The last year has been another tumultuous period in local retailing and, for many retailers, the time may be right to consider joining a fascia, symbol group or franchise for the first time, or to consider a new partner more in line with their business strategy.
It’s been another remarkable year for the retailing sector, with challenges coming thick and fast, as they always seem to do. The long-term effects of the Covid period are still being felt, while additional new pressures continue to hit. So it’s hardly surprising that many retailers are taking a fresh look at the fundamentals of their business.
For a lot of retailers, that means taking a clear-headed look at the options available to them in terms of working with a fascia, symbol or franchise partner. For some, that will mean joining a group for the first time. For many more, it will mean taking a close look at whether the partner they currently work with is still the best option available to them in the new world in which they find themselves.
And there are now more options out there than ever.
The benefits of joining a group are well known and well understood. Joining a group for the first time, or choosing a new group more appropriate to your current circumstances, is one of the few ways retailers can improve their sales and margins overnight.
So, is it time to consider a partner who is truly aligned with your strategy for 2027 and beyond?
All of the fascia, symbol and franchise groups have been working hard over the last 12 months, adapting to the new reality and evolving to better meet the needs of their members, so there’s plenty of work to be done to analyse which offer is best for you.
To help take some of the effort out of that analysis, we have compiled overviews of many of the leading UK groups, which you can read over the next few pages.
It’s an important decision and one that could have a huge impact on your business.
Booker: value and flexibility
With Premier, Londis and Budgens, Booker is able to deliver value and flexibility in a way that no other symbol group can match.
At a time when retailers are under increasing pressure from rising costs and shifting shopper expectations, the strength of a symbol group lies in its ability to deliver both value and flexibility. Booker’s symbol estate is built around this principle, with Premier, Londis and Budgens offering three distinct but highly complementary propositions in Scotland.
Premier, now the UK’s largest symbol group with more than 5,000 stores, is rooted in a value-led, community-focused model that continues to resonate strongly with independent retailers. Its scale delivers significant buying power, while its simple, low-cost structure ensures retailers can remain competitive while protecting margins. Combined with strong promotional cycles, digital tools and a growing fresh and chilled offer, Premier provides a proven route to sustainable growth for both new and established operators.
Londis, meanwhile, offers a flexible, mission-led proposition, with particular strengths in the forecourt sector, where more than half of its 2,500-plus stores operate. Its focus on food-to-go, impulse and top-up shopping missions makes it ideally suited to high-footfall locations, while its cost-free model and access to Booker’s extensive range and own-brand portfolio allow retailers to deliver both value and quality.
Finally, Budgens offers the perfect proposition for retailers in areas with high fresh participation and customers passionate about the quality, provenance and value of their food and drink. Founded in 1872, Budgens is one of Britain’s oldest convenience retailing brands and has a long-established and enviable reputation.
Together, these three symbol groups give retailers the ability to choose a model that best fits their business, while benefiting from the scale, infrastructure and support of the UK’s largest wholesaler.
Booker supports its symbol retailers through a comprehensive, multi-channel marketing approach that combines national campaigns with local execution. Seasonal activations and campaigns are supported by consistent in-store marketing communications through four-weekly promotional cycles and price-marked packs, all of which reinforce value perception and encourage repeat visits.
Own-label ranges, including Jack’s, Part of the Tesco Family, and EuroShopper, play a central role in this strategy, offering high-quality, competitively priced alternatives that help retailers meet demand for affordability while maintaining margins.
This is complemented by ongoing innovation through Booker’s new product development guides, which highlight more than 100 new and exclusive lines each season, enabling retailers to stay ahead of trends and differentiate their offer.
In-store, retailers benefit from fully funded POS, merchandising support and category guidance from dedicated field teams, ensuring strong execution at shelf level. Digitally, support extends to social media material, targeted campaigns and in-app promotions through Scoot, Booker’s rapid grocery ordering platform. Scoot not only enables retailers to access the growing on-demand market but also acts as a powerful marketing channel in its own right, with around 80% of users new to the store, driving both awareness and incremental sales.
A key priority has been maintaining strong pricing and availability, ensuring retailers can compete effectively while meeting the needs of increasingly value-conscious shoppers. This has been supported by continued investment in own-label ranges and expanded fresh, chilled and meal-solution categories, reflecting the growing importance of convenience-led shopping missions.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on helping retailers operate more efficiently, unlock new revenue streams and respond to evolving shopper behaviour. With continued investment in digital platforms such as Scoot, alongside ongoing enhancements to ranging, pricing and support services, Booker is committed to ensuring its retailers remain resilient and competitive in the face of ongoing uncertainty.
Spar Scotland: the recipe for food-to-go success
From matching ranges to local demand and maintaining availability to using digital menus, loyalty apps and delivery, SPAR Scotland shows how retailers can grow food-to-go sales without significantly increasing labour costs.
The key factors retailers need to consider when executing a strong food to go offer
A strong offer should reflect who shops the store. A commuter or forecourt location may need an excellent 6am-9am breakfast and coffee offer, whereas a store near schools or offices could have a much stronger lunchtime and afternoon-snacking opportunity. Rural and neighbourhood stores may have greater potential in food for later as well as immediate consumption.
