiple site operators to help them increase cash profit, sales and footfall. Backed by Booker, this guarantees access to group and channel exclusives, great quality and a fantastic promotional package with strong retail margins.
At Londis we are committed to maximising on-trend growth areas such as home delivery, food-to-go and meal solutions to ensure our retailers are best placed to benefit from these trends. In 2022, Londis continues to focus on how we can help retailers Make More and Save More with a multitude of opportunities to make over £100k extra profit through our Fit for the Future programme. This initiative ensures our retailers understand the opportunities to help them to maximise footfall, sales and profits in their stores. It is the focus on areas of growth whilst not forgetting the basics like choice, price and service that helps Londis stand out from the competition in today’s convenience market.
Our new own-label brand, Jack’s, is proving extremely popular with Londis retailers. The Jack’s range has over 500 lines with a minimum 30% POR (excluding some chilled & fresh lines) and – with Tesco quality equating to consumer reassurance – it is delivering great sales already.
Londis operates a zero-cost model and is a flexible symbol partner that has a fully delivered service and support package to suit all. Members do not incur any membership, joining or delivery fees and also receive their fascia and imagery free of charge. With smart planning and local area knowledge, our experienced Retail and Forecourt Development Teams are committed to helping our members grow their business ensuring their store is well equipped and fit for the future.
The benefits of the Londis offer include:
- 100% cost free model
- Free fascia and installation package
- Earn up to 5% Spend & Save discount*
- Unrivalled buying power and Group exclusives
- Fantastic promotional package offering strong retailer margins
- FREE marketing support
- Every day lower prices on milk and bread
- Extensive own-brand ranges
- Tri-temperature fleet delivering all ambient, fresh and frozen together
* Terms and conditions apply
Londis, Equity House, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 1LT | Tel: 0808 178 8644 | Key Contact: Stewart Fenn, Sales Director – BRP
