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Saturday 13th March 2010

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Community spirit, local sourcing are keys to independents' success

Archived article dated Monday October 15th 2007

Independent retailers have a bright future but only if they can differentiate from the major multiples through providing an offer that taps into the growing demand for local produce and being part of the local community.

Chris Martin, chief executive of Musgrave Group - that supports 3,000 independently owned retailers that trade through fascias including Budgens, Londis, Centra and SuperValu - says: “Independents should be looked at as an opportunity with which to face the challenge of a future where people will want quality, value for money and provenance. By choosing to shop with us they do their bit for a sustainable world and their local community.” As well as providing support for IT and marketing, and the ability to use its national distribution network, Musgrave also provides its retailers with a range of own-label products (from value to premium) that helps them differentiate their offer from that of the supermarkets.

Since the stores are independently-owned each has a free rein to source unique products from any supplier, which makes them attractive to their local market, according to Martin, who says Musgrave can assist with the process of sourcing.

“They have the ability to edit their range which is absolutely fundamental . They can do the best local offer and we can help to give them access to these local producers. We can also help them with sourcing from local suppliers who might only be able to deliver to five shops. We provide them with the type of system that a larger retailer would have,” explains Martin.

On top of a well tailored range of products he says the other key ingredient is the involvement of the owners with their customers and the local community: “Our retailers offer the personal touch that the multiples cannot match. To succeed it is essential that owners know their local customers.”

Tagged as: food | grocery | igd |

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