Retailers supported by the Scottish Grocer Federation’s (SGF) Retailer Food to Go grant boosted their weekly sales by an average of 40%. 

The £250,000 fund was distributed to help 62 retailers improve their food-to-go range last year.

Successful applicants were chosen for their commitment to stocking more locally sourced and fresh products. The SGF provided the support on a match-fund basis, capped at £7,500 per retailer. 

An RN survey found successful applicants increased their weekly food-to-go sales by 30-40% with the fund’s help. 

Dennis Williams, of Premier Broadway Convenience in Oxgangs, received £1,237 and visited stores across the UK to support his application. 

“I visited a Spar in England, which was doing food to go well, and I took inspiration from its chilled range. I fitted a new chiller for local products such as pasta pots and yoghurt. My food-to- go sales increased by 30% week on week to £2,200,” he said.

Diane Greenough, of Nisa David’s Kitchen in Falkirk, who was given £4,310, said: “We extended our cabinet to increase our range of cakes and pastries from three to eight. Our weekly sales grew from £1,800 to £2,200.” 

Retailers Mohammed Ali and Stuart Mitchell, meanwhile, were able to boost their annual sales
by 17% after adding fresh and flavoured coffee to their range. 

The 62 recipients consisted of Nisa, KeyStore, Premier, Costcutter, Spar, Day-Today, Loco, Best-one, Lifestyle Express, U Save and unaffiliated retailers.

Premier retailers received the largest proportion (24%), with an average of £5,395 shared between 11 stores. 

Seventeen Nisa retailers received an average £3,162 each, while 12 KeyStore shops were given an average of £4,489. Keystore and Nisa supported their retailers in the application by recommending and holding workshops with local suppliers. 

Nisa PR and communications manager Gemma Bell said: “We encouraged Nisa retailers to apply for the grant and put them in touch with coffee machine and hot food counter suppliers.”

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