Bestway has announced a new Costcutter on-the-go format, which with multisite retailer James Retail (JCR) to be the first to roll it out. As part of the move, James Retail will convert its entire estate to the new format, as well as regular Costcutter stores.

Eleven James Retail sites have already been converted to the Costcutter fascia, with Jamie Davison, Retail Director for Bestway Retail, saying these stores had seen “a sustained minimum 15% increase in weekly sales”. The conversions included two Costcutter-Bargain Booze hybrid formats. After the announcement, James Retail did not immediately confirm any plans for the future of the Select Convenience brand.

James Retail operates 40 convenience stores nationwide, primarily around the Midlands and Northwest of England. The majority of its shops have until now traded under the Select Convenience fascia, and the company operates many bus station locations. The refits followed James Retail’s conversion of its Budgens site in Cheshire into Costcutter in 2022. After the refit, James Retail said the store had seen an annual growth of 30%.

James Convenience Retail unveils store rebrand

Bestway’s wholesale division has 61 Bestway and Batleys depots and is a supply partner to over 130,000 retailers. Bestway and James Retail began working together in 2018 when the former’s Retail division acquired Conviviality Retail in 2018.

“The relationship has strongly developed over the last two years with James Retail placing a greater focus on the Convenience aspect of the business and utilising the Bestway Retail and Costcutter entrepreneurial brands and associated supply chains,” the company added.

Bestway to consolidate symbol portfolio into Costcutter, Best-one, Bargain Booze and Wine Rack

Jonathan James, owner of James Retail, said: “We are delighted to be entering a new and exciting phase of our long-term partnership with the Bestway Retail and Costcutter team. We have already seen impressive sales uplift from the stores we have converted to the Costcutter brand, and we look forward to enjoying more success as we convert more of our convenience stores this year.”

“The Costcutter brand is a hugely recognised convenience brand that shoppers recognise, trust, and have confidence in. Its grocery convenience offer is able to meet shoppers’ needs across all of their shopping missions,” he continued.