September 2005

Montagu Private Equity and Electra Partners sell TM Retail to the management in a deal believed to be worth £145m. At the same time TM Retail strikes a deal with ATM provider Bank Machine with the intention of supplying cash machines to the majority of the group's estate

October 2005

Management begins meetings with 35 key suppliers to explain future strategies. It chooses key suppliers as category champions to help develop specific categories in stores - it begins work on replacing all soft drinks chillers with GlaxoSmithKline

March 2006

In partnership with Philip Morris, it rolls out the first of 1,200 specially designed tobacco gantries. The task is completed by August and results in a 3.5% value uplift year-on-year

April 2006

The company reveals that it is undertaking a complete fascia review and is to drop the More, Forbuoys and Dillons fascias in favour of Martin's for CTNs and McColl's for c-stores (RS McColl in Scotland). It sets a target of the end of 2007 for rebranding. It also unveils plans to include supplier logos on the new fascias.

June 2006

TM Retail is renamed Martin McColl. The company says this will bring the name in line with the rebranded stores

July 2006

As Martin McColl, it announces in-store bakery formats with Cuisine de France. It plans to take the number of fixtures from 13 to 200 within 12 months. It also begins a trial at 10 stores incorporating the Wine Cellar-owned Booze Buster brand

September 2006

The retailer unveils its flagship store in Bromyard, Herefordshire

October 2006

Store rebranding is completed ahead of schedule. The retailer begins internal rebranding of its estate, which will involve overhead supplier logos to direct customers around its stores

December 2006

Having completed a successful trial of the Booze Buster format, McColl announces plans to extend the formula to 350 stores. At its first suppliers conference, it reveals it is working with Masterfoods and Cadbury to design new branded counters.

February 2007

The retailer declares that buying a rival c-store chain is its top priority for the year