SPAR Lostock Hall on Watkin Lane has a new owner and has benefited from a six-figure comprehensive refurbishment.
Independent retailer Bhavesh Parekh, who also has SPAR stores in Gregson Lane and Southport, has taken over the Victoria Terrace store and immediately put his stamp on the place.
This includes an improved Post Office counter with opening hours from 8am until 8pm seven days a week. All store staff have been retained during the change of store ownership, and all are now trained to operate the counters to improve the service.
Post Office services include:
- Letter and parcel handling
- Parcel and online order collections
- Business mail and shipping
- DHL and DPD services
- Personal banking – cash deposits and withdrawals from all major banks
- Bill payments
- DVLA driving licence renewals and car tax payments
- Passport applications and renewals
- Open savings accounts and ISAs
- Changing foreign currency, access travel insurance and travel money cards – Euros and US Dollars available on-demand
- Applications for DBS and SIA checks
There is an enhanced range of SPAR Price Locked products – meaning hundreds of key products with long-term fixed prices – across ambient, fresh, and frozen ranges, offering even more value to customers.
The delicious Cook range of frozen ready meals have been introduced to the store too, while popular existing ranges including English Lakes Ice Cream have been extended, as has the range of high quality local fresh meats.
SPAR Lostock Hall’s Cheeky Coffee machine has been retained as part of the complete overhaul, alongside SPAR’s Big Deals offer on a wide range of popular branded products and the competitively priced SPAR Meal Deal.
The refurbishment has also seen snazzy electronic shelf edge labels introduced, as well as modern energy efficient refrigeration, new shelving, and bright LED lighting throughout.
A community retailer at heart, Bhavesh was straight into action just before Christmas with a donation of Advent calendars for the children’s party held at the Wishing Well pub, and he is looking to support the local community further as time goes on.
Bhavesh also has years of experience in retail, and his excellence in the sector has seen him previously be named as a Retail Industry Award winner for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, and he is also a very active SPAR Northern Guild retailer influencing the direction of convenience retail within SPAR.
Bhavesh said: “I am delighted with the results of the investment into my new SPAR store in Lostock Hall. It has a real vibrant, clean, and modern feel to it.
“The changes I have made, particularly to the Post Office counter, are hugely positive and something I think are important. The opening hours of the counter are now more than double what they were previously which is a massive bonus for the community.
“I have also enhanced the range of fresh meats which I know customers like, and I have increased the range of Price Locked products which are also something I know customers are seeking out for value.
“I am settling into the community and look forward to welcoming new customers through the doors in 2026 and supporting their needs through the store.”
Peter Dodding, Sales Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd and Chair of the SPAR Northern Guild of Retailers, said: “I am really pleased to see Bhavesh take on the SPAR store on Victoria Terrace in Lostock Hall and the investment he has made has transformed its appearance and offer.
“The community in Lostock Hall have an excellent convenience store and I am sure they will see the value that is on their doorstep when they visit the store.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
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