It is a tricky business to keep on top of what the numbers of stores belonging to each symbol group mean. At one level, it could mean that head offices are able to negotiate better deals because they have more shops taking part in promotions. At another, it could mean that more local retailers are choosing one group over another as it is delivering more to their bottom lines. It could be fashion. It could be an exercise in badging for vanity.
However, now that the IGD has updated its annual figures, Booker’s Premier symbol group has overtaken Spar UK to top the chart with a 15.9 per cent of outlet numbers versus 15.7 per cent. Bestway takes third spot with a Best-one/Best-in share of 13.8 per cent, followed by Lifestyle from Landmark at 12.9 per cent.
Londis has dropped to an 11 per cent share and Costcutter to a 9.5 per cent share. Mace has grown to a 5.3 per cent share and Nisa to a 4.8 per cent share.
Overall, there are 16,288 symbol group stores, up 2.9 per cent on the previous year. This shows both the effort that wholesalers are putting in to delivering good support packages for independent retailers and a certain vitality about the sector as a whole.
Chander Hingorani
06/07/2011
If you wanted proof of how well Bookers are doing, it came today when they announced that their first quarter sales have gone up by a stagerring 9.5% as compared to last year and by 9.1% excluding tobacco. Tobacco sales went up by 5.7%.
Well done Bookers- a success story and do you why? Beacuse they are now the leading suppliers in this business and they are also the largest Symbol group.
Also well done to Convenience Shops who continue to trade with Bookers and dont forget that excellent deal they have with NFRN.
I am sure that Bookers have an excellent business plan and the way they are going they will continue to go from strenght to strenght .