Bestway Wholesale has announced the national launch of the Good Food Retail Network, which will improve access to healthier, affordable and culturally relevant food in independent convenience stores.
Developed in collaboration with Impact on Urban Health and Rice Marketing, the project will enable indies to stock and promote healthier ranges that customers trust and can afford.
The launch event, hosted by Peter Babudu, Executive Director of Impact on Urban Health, brought together wholesalers, suppliers, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), councils and retailers. Attendees heard the findings of the first-year external evaluation and were invited to join the Network.
The Good Food Retail Network builds on a pioneering project launched in 2019 by Rice Marketing and Impact on Urban Health, with Bestway Wholesale as wholesale partner.
The pilot, developed with Bestway Wholesale and 13 councils, reached 228 retailers across Costcutter, Best-one, Londis, Nisa, Premier and Spar, in low-income areas across London, Oxford, and Buckinghamshire. The project received supplier backing from brands such as Danone, Kind Snacks, KP Snacks, Mars and Nestle.
Over 100 healthier lines (across chilled, frozen, grocery, bakery, confectionery, soft drinks and snacks) were promoted in Bestway depots, supported by point-of-sale, promotional activity and stronger shelf-labelling. Results showed that simple changes in pricing, placement and promotions can have a measurable impact on purchasing behaviour – and ultimately on health outcomes.
The initial trial also highlighted the importance of risk as a barrier to stocking healthier options. So Rice Marketing and Bestway developed a free stock drop which allowed retailers to try new healthier products for free, funded by councils, and to prove that healthier options will sell if they are available. Since 2022, Bestway has supported Rice Marketing to deliver £16,500 free stock to retailers funded by councils.
Kenton Burchell, Group Trading Director, Bestway Wholesale, said:
“Bestway Wholesale is proud to be the first national wholesaler to implement this model, developed with Rice Marketing and Impact for Urban Health. Together we’ve proven that healthier products can drive sales through smarter placement and promotion – and this is a blueprint that can be scaled across the industry.
“No other wholesaler has the scale and relationships to deliver this at pace – and that is why Bestway is leading the charge. For Bestway, this work is central to our ESG [Environmental, Social, and Governance] commitments. We recognise our responsibility to support public health, anticipate government policy, and help independent retailers grow sustainably. By leading this collective movement, we can make a real difference to families who need access to affordable, nutritious food the most.”
Stephanie Rice, Director of Rice Marketing, said:
“We are delighted to launch the next stage of the Good Food Retail Network. This is more than a campaign; it’s a long-term shift in how the sector can operate. By uniting wholesalers, suppliers, retailers and local government, we’ve created a scalable blueprint for the industry. With healthier, affordable products already gaining traction, this Network is driving real, lasting change.”
Burchell added:
“This project demonstrates Bestway’s commitment to both sustainability and public health – empowering independent retailers to be part of the solution while also driving their commercial success.”
“We’ve got an obligation to our communities because the mission is there for people to want to be healthier. So when they’re coming in, allow them to have that variety of product in your store rather than just a sugary treat.You start to stock these items. And the beauty of that is I’m a businessman at the end of it. And when you start seeing the till ringing it kind of initiates the feeling that you’re doing the right thing.”
