It’s been a tumultuous year yet again so it makes sense to keep on top of your options as you focus on maximising sales and profits in your business – so could it be the right time for a fresh start with a new symbol partner that better meets your specific needs?
By Antony Begley
Let’s be perfectly honest: the last four or five years have been pretty horrendous on lots of fronts. The bumper sales and profits of the otherwise horrific Covid years are a distant memory and all we’ve had since then is wave after wave of pretty brutal challenges.
Aside from the fact that we’ve had to cope with fundamental shifts in the way consumers shop, we’ve also had a steady stream of business cost challenges to deal with. Take your pick: rocketing energy prices, minimum wage and National Insurance hikes, epidemic-level shoplifting, rampant inflation, a cost-of-living crisis, chronic recruitment and staffing issues… the list goes on and on.
And that’s before the new and proposed legislative changes around issues like vaping, HFSS, DRS, business rates and more. It’s little wonder the sector is in turmoil and, worst of all, there’s no sign of things getting better any time soon. So how exactly are you meant to plan for a better future when you don’t know what’s happening next week, never mind next year?
Focus
The simple answer to this question is to focus on what you can control and keep an eye on the many things you can’t.
One factor more or less with in your control is investment. Yes, getting your hands on cash to invest can be challenging for many retailers but the reality is that today’s shoppers are so used to high retail standards that they’re less and less likely to accept untidy, messy shops. They’ve gotten so used to clean, neat, orderly, precise retail that they expect the same standard – or similar – of their local convenience store.
It doesn’t always necessarily mean investing huge sums, but it does mean keeping on top of how your store is presented and trying to see it through the eyes of your shoppers. That’s a message that’s clearly understood by many retailers already, as demonstrated on the shortlist for this year’s SLR Awards. We’ve had two or three years of really quite significant investment in stores, way beyond what we would see during our judging rounds in days gone by.
Yes, we’re obviously seeing some of the best stores in our awards judging but the clear risk is being left behind. If you don’t invest, sales fall. So you don’t have the money to invest, so sales fall again. And the cycle repeats.
The key point here is that 95% of the major investment we saw during the months of judging was in stores that are part of symbol groups – and it’s easy to understand why. Working with a major partner that understands retail and has the experience of working with hundreds or even thousands of other stores to inform their vision clearly holds some attraction.
Your symbol group can help you learn from other stores in the group and make sure that your store is fit for the modern consumer in every way. The one complaint I hear from awards judges on this front is that “all the stores are starting to look the same”. And yes, many symbol groups’ stores are starting to look more standardised, making use of a sort of modular approach to laying out a store.
It works pretty simply: your symbol group says, ‘Here’s a list of stuff we know works in stores like yours,’ and it’s then up to you to use your knowledge of your store and your customer base to fit as many items from that list into your space.
Most major symbol groups now offer a menu of tried and tested ‘modules’: a food-to-go solution, a vaping solution, a beer cave and so on. All retailers then have to do is select the modules they feel are right for their store.
And yes, that leads to standardised store formats but there’s a reason for that – it works. Nobody criticises Tesco or Aldi for all their stores looking pretty much identical and carrying pretty much the same range.
Identikit stores may lose out on that quirkiness and uniqueness that characterises the local retailing channel, but they tend to gain sales and profits. Which would you rather have?
But it’s not all about investment. If you don’t have the cash to spend £150k on a full refit, there can still be major gains to be had from working with a symbol group, franchise partner or similar to take your store to the next level.
All symbol groups have access to a wealth of insight and experience that only comes with working with huge numbers of stores over many years. Tapping into that can only be a positive. And it’s not all about pricing and range. Sure, they’re vitally important but of most importance is one thing: the cash profit your store delivers. And yes, it is cash that matters most. You can’t take percentages to the bank, as the old retail motto has it.
Joining another symbol group, however, is not a silver bullet that will fix all of your problems in one fell swoop. It can be, but it’s certainly not a given. There is a strong case to be made that one group may mesh with your own business model and vision better than another – but a lot of the success retailers enjoy as part of a symbol group is attributable to the way they approach the partnership. It takes two to tango.
Symbol groups are, in my experience, far more selective in choosing retail partners these days. They want to work with retailers who will truly work in partnership and deliver benefit for both parties. They also want retailers prepared to invest in their business.
A partnership, by definition, involves both partners pulling their weight, working closely together and meeting the challenges and exploiting the opportunities together. At the end of the day, the groups rely entirely on partner stores as the public face of their business, so wanting to drive standards up is something that all parties should welcome.
So, the first thing to ask yourself when looking at a new partner is a simple question: would my business be better, stronger and more profitable with a different symbol or franchise partner? And if so, why and how? And are you prepared to truly commit to the partnership?
Only by truly working hand-in-hand with your symbol group will you fully exploit the many opportunities that exist.
So it takes a clear eye and an honest view of your own business to decide whether the grass is indeed greener. Key here is first identifying the areas of your own business that aren’t performing the way you want them to. Whether that’s margins, stock levels, staffing, admin, pricing or something else. A new symbol group can’t fix all of these problems for you on day one. They can help on lots of fronts, but they can’t wipe the slate clean for you in an instant.
Once you’ve identified the weak areas, then it’s time to analyse the various options on the table, trying to establish which groups are most likely to be able to help you with the weaknesses you’ve already identified.
Comparing symbol groups is a complex task and some would say that there is no completely reliable way to analyse how good a symbol group is until you’ve signed on that dotted line and actually started trading.
Talking to other retailers is a great way to learn more about the nitty gritty of what lies under the bonnet of each of the major groups but, once again, tread carefully and don’t take everything you hear as indisputable fact. All you’re hearing is one person’s subjective view of what it’s like to work with this or that symbol group. If another retailer feels like they had a bad time with a particular group, that doesn’t mean you will too.
