Five things to learn from Best-one’s new store refits

Earlier this month Bestway unveiled a new format for its convenience stores. Here are five things you can learn from the changes. 

1. Chilled is crucial to get right.

Within five years 40% of a Best-one’s store’s turnover will come from chilled by catering for shoppers buying food to go and evening meals.

2. Stock large value multipacks.

“Our retailers can have a large pack of pet food price-marked at £3.29, with comparable products in the multiples on at £4. We’re able to achieve £2.50 on promotion and the retailer will still make a good margin,” said Paul Adams, head of business development for Bestway Wholesale.

3. Less can be more.

The new formats have little range duplication to make it quicker for shoppers. “In many convenience stores you’ll see that gondola aisles go from floor to ceiling, but that makes it darker. Here you can walk in and immediately see the whole offer,” he said.

4. Merchandise by shopper missions.

In the new store single soft drink bottles and cans are merchandised with food to go, with larger sharing formats at the other end next to multipacks of beer.

5. Invest in EPoS.

“To form a plan you need the facts. We need EPoS data, which we use with market insight and the retailer’s knowledge of the area. It can be a very powerful combination.”