Ascona extends partnership with Co-op Wholesale in new five-year deal

Independent forecourt retailer Ascona Group has signed a new five-year contract with Co-op Wholesale, cementing a partnership that has grown significantly since it began in 2020.

The agreement will see Co-op Wholesale continue to supply all 62 Ascona forecourts across the UK with grocery products, including access to Co-op’s own-label range.

Founded in 2011 by CEO Darren Briggs, Ascona Group has grown rapidly from two sites in Pembrokeshire to become the UK’s seventh largest independent forecourt operator, serving more than 300,000 customers every week. The business has been recognised as one of The Sunday Times 100 fastest growing companies.

Ascona has invested heavily in its estate, including the £3 million redevelopment of Machynlleth Service Station in North Wales in 2023. The business has also recently expanded with acquisitions at Kirkburn Service Station in Driffield, East Yorkshire, and Ridgeway Service Station in Hastings, East Sussex.

Alongside its growth, Ascona continues to make a difference in the communities it serves, having now reached a £50,000 donation milestone through Co-op Wholesale’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.

Darren Briggs, founder and CEO of Ascona Group, said: “We have had a long-standing relationship with Co-op Wholesale, who are one of our key suppliers to our forecourts across the country. Our partnership has gone from strength to strength over the years, and we look forward to continuing our work together to serve our customers.”

Paul Webster, sales & partnerships director at Co-op Wholesale, said: “Ascona has been one of the standout growth stories in the forecourt sector over the last decade, and we are delighted to extend our partnership for a further five years. Our shared focus on quality, value and community makes this a natural collaboration, and we look forward to supporting Ascona’s ambitious plans as they continue to expand and invest across the UK.”

In other news, Making a Difference Locally (MADL) has launched the latest round of its Heart of the Community initiative, with £100,000 available to support local projects across the UK.

In this round, priority is being given to causes at the heart of retailers’ communities, particularly those helping people through the colder months. Retailers supplied by Co-op Wholesale, including Nisa partners, are invited to nominate local causes to receive up to £2,000 in funding.

Since its creation, MADL has raised over £18 million for good causes across the UK, working closely with independent retailers to support initiatives that have a lasting impact.