After another challenging year for convenience retailers — and with 2026 likely to bring more of the same — is now the right time to consider switching to a new symbol group?
Premier: biggest and best
Premier is the UK’s largest symbol group with almost 5,000 stores across the UK with around 600 of these in Scotland, making it the biggest symbol operator in Scotland and the consistent success of Premier retailers at the SLR Awards demonstrates the high standards of modern Premier stores.
Backed by Booker, the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, Scottish Premier retailers benefit from delivery at cash and carry prices and the convenience to top up at any of our 22 branches in Scotland to maximise availability.
Premier retailers gain access to a fantastic promotional programme covering all categories and backed by a comprehensive EDLP programme. The programme drives footfall and increases cash profit with our Mega Deals giving POR of over 15% and most of our core deals offering at least 20% POR.
Our dedicated Scottish promotions each period also offer a real point of difference from the competition. Premier is committed to helping Scottish retailers reduce costs and supporting both retailers and shoppers alike.
Key incentives include:
- Reducing energy consumption with efficient LED lighting, Beer Caves, walk-in Soft Drinks area and refrigeration units.
- Extending our spend and save scheme to include vape products, earning retailers up to 5% rebate.
- Access to our new low-cost Scoot home delivery platform with ZERO commission on home delivery sales of over £5k a week.
- Linking up with Healthy Scotland to support communities and children across Scotland.
- Food donation points in store via Fareshare.
Scottish retailers have access to over 600 own-brand products through the Tesco family mid-tier Jack’s range and the entry-level value Euro Shopper range. Both exclusive ranges come in PMPs and offer strong PORs.
Premier’s store development teams help design and implement our latest thinking in stores including Soft Drinks walk-in refrigeration units, Beer Caves, Refresh Zones, lunchtime ‘Mega Meal Deals’ and local Scottish bakery line-ups, whilst ensuring stores are as energy efficient and sustainable as possible.
Some Scottish stores who have invested over £200k have seen this pay back within 12 months and Premier’s small store format model means that now any Scottish stores from 300sq ft+ can benefit from the Premier model.
Call us today on 0808 178 8644 or visit JoinPremier.co.uk.
Make 2026 a year to remember with Londis
Londis enjoyed another fantastic year of recruitment in 2025 with more than 160 stores joining the Londis family. Londis now has well over 2,500 members with most of these stores joining from other symbol brands – and for good reason. The unique strength of our offer was recognised recently at the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards where Londis was named Symbol/Franchise Retailer of the Year 2025.
This is testament to our commitment to continually develop our own brand, offer the best possible value to shoppers and the strongest possible margins for our retailers.
At the heart of the Londis model is our mantra: Make More and Save More on Added Value Services. Londis operates a zero-cost model and is simple to do business with because we know that’s what matters to retailers.
Being part of a bigger group give us the power to offer more than most of our competitors with exclusive new products and deals and our promotions remain some of the strongest in the sector.
This power allows us to deliver more Group Exclusives, first to markets and exciting NPD than ever before, keeping Londis retailers ahead of the game. To keep life simple for our retailers, we provide as standard a range of time and money-saving benefits like free recycling and heavy investment in our infrastructure and also continuing to develop our exclusive added-value service deals to help everything from crime prevention to innovative food- and drinks-to-go areas.
Our promotions remain the best in the market and our margins some of the strongest. To stay ahead of the competition, we have a laser-like focus on putting our retailers first. Everything we do ultimately benefits all Londis retailers including initiatives like our Store Of The Future which showcases all our latest thinking including digital screens, new-look POS, a beer cooler and merchandising efficiencies throughout the store. These investments help us continually learn and raise the bar, providing us with learnings and insight which can then be passed onto all Londis retailers.
We continue to add extra SKUs to our hugely popular Jack’s own-brand range – a great-quality range that is proven to drive shopper loyalty. We have also introduced more and bigger promotions to drive sales further, including new key promotions on Chilled & Fresh lines.
New for this year is our fantastic low-cost delivery platform Scoot. Extremely easy to use for both retailers and stores, Scoot helps you Make More and Save More by offering a ZERO commission model on home delivery sales of over £5,000 a week.
We are investing record amounts into technology to ensure Londis remains easy to do business with and that we are fit for the future. We have brokered exclusive deals with a number of ESEL companies with reduced charges, interest-free credit and extended warranties as well as a huge range of other Value Added Services, using the strength of a bigger group to negotiate exclusive discounts for our retailers.
With Londis, you WILL make more and you WILL save more. There’s never been a better time to join Londis.
Call us today on 0808 178 8644 or visit Joinlondis.co.uk.
Now is the time to Discover SPAR Scotland
SPAR Scotland is, quite simply, unique in the Scottish independent retailing sector. After years of heavyweight investment and huge growth, SPAR Scotland is perfectly placed to help you grow your business.
Our offer is unmatched – which helps explain why SPAR Scotland has been named SWA Symbol Group of the Year for three consecutive years.
We are a uniquely Scottish business and 100% of our effort and commitment is spent supporting SPAR retailers throughout Scotland with our outstanding and market-leading offer.
So, is it time you joined the hundreds of independent retailers already growing their business with SPAR Scotland?
DISCOVER what you can only access with SPAR Scotland
- Award-winning SPAR own-label range – a unique point of difference
- Exclusive partnership with Barista Bar hot drinks
- First-to-market access to NPD – like Prime, Feastables and MAS+
- The only Scottish wholesaler to regularly advertise on STV
- Not just a wholesale partner, we’re a retailer with stores across Scotland
- SWA Symbol Group of the Year – for three consecutive years
DISCOVER the best support network in Scotland
- A one stop shop from the moment you onboard to the SPAR family of retailers
- A local brand with a national and global support network
- Market-leading business development team
- Regular multi-temp deliveries – ensuring stock when you need it most
- Championing Scottish produce, with over 50% of our lines sourced in Scotland
- Retailer-specific website
DISCOVER fantastic promotions, profits and everyday value
- Up to 6% rebate
- Three-weekly promotions
- Seasonal event activity driving additional footfall
- Digital and gamification activities
- Strong value package on everyday staples – bread, milk, eggs, bacon and more
To find out more, call 01382 512 000 or email discover@sparscotland.co.uk.