Presentation matters: a clearly defined food to go area, strong pricing, simple meal deals and products that are easy to shop quickly. That is visible in newer SPAR Scotland stores where CJ’s hot food, Rollover and Barista Bar sit alongside an expanded chilled and ready-meal proposition
How retailers can up their food-to-go game without vastly increasing labour costs
Keep it simple and make the offer easy to shop. Many food-to-go purchases are impulse-driven, with customers often noticing a meal deal or promotion while waiting in the queue. Clear, easy-to-read menus and strong visibility at the point of purchase can make a significant difference, encouraging customers to add to their basket and return for the same offer again. SPAR Scotland’s latest store refurbishments feature digital screens above the hot food counters, providing a clear and engaging way to communicate food-to-go ranges, offers and pricing. For retailers purchasing their food-to-go range through SPAR Scotland, the digital screens also simplify price communication, reducing the need to manage individual price lists while keeping the offer consistent, visible and easy for customers to understand.
Food trends
Coffee and loyalty are becoming increasingly interconnected. SPAR Scotland launched the My Barista Bar Rewards+ app in May 2026, allowing customers to collect digital stamps and access incentives. That turns coffee from a simple transaction into a repeat-visit mechanic.
There is also growing focus on health regulation and HFSS, meaning meal deals, promotions and food-to-go ranges will increasingly need to balance indulgence with healthier choices
Case studies of convenience retailers making a success of food to go
SPAR Pinkie Farm, Musselburgh is one of the strongest Scottish examples. It became the first independent SPAR Scotland store to install Barista Bar and subsequently reported more than 100% growth versus its previous coffee offer. It has since continued evolving its broader food offer through Carla’s Kitchen and protein-focused freshly prepared meals.
There is also evidence from SPAR Scotland’s wider CJ’s programme. Earlier in its rollout, CJ’s had sold more than six million fresh morning rolls, while coffee sales were up 138%, with SPAR reporting a halo effect into categories including soft drinks and fresh foods
The future of food to go in Scottish convenience retail
For SPAR Scotland, the opportunity is to use CJ’s and Barista Bar to create a recognisable food-to-go proposition while retaining the local flexibility that Scottish convenience retailers are particularly good at. Local bakery products, Scottish suppliers and ranges tailored to individual communities provide a point of difference that major multiples can find harder to replicate.
The rollout of SPAR Dash, SPAR Scotland’s delivery service, is helping to extend that convenience beyond the store by making Food to Go alongside everyday essentials more accessible to customers. This gives retailers the opportunity to reach a wider audience.
- Up to 6% rebate, with development support available.
- Free multi-temperature deliveries up to 3 times per week.
- Award winning own-brand ranges and trusted supplier partnerships
- Exclusive Access to Barista Bar and Iceland In store
- Free store design and refit support.
- Expansive range of food to go within the store
- SPAR Dash, a delivery service exclusive to SPAR customers.
- Store formats to suit any store size.
- Free demographic report.
- Free fascia, graphics and internal imagery.
- Free merchandising support & store launch.
- Free POS kit.
- Market leading promotions featured on TV.
- Full food to go offer supplied by CJL.
- Dedicated BDM support.
- The only Scottish wholesaler to regularly advertise on STV to promote deals and offers within stores.
- SWA Symbol Group of the year – 3 consecutive years
Stay in control with Go Local
Go Local backs independents with pricing, promotions and practical support.
Independent retailers want the backing of a strong symbol group, but they also want to stay in control of their business. That is the thinking behind Go Local, Parfetts’ symbol offer for independent convenience stores.
Parfetts is employee-owned, which makes a real difference to retailers. With no outside shareholders taking profits from the business, Parfetts can invest more in the areas that matter to store owners, including competitive pricing, promotions and service.
There is no joining fee, and retailers receive free delivery and a straightforward 2% compliance reward. Stores can choose from several fascia options, including Go Local, Go Local Extra, The Local, Shop & Go and Local 4U, giving owners flexibility to choose the right format for their store.
An important part of the offer is Parfetts’ RDA network, which works directly with retailers, providing practical advice on store performance, layout, category planning and redevelopment. This gives retailers someone who understands convenience retail and can help them look at where improvements can be made. Parfetts also provides merchandising guidance to help stores make the most of promotions and available space.
Marketing support includes regular national promotions on key convenience categories, backed by supplier investment and professionally produced point-of-sale material. The aim is to help retailers bring customers through the door and increase basket spend.
Parfetts is also growing its Own Brand range, with more than 250 lines giving retailers greater choice and helping them offer customers value while protecting margins.
Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of the support available. Parfetts’ Go for Growth platform brings together EPoS data, shelf analysis, category management, supplier insight, planograms, promotions and ordering tools. Retailers can use their store data to see what is selling, identify missed sales and make better ranging decisions.
For retailers considering a symbol, Go Local combines competitive pricing and promotions with practical support on the shop floor.
Its employee-owned structure means Parfetts can continue investing in the services that help independent retailers protect margins and grow sales.
