The Mills Group is expected to break through the £100m turnover mark for the first time at the end of its financial year on January 31, 2006.

The company, which runs 31 CTNs and 51 c-stores across the North East, Midlands, and South Wales, will have doubled its turnover figure from 2001, as it moves further away from its newsagent roots and more towards a c-store offer.

Mills sales and marketing director David Pickford said: “Although it’s only a projected forecast we’re confident it can be achieved. The figure is not only being driven by our core strengths like newspapers, magazines and tobacco but also by alcohol sales, which have doubled since 2001, and milk and grocery, which have gone from £3.5m in 2001 to a projected £6m.”

The figures come on the back of the development of the new Mills Local fascia, launched in three of the company’s stores in the North East.

Pickford told C-Store that the company was happy with the progress of the three concept stores but was in the process of fine-tuning the product offering in-store before rolling out the new fascia further.

He said: “At present our newspaper and magazine section is the first thing customers see when they walk into our stores but we’re considering putting a chilled and fresh section there instead. It’s just a case of tweaking the offering to get the best out of the stores.”
Mills has also launched an improved company website, revamped gondola promotional ends and new in-store signage with the tagline ‘Saving you more’, which was a suggestion put forward by store staff.