A.F. Blakemore’s retail division has launched its first standalone Subway and Greggs departments as it looks to grow sales in foodservice.
The company said the store – situated next to its SPAR outlet in Staplehurst, Kent – is part of a strategy to improve and expand retail spaces across the business.
The Subway franchise was previously housed inside the SPAR store but an empty unit nearby presented the opportunity to expand the franchise’s offer alongside a new Greggs department.
Blakemore Retail stated that the new initiative forms part of its strategy to grow sales in foodservice by creating a food-to-go hub. Initial feedback from customers is said to have been positive.
Blakemore Retail Managing Director Matt Teague commented: “At Blakemore Retail we have many years’ experience of running franchise foodservice businesses. However, they have always been part of an existing store.
“The empty unit near our Staplehurst store offered us an opportunity to learn about running the franchises as standalone departments, as there is definitely an appetite within our strategic programme to operate more standalone franchise opportunities across our territory.
“This latest development at Staplehurst fits perfectly with our strategic programme on many fronts, creating new retail selling space in which to grow the business, enhancing our foodservice business to deliver high gross margin sales and finally, allowing us the opportunity to remodel our existing SPAR proposition with a focus on developing and improving our fresh food sales.”
NAM Implications:
- ‘Standalone status’ literally allows a business to demonstrate profitability (or otherwise) without ambiguity…
- i.e. anticipate a focus on and a sensitivity to financial performance.
- Hence an opportunity for NAMs that can calculate cost…
- …and demonstrate their financial impact on Greggs & Subways’ P&L.
- (If not reported separately, then focus on Blakemore’s P&L…)
