Peace broke out at Nisa-Today's after another turbulent fortnight at the group.

Nisa members supporting the board and those in the Nisa Members Association both hailed its recent members-only forum at Chateau Impney, near Droitwich, as a step in the right direction.

The harmony came only two weeks after the Nisa board delivered a stinging attack on the NMA for derailing last year's proposed merger with Costcutter, and the controversial decision to deny NMA member Anjum Khan a place on the board.

"It looks like most of the members are keen to put the last year and some of the current discontent behind them," said Harry Tuffins MD Paul Delves.

"It was clear that management are keen to listen to members' views and increase democracy within the membership."

Nisa-Today's executives used the event to outline future operational and trading strategies, listen to members' views and gather feedback during the day.

The members were also given details of a new trading initiative, the Business Builders Transfer Order System, that has been designed to help retailers stock the right ranges and fill gaps based on sophisticated information gathered from sales data.

"This is a quick win and should build volume tremendously," said Delves of the new system.

Meanwhile NMA chairman Mark Proudfoot praised the forum. "Over the past few years Nisa has lost touch with the membership and this event started to address this." But he added there was also a great deal of sympathy for Khan.

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