Multi-site Nisa chain Kash Retail is to conduct a major range revamp across its estate, with the potential for national expansion.
The company currently has eight sites in Yorkshire and the north-east of England. It recently relaunched its Bedale site in North Yorkshire last month, adding a refreshed food-to-go range and American confectionery.
Kash Retail operations manager Kevin Polley told RN the focus on food to go and local products will act as a blueprint for future revamps of the chain’s other sites. He said: “The shop was fine before the refit, but it was competing with a nearby Morrisons and Co-op. We kept asking what we could do to be different to those rivals.
“We looked at the entire range and decided to add products from Yorkshire suppliers into every category. We’ve got more than 250 lines from over 30 suppliers in the store now, and this includes bread, cakes, pies, sandwiches, ice cream and alcohol.
“There is signage on the outside and inside of the store to notify customers of the focus on local. They know we’re a hub for local products. We really wanted to create a more focused range and also offer good takeaway options for customers.
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“Alongside this, we’ve got products from national suppliers such as Country Choice and Rollover, and beer kegs and machines from Perfect Draft.
“We’re expecting a lot of demand for these at Christmas as customers will see them as an ideal gift for friends and family.
“Once they’ve got the machines, they’ll come back to the store as they know we’re stocking the kegs. We’ve also got Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone beer range, which is quite a difficult line to get a hold of in a convenience store.”
The site will also have a more value-focused section, to help residents nearby on lower incomes due to the cost-of-living crisis.
An official relaunch for the store on 13 October was attended by mayor of Bedale Amanda Coates, while a £500 cheque was donated to Mowbray School through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity.
“Within the first full week of the relaunch, there was a 9% uplift in sales, so the changes have had a positive impact and customers have reacted really well to it,” Polley said.
Polley added the refit of the Bedale site would also be useful in determining future refurbishments across Kash Retail’s seven other stores.
“It’s still early days because any potential site needs to be right, but we’re also examining the possibility of national expansion,” he said.
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