Retail Express speaks to retailers from nine top symbol groups and franchises to find out who should be your next partner

Teaming up with a fascia is among the biggest decisions any independent convenience retailer can make. 

With so many options out there, understanding which one is right for your business and can deliver what you need in terms of range, availability, marketing and business support is a tricky task. 

Over the next nine pages, we provide a quick, easy-to-understand guide to help you make the right choice for your business. 

Joining a group can be a big investment for retailers, but there are plenty of financing options out there. Kobi Ben-Meir, marketing director at Got Capital, says: “Being a part of a symbol group comes with a large responsibility to perform and invest in one’s business. More than 80% of our merchants use Got Capital’s fund for some kind of expansion.”

Whether you fund your expansion with support from a bank or lender, or from your own pocket, investing in a symbol group comes with risk, but pays off for the majority of independent retailers. 

If you need any more information about any of the groups featured across the next nine pages, call 020 7689 3355

Choose your fascia

• Spar
• Southern Co-op
• Nisa
• Go Local
• Costcutter
• Premier
• Family Shopper
• Budgens
• Best-one