A Nisa forecourt has launched in Mirfield on the site of an old pub, offering a variety of different services.
Salim Patel, the store owner, opened The Swan forecourt in Mirfield (West Yorkshire) on 25 April.
Salim, who has over 36 years’ experience in the retail industry, said he was motivated to open a store on the site between Mirfield and Dewsbury as he saw there was need for a forecourt on the M62.
Victoria Lockie, Head of Retail at Nisa, tells Wholesale Manager how the store will be a community destination hub.
Tell us about the Nisa forecourt which has launched in Mirfield on the site of an old pub.
This is a brilliant new Nisa forecourt store in West Yorkshire which is already a hit in the community. The store is operating on the site of an old pub and has been opened by Salim Patel who has over 36 years’ experience in the retail industry. Salim recognised a need for a forecourt between Mirfield and Dewsbury and was quick to act to make his ambitions a reality.
The launch day was fantastic with great activation from partners such as Red Bull and I have recently had the pleasure of going to see the store too which was a brilliant experience. All the congratulations should go to Salim and our teams at Nisa for opening a wonderful store.
How will the store be a community destination hub?
The Swan pub had been around for many years and Salim was very aware that, although big changes were inevitable, he wanted to maintain the store as an important hub for the community. The community feedback he has received since opening has been fantastic and has helped ensure The Swan continues to be a destination hub for the community in Mirfield.
What services will the store provide?
The Swan forecourt offers a variety of different services including a valeting bay, petrol filling services, an electric vehicle charging point and an outdoor seating area. Within the Nisa store there is a fantastic offering including a section full of American confectionary and a refreshed Food to Go area which offers English breakfast in the morning and also Indian cuisine. Salim wanted to ensure there was something for everyone and has also invested in his offering in coffee, ice cream and Tango Ice Blasts.
How did Nisa work with store owner Salim Patel to support the store launch?
Our team in retail and store development worked tirelessly with Salim to get the store ready for launch and ready for trading. We worked with our partners at BP and Red Bull to make the launch even more memorable and the opening few weeks have been fantastic. As standard we work with our retailers to define the individual needs and ambitions of each store and work hard to deliver that in time for launch.
What does Nisa offer retailers who are considering opening a store under their fascia?
At Nisa we truly understand the ambitious entrepreneurial spirit of our partners and the need to stand out to compete. We understand the desire to build their own business, the need for insight and tailored support from retail experts, and the importance of quality products.
At Nisa we provide fresh thinking to ensure retailers can create the best customer offer in their local area.
Our best in market fresh proposition gives retailers access to a fresh proposition that has helped double store turnover for our partners and will ensure shoppers shop your store for more missions.
We support retailers whether they want to trade under a Nisa fascia or their own independent fascia and pride ourselves on a tailored approach. We understand the need to stand out from the multiples to compete and work with retailers to create a store that is individual to their needs and their shoppers.
We have seen new stores start with Nisa and in some instances double store turnover within the first 6-12 months which is testament to what Nisa can offer a retailer.
How many own brand products can Nisa retailers access?
With 2,400 Co-op products across all categories, retailers have access to a UK brand that shoppers recognise and trust that drives footfall into our partners’ stores.
The Co-op range includes great quality core convenience essentials including 100% British meat and free-range eggs along with a premium brand ‘Coop Irresistible’ that includes award winning pizzas and wines, a free from range and the GRO vegan range.
The introduction of popular Co-op own-label products into Nisa partner stores has been a game changer for the Nisa proposition and many retailers are reaping the rewards with increases in both sales and margins.
Are there promotions for Nisa retailers to pass on to their customers?
There are lots of promotions for Nisa retailers to benefit from by partnering with Nisa and over the past nine months we have continued to review price and make investments into wholesale price to allow our retailers to pass these on to their customers. There are always seasonal promotions for retailers across a number of categories and the ‘Fill your Basket for Less’ promotion brings savings across frozen, fresh and ambient products.
Are there minimum requirements for retailers who wish to join Nisa in terms of turnover, store size, etc?
We work with independent retailers of all shapes and sizes. This includes anything from smaller single stores to retailers with multiple sites – all with different requirements. Whether it’s an experienced independent retailer or someone just starting out, we are there every step of the way with tailored support as and when they need it. Retailers considering Nisa should visit: nisalocally.co.uk.
How is the Making a Difference Locally charity going? Are there any recent success stories you can tell us about?
Over £1 million was donated to good causes across the UK through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity last year.
Throughout 2022, Nisa stores supported local charities and community groups with 2,142 donations, totalling £1,085,828, demonstrating retailers’ continued commitment to supporting their local communities.
The figures represent a 3.9% increase in the number of individual donations made and a 2.8% increase in the total figure donated when compared with the previous year.
Nisa retailers across the UK recently supported their communities in celebrating the coronation of King Charles III thanks to MADL.
The Heart of the Community initiative saw 147 charities and good causes across the UK benefit from donations of £500 – with £73,500 being donated overall.
Making a Difference Locally is celebrating its 15th anniversary in May this year.
I have recently joined the MADL board as a trustee and we always encourage our stores to connect with their local communities and contribute MADL funding where possible.
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