Delivered wholesale and convenience specialist Nisa Retail is closing in on the 5,000 store mark.
More than 1,000 new independently-owned outlets have joined the Scunthorpe firm’s stable in less than two years, with 624 joining in 2000 and a further 401 in the 35 weeks to September.
Greater London is the biggest region for sign-ups, with the number of large, multi-site key accounts seeing sustained growth, accelerating the reach of the £1.6 billion turnover operation.
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Partners include Tout’s - named Large Convenience Store of the Year at the Convenience Store Awards - Ascona Group and Amacor.
Steve Leach, sales director at Nisa, said: “Following a record year for recruitment in 2020, we are pleased to be continuing this momentum this year with 401 new partner stores on board. The sustained growth in new partners and stores is testament not only to the brilliant team at Nisa, who have gone above and beyond during the past 18 months in continually challenging circumstances, but to the strength of Nisa’s proposition for independent retailers.
“This is where we strike the balance between recruitment and the support of existing partners, through our fresh thinking approach to partner support, competitive pricing and an unrivalled own brand range.”
Following the 2018 acquisition by Co-op, its own brand range has been rolled out by the 44-year-old business to the 1,400 plus partners.
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More than one in four of the 2021 additions have also converted to Nisa’s latest Evolution store format.
Nisa’s standing in the sector is demonstrated through its consistent industry recognition, recently awarded the accolades of Best Symbol/Franchise Group at the Retail Industry Awards for the second year running and Shoppers Favourite Forecourt Fascia and Shoppers’ Favourite Convenience Fascia for BWS at the Convenience Store Awards.
All is backed up by an industry-leading logistics and delivery network.
Innovation is at the fore too, the company’s annual Nisa Expo heard this week.
A trials manager role has been created at the Normanby Enterprise Park headquarters to roll-out creative solutions and rigorously test them.
Initiatives have ranged from a biscuit trial with a supplier and an augmented reality voucher scheme.
Head of central operations at Nisa, James Taylor, said: “The introduction of a dedicated trial manager to the team enables us to focus on the opportunities that come our way and get involved at the very earliest stage in many exciting initiatives that help to keep our partners ahead in the sector.
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“We are working with some of the most progressive and forward-thinking partners to test out some of the opportunities and when the trials are successful and we’ve properly analysed the outcome, we’re in a great position to roll them out across a wider number of Nisa partners.
“It is another way we are developing the offer Nisa provides its partners to ensure the package is far-reaching and focused on the future and the growth of individual businesses.”
The last financial year saw the business turn a loss of £9.4 million into a £10 million profit, with double digit growth across like-for-like platforms as the pandemic brought hyper-local shopping to the fore.
*Initial published store figure amended due to error in detail given
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