United Norwest Co-op has announced a record £10m investment in 100 of its 276 convenience stores. The investment plan covers the next 12 months and includes conversions to the Late Shop or Village Store format, as well as refurbs. Martin Beaumont, chief executive at the Co-op, said: "Stores that have been refurbished or converted to the new formats have been showing excellent sales increases. "We believe this year's programme will have a further major impact on the group's turnover." It also signals the roll out of a number of concepts on trial at United Norwest's Late Shop store in Offerton, Stockport. Elements of the Food to go concept, on trial since October 1998, will be rolled out to selected stores including freshly prepared pizzas, and a modified version of the Taste of India curry bars with prepacked meals instead. Freshly made sandwiches, cash machines and the Cuisine de France part baked bread and pastries will be added to many stores. The Dawn til Dusk trade name will virtually disappear as 20 more recently acquired stores are converted to the new fascia. A total of 36 Nevins, Spar and Hanburys stores will also be converted. United Norwest has said it is also looking for further acquisitions in the c-store sector this year. {{NEWS }}

Topics