Speaking at the NFRN’s south east district council meeting last week, Nisa-unaffiliated store retail development manager Amy Lawler claimed that the increase was a result of Co-op investment since its merger with Nisa last year. Lawler said: “There are at least five RDMs that cover Scotland now and we’re always getting feedback on how to make business easier for our retail partners.”

Lawler emphasised that store visits are not intended only for Nisa fascia store owners. She explained: “We aim to provide a lot of support from our field-based teams and I cover 90 stores across London, which are unaffiliated sites.”

Nisa retail development manager Steve Emberson, who also spoke at the meeting, added: “We’re getting a plethora of new RDMs because we’re getting more stores to cover, and Co-op is looking to invest even more to help support this.”

Nisa claims it is cheaper than competitors

Commenting after the meeting, Nisa sales director Steve Leach said: “Through the recruitment of this additional resource, Nisa is now better equipped to support retailers to grow their businesses in a more targeted and individual way, by informing, involving, educating and embedding the key commercial priorities that the Nisa-Co-op relationship has been developing and strengthening.”

The company has recently carried out a string of meetings with non-Nisa-partnered store owners at other NFRN district council meetings to discuss the merits of its wholesale agreements, which do not require shopkeepers to adopt the company’s fascia.

Nisa targets unaffiliated stores in own-label push

Those who undertake Nisa’s wholesale agreements are able to access Co-op and Heritage products on the same conditions as the fascia retailers. These are 100 chilled and frozen cases, as well as 200 ambient per each delivery.