HEADLINES THIS WEEK:

– BLAKEMORE TARGETS ‘SIGNIFICANT’ INCREASE’ IN LIFESTYLE EXPRESS ESTATE
– BESTWAY INTRODUCES FRESH MEAT RANGE
– FAIRWAY FOODSERVICE NAMES NEW APPOINTMENTS

BLAKEMORE IN LIFESTYLE EXPRESS DRIVE

Blakemore Wholesale plans to increase ‘significantly’ its Lifestyle Express estate by launching in-depot retail club sections to promote the brand and what it offers.

The scheme was unveiled last month in 11 of the company’s Landmark Wholesale-affiliated cash & carries (Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Killingworth, Grimsby, Barnsley, Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Newport, Swansea and Cardiff).

Each retail club area features the Lifestyle Express store fascia plus examples of promotional posters and displays. There are also TV screens showing customer testimonials, supplier incentives, retailer of the year case studies and planogram information.

Blakemore Wholesale Stores group director Nick Rose said: “Early feedback from customers has been excellent. We’ve had a number of requests from retailers already who are keen to see how they can transfer their stores to Lifestyle.”

The company currently has around 540 Lifestyle Express members, while Landmark Wholesale group members in total have about 2,000.

Tel: Blakemore Wholesale (01902) 371515 

FRESH MEAT RANGE LAUNCHED BY BESTWAY

Bestway Wholesale has launched a range of Best-in fresh butchery products in fixed-weight, colour-coded packs covering beef, pork, lamb and chicken.

Each includes country of origin details, sell-by date and a ‘competitive’ price mark, with an average retail margin of around 30%.

Independents should show more interest in fresh and chilled food, said chilled category controller Steve Carter. “If you look at the smaller format stores from the multiples, the first category you come across when entering is chilled and fresh.

“That’s simply because more and more shoppers are looking for fresh meal solutions in convenience. Two out of every three baskets in convenience now contain chilled products.”

Regarding wholesalers, he said: “They have a role to play in ensuring that the right products and formats are available to retailers. In the past they have left fresh meat and poultry to the larger supermarkets, as that is where the shopper was purchasing.”

Tel: Bestway Group 020-8453 1234

FAIRWAY RESTRUCTURES PURCHASING DIVISION

Keith Hepton has joined Fairway as purchasing manager for frozen

Two new appointments have been made at Fairway Foodservice, the 18-member buying group.

Steve Jeavons has been promoted from purchasing manager for grocery to director level, while Keith Hepton has joined as purchasing manager for frozen.

Jeavons, who has been with the combine since 2011, previously worked for Makro, McCormick, Uniq and Anchor.

Hepton’s 40 years in food manufacture and retail include managerial roles with Asda, KwikSave, the Co-op and Greencore. He replaces director and purchasing manager for frozen Kevin Denyer who has joined e-foods as purchasing director.

Tel: Fairway Foodservice (01422) 319100