Two of the UK&'s biggest forecourt operators, Pace Petroleum and Malthurst, are set to widen a Spar store conversion programme after unveiling plans to ditch Budgens in favour of the symbol group at 22 Pace sites this week.
Anna Coules, manager, merchandising and shops at Pace and Malthurst, said Pace had made the switch to Spar because the symbol group offered greater flexibility, and said more conversions were in the offing.
&"The Spar offer can be tailored to suit each site. We have stores that are all manner of shapes and sizes, so this is important to us.
&"We&'ll be looking at the whole estate to see what other opportunities there are. I need to get round all of them to see which may be suitable for conversion. Spar is our brand of choice going forward.&"
The 22 sites, which will have estimated annual sales of £18.6m, will be transferred from the Budgens brand to the Spar fascia by the end of July.
Twelve stores will be operated by AF Blakemore, eight by Capper & Co, and two by Appleby Westward.
Pace and Malthurst operate 270 forecourt stores between them, of which 42 will be Spars following the conversion process. Spar UK, which is expected to announce details of a second major forecourt coup imminently, said that forecourts were the fastest growing part of the group&'s business. It currently operates 438 forecourt sites nationwide.
Pace is part-owned by Malthurst under a joint venture with property and financial companies Winston Group and The William Pears Group.
Richard Clarke
Anna Coules, manager, merchandising and shops at Pace and Malthurst, said Pace had made the switch to Spar because the symbol group offered greater flexibility, and said more conversions were in the offing.
&"The Spar offer can be tailored to suit each site. We have stores that are all manner of shapes and sizes, so this is important to us.
&"We&'ll be looking at the whole estate to see what other opportunities there are. I need to get round all of them to see which may be suitable for conversion. Spar is our brand of choice going forward.&"
The 22 sites, which will have estimated annual sales of £18.6m, will be transferred from the Budgens brand to the Spar fascia by the end of July.
Twelve stores will be operated by AF Blakemore, eight by Capper & Co, and two by Appleby Westward.
Pace and Malthurst operate 270 forecourt stores between them, of which 42 will be Spars following the conversion process. Spar UK, which is expected to announce details of a second major forecourt coup imminently, said that forecourts were the fastest growing part of the group&'s business. It currently operates 438 forecourt sites nationwide.
Pace is part-owned by Malthurst under a joint venture with property and financial companies Winston Group and The William Pears Group.
Richard Clarke
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