Midcounties Co-op set to buy four Warner's Budgens stores
High-profile Budgens retailer Guy Warner has agreed to sell four of his Cotswolds-based stores to the Midcounties Co-operative.
Guy will retain freehold ownership of the four properties, based in Bidford-on-Avon, Broadway, Moreton-in-Marsh and Winchcombe, with the deal set to complete this summer.
Midcounties said the acquisition of the four Warner’s Budgens stores would strengthen its presence in the Cotswolds and give greater access for its members to high-quality food stores.
Both the Broadway and Moreton-in-Marsh stores have won the Convenience Retail Awards on more than one occasion. Broadway was Guy’s first Warner’s Budgens store, which opened in 2006.
Guy now plans to develop his existing two forecourt stores under the Warner’s Budgens brand, as well as invest in new sites.
He said: “In the past 11 years we’ve developed four highly successful food stores, reaching a turnover of £20m in 2017-18. Midcounties is an excellent fit for these stores as we have shared community values as well as a total commitment to supplying more locally-sourced food and drink products.
“Our staff will have greater opportunities in a larger organisation and our customers will benefit from the Co-op’s extensive own brand range
“We are proud to serve shoppers in the Cotswolds and will continue to do so with our petrol forecourt businesses and new ventures.”
Midcounties Co-operative ceo Phil Ponsonby added: “We’ll be delighted to welcome the Warner’s Budgens colleagues into our Midcounties family as they’ve an excellent reputation for great customer service and product knowledge and will be a valuable addition to the Society. The quality of the stores that Guy Warner has built up over a number of years now provides us with a fantastic base to build upon.
“This latest purchase will also help strengthen our relationships with local producers, allowing us to continue to develop and grow our Best of our Counties range of locally produced food and drink. In addition, we will offer an increased range of own brand products to provide even more choice for shoppers.”
Readers' comments (7)
James | 21 Jan 2019
Interestingly this deal with mean that Midcounties dominance of the local food market will be close to 100% as Warner's were the only real competition
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John Silcock | 22 Jan 2019
What a pity. The Winchcombe Budgens has been a huge benefit to the town, carrying a much wider range of fresh produce (such as fresh fish) and getting much earlier deliveries than the Co-op, whose fresh produce shelves are usually virtually empty until lunch time!
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Lynette Coulter | 24 Jan 2019
Just heard this news today! Very disappointing since Winchcombe residents had the choice of either The Coop or Budgeons . Now no choice as of the summer.
I hope the great staff at Budgeons will remain.
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Linda Brunton | 24 Jan 2019
So sad to say goodbye to Budgens so soon after we moved to Winchcombe. Look forward to Coop continuing with the fresh baked goods.
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Sue Stapely | 03 Feb 2019
We read this news with sadness having always patronised the Moreton in Marsh Budgens particularly because of its commitment to local produce, freshly-squeezed orange juice and fresh meat and fish with knowledgeable staff. The two Co-Ops in Shipston on Stour which are an equal distance from our home are nothing like as good and the system of only opening belts to check out with trolleys on requests causes confusion and delays. The only reasonable Co-Op in the area is in Chippy and that's some distance away. I regret this decision.
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Margaret Rucklidge | 10 Feb 2019
I am sad to hear this, the Winchcombe Co-op is over crowded, with unfriendly staff. It is worse now it also runs a dumbed down Post Office. The 'dedicated PO till also takes groceries, so you can wait to do PO business while they ring up cabbages etc'. It seems they are very greedy and want to create a monopoly
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Katie Anson | 21 Feb 2019
A real shape. Budgens has been amazing for Winchcome. The Co-Op in Winchcombe on the other hand employs rude, no educated, ignorant, lazy staff who should all be sacked.
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