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Nisa announce huge surge in store recruitment

Nisa has recruited over 500 stores in the last 12 months delivering a significant uplift on the previous year, marking a 40% like-for-like leap in stores joining Nisa in the year to date. 

Key drivers for the growth reside in increasing availability levels, the highest recorded in a number of years, improvements to delivery services, including the introduction of next day delivery and continued investment in Nisa’s Evolution epos system and its Evolution store format which has delivered an average 12% uplift in sales on conversion.

A major game changer for the wholesale business, however, has been the rollout of Co-op own brand products over the past year, with over 2,000 including the latest festive range now available to Nisa partners and accounting for around £2.5m in sales per week. Nisa’s promotional alignment with Co-op’s has also delivered a key benefit to retailers, giving access to sector leading deals which have driven huge sales opportunities for both Nisa and its partners.

Commenting on the results, Steve Leach, sales director at Nisa, said: “Last year was a very good year for Nisa, recruitment-wise, so it is compelling evidence of the strength of Nisa’s offer that we have beaten last year’s figures so comprehensively. It was a strategic decision of the business to change its approach to recruitment this year and I’m proud of the team and the part they’ve played in delivering that strategy.” 

Nisa provides an environment in which independent retailers can flourish and brings enhanced buying capability, allowing Nisa partners to trade their businesses how they choose, backed by competitive prices and promotions with access to a deeper range, including the award-winning Co-op own label. 

“As part of the Co-op family, our partners have access to a fantastic range coupled with industry-leading service and support. We continue to invest in our support teams and new store formats to help our partners operate more profitably. While the introduction of Co-op own brand into the Nisa supply chain has been a big draw for new partners,” added Chris Moore, new business channel controller for Nisa. 

One such new recruit who has benefited from joining Nisa and gaining access to the growing proposition is Jeremy Hughes, who runs the Nisa Local in Holt, near Wrexham.

Jeremy said: “We have had lots of positive comments from our customers since we launched. We have been in the village a long time and know most shoppers by name and I like to think I know my customers well, but I have been really surprised by how much they like the Co-op range.

“It’s early days, but it is all going well. Having access to the Co-op range has allowed me to get all the benefits of stocking such a great quality range at a good price, but I still get the advantages of being an independent.”

Another satisfied new recruit, Alex Kapadia of Whitehills Supermarket, Northampton - a 2,500 sq. ft store in the heart of a busy community – saw his store sales jump from £12,000 to £40,000 a week following completion of a re-fit to Nisa’s new Evolution store format.

The surge in new stores is supported by the retention of key account partners, with longstanding Nisa retailer Tuffins Supermarket, among other high profile businesses, having recently signed a new long term contract with Nisa Retail, committing their future to the buying group.

“We’re very happy with our relationship with Nisa and, with the unrivalled own brand offer now available from the Co-op, we don’t believe there is anything else out there that works for us,” said Harry Delves, commercial director for Tuffins. “The range and variety available to us through Nisa, that blends so well with our local suppliers, makes Nisa the right choice for us and we are glad to be committing our future to Nisa.”

As Nisa moves towards its second anniversary of working with the Co-op, 2020 will be a pivotal year for Nisa. The business is now selling over £2.5m of Co-op own brand every week and, to build on this, its exciting growth strategy will focus on accelerating recruitment. Retailers will still have the option to join Nisa as a symbol or independent fascia business, or via the Co-op franchise model or the soon to be launched business development partnership scheme, which will provide independent retailers with an alternative way of working with Nisa.  

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