Select & Save is planning to expand its independent symbol estate, targeting a near 70% boost in stores by the end of next year as it pushes ahead with a new proposition.
Sales director Barry Coleman (below left) said its new partnership with Booker, refreshed branding and business development service was helping to attract new retailers while enhancing its existing estate.
The symbol group currently consists of 90 independent stores, and one company owned, after shedding 40 underperforming and voluntarily departing sites as it refocused its estate over the past year.
“We’ve concentrated on improving the brand, ranging, and store standards, which has given us the capability of enhancing the stores we already work with and recruiting new ones,” said Coleman.
”It’s about quality over quantity as we move forward.”
Coleman said Select & Save planned to reach 150 stores by the end of 2026, with 18 already in the pipeline. These include Spar, Go Local, Morrisons Daily, Nisa and more.
Its new supply deal with Booker, which it signed at the start of the year after switching from Bestway, has been a major driving force behind refreshing its proposition and attracting new retailers.
“Chill and frozen sales have phenomenally increased, up 15% on a weekly basis,” said Coleman. “Not only is there a bigger breadth of range, backed with strong own label, but it’s the quality too. All of a sudden we’ve created a very competitive proposition for our retailers.”
Select & Save has rebranded 22 stores so far and expects the majority of its existing estate to be converted by the end of next year.
Coleman explained, however, that maintaining strong store standards and disciplines, such as running more promotions and improved merchandising, was crucial in protecting the new symbol identity.
As part of its proposition, Select & Save promises retailers at least one visit a month from a business development manager (BDM).
”We have a team of four BDMs on the road, covering the north east, Midlands, and north west,” said Coleman. “They’ll manage the existing estate by helping them grow and improve sales. We pride ourselves on our service.”
The store growth goals come as Select & Save appoints Colin Shaw as its new head of commercial. He will be focused trading opportunities and generating central income from the supply base to support its retailer proposition.
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