But, after all that, if you are still keen to test the waters, we have produced a brief guide to some of the leading symbol groups in Scotland and across the UK. There are some very clear differences between the groups, but the key is not to judge a symbol group on just one or two factors like delivery charges, promotional pricing or claimed availability levels. Try to judge each group in the round and try to establish what each group could bring to your specific store with your particular customer base.
Options galore
Recruitment activity is as aggressive as it’s ever been, and more and more groups are targeting Scotland. If you are looking to change group, you’ll have a long line of suitors at your door but be prepared for some tough conversations, even from groups desperate to grow in Scotland.
In return for the enormous support that symbol groups can offer local retailers, they will be looking for commitment and drive from their retail partners. There are very few quick wins in this game and only by forging a strong, positive partnership with your symbol group can you maximise your returns over the longer term.
Londis: Fit for the Future
Londis has had yet another fantastic year of recruitment with almost 100 retailers joining the Londis family. Londis now has over 2,400 members with most of these stores coming from other symbol brands. 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 cave 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 to drive sales.
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.
Premier is in a league of its own
Premier is the UK’s largest symbol group with almost 5,000 stores across the UK with over 500 of these in Scotland, making it the biggest symbol operator in Scotland and by some margin.
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 23 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.
Bestway Retail – your perfect partner
Our Fascias and Store Formats
Costcutter retailers benefit from access to 2,000+ Co-op own-brand products, a 14,000 SKU range, Direct to Store, and loyalty rewards on qualifying Bestway purchases. Support includes a Business Development Manager, Shopper First growth programme, and expert digital marketing guidance.
best-one offers a simple trading model with dedicated BDM support, helping independent retailers grow profits. The My Rewards rebate scheme further rewards loyalty and performance.
Bargain Booze provides an award-winning alcohol range, national and local marketing support, a managed EPoS solution, and seven-day operational and HR support for franchisees.
Hybrid Stores combine multiple fascias and supply chains for a tailored solution, offering specialised alcohol ranges, planogram and range support, plus market and digital insights to maximise profitability.
Partnering with Bestway Retail means access to flexible formats, strong supply chains, and tailored support to help your business thrive.
Support for our retailers
At Bestway Retail, supporting our retailers is at the heart of everything we do.
We’ve built on the success of our Best-in range, now with over 300 SKUs offering generous 30%+ margins, smaller case sizes, and strong value to consumers. Weekly and 24-hour promotions, refreshed every 3–4 weeks, drive footfall and deliver market-leading value through both depot and delivered channels.
We offer a flexible supply model with delivery or depot collection, helping retailers save time, reduce costs, and stay well-stocked 7 days a week. Our diverse product range supports all store formats with PMPs, impulse, alcohol, and early access to NPD, helping stores stay fresh and competitive.
Retailers benefit from a robust chilled and fresh offer, including long-life products like ready meals and pizzas, plus access to over 2,000 Co-op own-label lines through Costcutter. We also work with suppliers to offer equipment solutions that help reduce carbon footprints and energy costs.
Our category planners use insights to tailor ranges and planograms by store size, optimising sales, margins, and footfall. We also offer Group-wide NPD launches, exclusive to Bestway fascias and wholesale, supporting innovation-led growth.
We’ve invested in Socio Local, a leading digital marketing platform, to support retailers in managing social media across multiple platforms with branded content and easy scheduling. IT investments include our CPoS EPoS system, self-checkout trials, age verification tech, and upgraded websites to improve functionality and access.
We also host Retailer Forums for networking, insight sharing, and feedback, plus our annual Retail Showcase – a face-to-face event featuring 100+ suppliers, tastings, live demos, and expert guidance to help retailers grow and connect.
Together, we are driving innovation, profitability, and success.
Extensive Product Range
We offer a wide and diverse range of Impulse and Alcohol SKUs across all depots to support every store format. Our pack formats, including PMPs, are tailored to price-sensitive markets. We lead with exciting new product development (NPD), bringing innovations from top suppliers to retailers first — keeping shelves fresh and shoppers engaged.
Fresh & Chilled Offer
We support chilled through central distribution and Direct to Store (DTS) suppliers with simple, central invoicing. With an expanded range of fresh and long-life products like pizzas and ready meals, we help retailers reduce waste and meet shopper demands. Our Costcutter stores benefit from access to 2,000+ Co-op own-label lines and a strong national brand presence.
Promotions that deliver
Our dynamic promotions refresh every 3–4 weeks (depending on fascia) and are benchmarked to stay competitive, driving footfall and profit.
Expert Merchandising & Support
Our category planners use insights to create store-specific planograms and category guides, helping retailers maximise sales and stay ahead of trends. These are readily available online.
Whether launching a new store or growing an existing one, our Business Development Managers provide personalised, local support to help your business thrive.
Flexible Supply Model
Retailers can choose between delivery and collection, ensuring flexibility and reliable availability 7 days a week.
Criteria for becoming a member
Trading with Bestway has never been easier and we are offering more flexibility than ever before. With our multiple delivered supply chain options available via Bestway Retail, and our Cash & Carry network located throughout England, Scotland and Wales, (coupled with multiple brands and the propositions that underpin them), our priority is to work with retailers to help them grow their business.
Costs of becoming a member
Outside of the minimum weekly spend, there is no cost of becoming a member for best-one and Costcutter. The membership costs for Bargain Booze is £1,650 per year.
Ready to sign up?
There is a minimum spend commitment for retailers to join our symbol group, alongside the need to have a fascia, good store standards and the run the agreed promotions.
If you’re interested in signing-up, simply visit bestwaywholesale.co.uk to find out more.
