AF Blakemore has launched what it claims to be a market-leading 6% rebate scheme for Spar retailers.

The loyalty reward was announced at the Spar Retail Show in Telford, Shropshire, on 1 October. Retailers can earn up to 6% on all purchases excluding tobacco. Alongside the rebate scheme, the wholesaler also announced a leasing finance programme to help retailers develop their stores.

Speaking at the Spar Retail Show, Trade Partners sales director Louis Drake said: “We’d like to make Blakemore leasing available to every retailer. If you’re having a store development project, you’ll be able to finance it through Blakemore at a competitive rate and repay it on your weekly invoice.

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“Developing your business will never have been easier. We want to continue to invest and improve your margins and make it available to everybody, so we’re going to make £2.3m available directly into your businesses.”

The new scheme replaces the previous Retail Partners Scheme, and Blakemore claims retailers who are already on the programme have seen a 35% sales growth.

Drake added the wholesaler was investing more into developing its depots and IT support. “We want to become easier to do business with,” he said. “Retailers will soon have an online claims portal and we’re reducing the costs of doing business.”

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