Antony Downing joins Parfetts after 33 years at Costcutter
Parfetts has recruited Antony Downing (pictured) to the new role of store development manager.
He joins the wholesaler from Costcutter, where he supported retailers as the retail design manager. In total, he spent more than 33 years with Costcutter, and his expertise spans merchandising, store planning and retail design.
At Parfetts, he will lead the development of new store formats for Go Local as the fascia group aims to reach 1,000 retailers in the next two years.
Commenting on his appointment, Guy Swindell, retail director at Parfetts, said: “Antony brings a huge amount of experience to this new role. We continue to invest in and evolve our Go Local fascia with new talented people that are dedicated to supporting retailers, along with new technology and services such as our innovative GOLD delivery service.”
Go Local will see a range of new store formats developed over the coming months. It aims to provide industry-leading levels of flexibility along with great value and regular promotional offers.
Parfetts saw its turnover in the last financial year jump by 26% to £474 million and expects sales to exceed £500 million in 2021. It is investing £1.5 million in its infrastructure and facilities and extending its Aintree and Sheffield depots to increase capacity for its delivered operation.
Downing commented: “Parfetts and Go Local have built an enviable reputation in recent years and their focus on supporting retailers is second to none. I look forward to working closely with our retailers to optimise their store performance and help take their businesses to the next level.”
