Eros Retail has set out to reach £100m in annual turnover within the next two years through an expansion of its estate.
The Scottish convenience store chain told The Grocer it had a “huge appetite for growth” after consolidating the business during Covid with the disposal of four stores.
It currently runs eight sites which have an annual turnover of £16m, but now has plans to open 10 more stores over the next six months, with the first one launching at the end of May.
Group MD Harris Aslam explained these sites will allow the business to stretch the “length and breadth” of Scotland, including Kirriemuir, Shettleston and Fraserburgh, having previously focused on the east coast.
These stores are also expected to push its annual turnover to a minimum of £40m, taking it a “big part of the way” to reaching its two-year goal. Aslam added the business aimed to stay on the “acquisition trail” by continuing to look at further opportunities in the current financial year, either in individual stores or multi-site groups as well.
He explained an important part of the business’ growth strategy will be the hiring of David Bateman as head of retail from June. He will be bringing a wealth of experience having spent 27 years in the convenience retail sector, including working for Bestway and Palmer & Harvey. He is currently a retail development manager for Nisa in Scotland.
”I am delighted to be joining as head of retail during such a pivotal and exciting phase of growth,” said Bateman. “In particular, I look forward to overseeing the retail and trading teams as well as working with wider colleagues and partners within the sector with whom I have built a tremendous relationship over my many years in the sector.”
Aslam added: “I’m absolutely delighted to have him on board and have him lead our retail strategy in the business. He’ll be instrumental to our growth going forward.”
Aslam explained these various changes have been led by an upcoming relaunch of the business, that will see it switch from Eros Retail to Greens Retail at the end of May.
”It’s about realigning our values and bringing our four Ps to the forefront – people, place, product, planet,” he said. ”That’s what we’re all about and that’s what we want to drive home in order to deliver our overall strategy.”
It will also tie in with its ‘Greens’ fascia launched in 2016, the business said.
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