Independent forecourt retailer Ascona Group has signed a new five-year contract with Co-op Wholesale, extending an agreement that began in 2020.
The deal 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 its CEO Darren Briggs, Ascona Group has grown rapidly from just two sites in Pembrokeshire to become the UK’s seventh largest independent forecourt operator, serving more than 300,000 customers a week.
Briggs said: “Ensuring our forecourts provide our customers and the local communities in which we operate with a first-class roadside retail destination is at the heart of what we do at Ascona, which is why we choose to partner with operators like Co-op Wholesale.
“We have had a long-standing relationship with Co-op Wholesale, who are one of our key suppliers to our forecourts across the country. Today, all of our 62 forecourts are supplied with grocery and Co-op branded products by Co-op Wholesale. 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 and Partnerships Director at Co-op Wholesale, added: “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.”
NAM Implications:
- Both parties agreeing to partner for a further five years must mean something.
- Perhaps better for relevant suppliers to come aboard now rather than follow rivals later…
