Blakemore is set to ramp up store recruitment as it revealed a 3% increase in like-for-like retail sales this week.
The Spar wholesaler, which recruited 70 new independent stores to its portfolio in 2013, said it was recruiting at a rate of about two new stores per week but would look to ramp up the numbers this year.
“We had a record year last year of over 70 new independent stores,” said sales director Neil Mercer. “This year we are on target to beat that record year by 43% - bringing in 100 new independent stores.”
He added Blakemore had carved out a £2m store co-investment budget for retailers and would look to increase the number of stores with Subway concessions to 15%. The company was “working closely with Subway to maximise the opportunity,” he said.
It comes as Blakemore this week said its like-for-like retail sales had increased by 3% year on year. Sales growth had been driven by store recruitment, a 172% increase across its non-food range and “strong growth” in own-label ready meals and fresh produce, it said.
Blakemore also revealed it had completed a click & collect trial and had begun the rollout of a loyalty card trial. The trial of the My Local Spar Rewards Club, which started in June and will run for six months in 10 Spar stores, gives customers one point for every £1 spent.
The company declined to share details about the click & collect trial but said it had run across 21 Spar stores. Blakemore was now “deciding the best way to take this project forward.”
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