Nisa store trials divide symbol estate into five

Nisa is piloting new store formats and overhauling its own-label range Heritage in a bid to appeal to a wider range of shopper demographics.

The retail buying group has revamped two stores in recent weeks following a detailed analysis of its store formats and shopper missions.

It has split its symbol estate into five new formats - neighbourhood, high street, small store (below 1,000 sq ft), forecourt and supermarket. High street and neighbourhood formats are already on trial.

A 1,800 sq ft Nisa Local store on Castle Street, Cardiff, reopened last week under the new high street format. Already a Nisa store, it has been given a new charcoal and yellow fascia. Window graphics have also been removed so passers-by can see into the store.

Inside, the store has a strong focus on food to go and hot food, which has been relaunched under the banner ‘The Food to Go Co’. It also has a new seating area, a Costa coffee machine, new shelving, a queue management system, bespoke wine units and electronic shelf labelling in the beer, wines and spirits section.

In its first week of trading, sales increased 21% to £19,000, claimed Nisa.

A store in Peterborough is due to open on Monday under the neighbourhood format.

Nisa format and development director Raj Krishan said the new formats recognised that shoppers in different locations demanded different things from their local stores.

“One size does not fit all, so we went back to the drawing board, looking at the range, layout and look and feel of the stores,” he said.

Nisa is also overhauling its 1,000-strong own-label Heritage range. Nisa COO Amanda Jones said the £200m brand was being relaunched following an end-to-end review involving packaging redesign and product reformulation.