North-west independent wholesaler Parfetts is looking to grow its fascia store number to 400 by 2018, up from the current 280 stores.

Speaking to Retail Express, head of operations Jason Barnard said: “It’s full steam ahead on expanding our fascia partner numbers. We have 90 retailers currently transitioning to our Go Local Extra from Hull to North Wales.”

Some of their new Go Local Extra partners is Aman Preet Kaur and Onkar Singh, who recently opened their first Go Local Extra store and achieved a great turnaround in revenue.

The expansion in retail has been matched by an investment in Parfetts warehouses and logistics, with next day delivery for gold partners, centralised buying to reduce prices and upgraded receptions at every depot.

Barnard added: “Our customers are used to a premium experience when shopping on the high street and we are working tirelessly to deliver the same standard in our cash & carries.”

Parfetts are also using their Sheffield depot to test out an expanded alcohol offering re-organised to show lines by category rather than supplier, with a renewed focus on craft and alcohol free lines. Bestway’s new Tottenham depot is similarly testing a category based ordering system.

A visit to their Somercotes depot by Retail Express showed that previous pre-TPD2 tobacco stocking issues reported by retailers were resolved, with full availability across all lines on offer.

The distributor is part owned by the Parfetts family (55%) and the remainder is owned by the employees.