OPINION: What can you learn from My Local? Our exclusive road trip

In October last year, Mike Greene took over 140 M Local stores across the UK.

Rebadging them as My Local stores, Mike and his team set about turning M Local's old sites into thriving new convenience operations, adding a community focus to Morrisons supermarket standards and disciplines.

Five months in, and having spoken about his future plans for the chain, Better Retailing got the chance to spend a day with Mike in four of his stores.

BetterRetailing’s Steve Denham, himself a former retailer, spent the day with My Local CEO Mike Greene and IAA award winner Ramesh Shingadia on a road trip around 4 My Local stores in the Thames Valley area.

Each week over the next two months, Steve and Ramesh will share with us the lessons that they, and other convenience retailers, can learn from Mike and his team.

Part 1: A New era

My Local Thames Valley road trip

Part 2: Friendly

The Five F's are not just slogans but key principles

Part 3: Category Investment

Build the necessary level of credibility in customers' minds so that they have the confidence to trust My Local will be in stock every time 

Part 4: Crime

When did you last review your crime prevention strategy?

Part 5: Market research

Speaking to lapsed and non-customers will reveal a different truth.

Part 6: Different, Better, Best

Retail is not rocket science! Discover different, better and best ideas for your store. 

Part 7: View your store as a Monopoly board

Mike Greene explained he would think of a shop space like a Monopoly board. The premium space in a store is expensive like Park Lane and needs to return more profit, and the bay in the quietest part of the shop is more like Old Kent Road.

Part 8: Ramesh Shingadia's overview

IAA award winner Ramesh Shingadia gives an overview on the 5 F's of My Local and the lessons he has learnt on this 'eye-opening' road trip.

Part 9: The opportunity gap

Steve Denham analyses that the opportunity gap is not just for Mike Greene and My Local, it’s an opportunity for all independent convenience stores.