Last week Better Retailing had a first-look around Pladis’ Customer Collaboration Centre, which opened in July.

The centre uses a new virtual reality software that helps with merchandising and ranging ideas for different-sized stores.

Tom Davies, category development manager for Pladis, said: “The software allows us to show off different PoS and we can easily flick through different planograms. We’re open to any convenience customers.”

Pladis is the new name of United Biscuits and its launch follows the business being bought by Yildiz Holdings in 2014.

The move has enabled the company to have more access to different technology, as well as brands like Godiva, a premium chocolate, which is not currently available in the UK.

Jon Eggleton, managing director for Pladis, said after years of uncertainty, United Biscuits now has a clear future.

“We’re not a Mondelez, a Unilever or a P&G, we’re a family business. We think we can become the second biggest food company in the world,” he added.