United Norwest Co-op is to step up its aggressive acquisition and refurbishment programme in the new year. The society plans to phase out the fascias of its Dawn to Dusk, Nevins, and AM/PM convenience chain acquisitions in 2001. Conversions are already under way at 14 former Dawn to Dusk stores in a £12m project which finishes in mid December. But the society will keep some of the Hanburys fascias on stores it acquired in 1998, although it recently converted two to the Late Shop fascia. The aqua and blue Late Shop livery has now appeared at 100 stores, and will be rolled out to a further 100 next year. United Norwest is also at the forefront of a trend to merge post office and c-store functions in a new combination store format. It is following the lead of Spar in Leicester and Star News in Worcester and Stratford with a one-stop post office and convenience counter. The recently refurbished Late Shop offers post office services in line with its seven day opening hours. United Norwest has added 140 c-stores to its portfolio which includes pharmacies, travel shops and superstores, in the last three years. It bought a further four c-stores last month and will convert them to its Late Shop format. A spokesman said a team of three was working on ambitious acquisition plans for 2001. {{NEWS }}

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