The first of 30 planned convenience stores under the new banner Eddy’s Food Station opened in Alloa, Scotland, yesterday.
It was launched by Stephen Thompson, who has returned to the sector after almost 20 years. He was formerly the CEO of the Morning, Noon & Night chain, which he co-founded with his father Eddie Thompson, before selling the 50-store convenience retailer to Scotmid for £30m in 2004. He then became chairman of Dundee United Football Club from 2008 to 2018 and set up a sports consultancy.
Thompson is planning to grow the Eddy’s Food Station network via a combination of new sites and the conversion of existing convenience store locations.
He commented: “The opportunity to operate a successful chain of convenience stores is very promising right now and this venture is an extremely exciting first leg of a long journey for the Eddy’s Food Station brand. The retail industry is an industry I know and love. It’s an avenue I’ve always wanted to return to and I couldn’t be happier that it’s finally happening.”
He added: “We’re investing heavily in resources and research into our offering and we’re passionate about giving our customers an unrivalled, superior experience. We’re taking this opportunity to shake up the market, creating a retail experience that combines convenience and quality and goes above and beyond customer expectations.”
As well as selling daily essentials and groceries, the stores will feature fresh takeaway foods sourced from local suppliers. Partnering with several Scottish food wholesalers, Eddy’s aims to provide customers with products tailored to the Scottish market. As the chain expands, the business plans to work with further local food and drinks producers to enhance its offering.
John Richardson, the retailer’s Head of Foodservice, said: “Eddy’s Food Station stores aim is to surpass customers’ expectations from their local shop, as the offering goes far beyond basic, day-to-day supplies. In addition to a wide range of groceries our point of difference will be a high-quality, Scottish, daily takeaway menu of hot and cold fresh foods, from filled rolls, to hot pizza slices, there are options for every meal.”
Thompson concluded: “The name Eddy’s Food Station is a nod to my father and his successes in the industry. I’m thrilled to be following in his footsteps with this new venture and look forward to embracing the journey ahead as the Eddy’s Food Station network grows. Expansion is very much front and centre, and so we are continuing to scope out further sites for future stores in more central and convenient locations.”
