Spar distributer James Hall has now rolled out its Centralised Store Replenishment (CSR) to 50 independent Spar stores.

The CSR system uses store sales and stock levels to generate an accurate forecast and suggested order for retailers. CSR monitors are used to manage stock and ensure that the minimum amount of goods is held on-site, whilst also maximising product availability.

The latest store to use the system is owned by M L Richardson & Sons Limited, a family-run company operating seven Spar shores across Cumbria.

The CSR system was installed at the family’s Spar Low Row Service Station earlier this month.

Store owner Martyn Richardson said: “CSR helps us in many ways. It cuts out human errors and makes ordering more efficient. It also keeps our stock levels down which make it easier to work stock and helps cash flow. It also provides useful reports and information to help review slow-sellers.

“At Low Row we have noticed an immediate improvement in availability and optimised stock holding. We also appreciate the support and knowledge of the ordering team at James Hall who help us with each order. It seems like a no-brainer, all retailers could benefit from CSR.”

James Hall & Co started trialling the CSR system in their company-owned stores in November 2007.

James Hall retail systems advisor John Walmsley added: “We saw around a 1% like-for-like sales increase in the stores on CSR by maximising availability, whilst also minimising our overall stock holding.

”CSR was adjusted to suit independent retailers and was trialled in 2012. Since then it has been carefully and gradually rolled out, until we began to invite other retailers to join in 2016. Since 2016 we have gone from just a dozen stores using CSR to 50, with more in the pipeline.”

The total number of James Hall stores using CSR – including focus partners and company-owned stores – is more than 200.