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James Hall, controller of the current 720 member strong Best One symbol group, said at a roadshow to attract new members held at Arith Castle in Falkirk, Scotland,“ On the back of the impressive build up of our premium symbol group, Best One over the past few years, we now feel the time is right to bring the business to Scotland.  We have made a significant appointment with Hazel Smith, as our Scottish business development manager. Hazel and her team will be initially covering the Edinburgh and Fife regions, where we have already signed up thirty new retailers who have joined the Best One ‘family’ since the beginning of the year.”

Best One sent an open invitation to nearly 3000 retailers in Scotland to come and meet the Best One team and thirty five of the very top named suppliers and service providers. Scottish world snooker champion, Stephen Hendry, who is sponsored by Highland Spring – also exhibitors at the show, was on hand to play a few games with retailers to get the launch off to successful start. The day proved to be a great opportunity for retailers who want to drive their business forward, to come and talk face to face with the team behind Best One.

Best One attracts some of the most professional and progressive retailers in the UK and is now recognised as having one of the most comprehensive symbol group offerings. As well as probably being the best priced and value delivered wholesaler on the road, offering over 1400 lines on promotion in any one period. This gives retailers a real edge over their competition.
 
One of the new retailers to join is Mrs Amara Yousaf, who with her husband Irfan, of Best One stores in Kennoway, Fife said, “I heard about the arrival of Best One in Scotland and liked what I saw and heard about them.  Their prices are really good, their people are really nice and our customers benefit well from their very good promotions.  They have a very supportive approach.
“We have built a good business in Scotland, having arrived here from Bristol five years ago and we are pleased to be able to see it grow more in the future with the help of Best One.”

James Hall added, “What we have to offer our retailer members has been enhanced in the past few months with the addition of several new services through our relaunched website www.best-one.co.uk . In particular the on-line ‘you click and we pick service’, where retailers can, with the aid of a hand held web scanner, order direct from the shelf to us, via their own PC’s or laptops, and within 48 hours, the delivery is with them. We have found this to be a really popular and fast growing element of our offering.

“A further much favoured element of what we offer is the hands on support from our team of business development managers and merchandisers who are available to provide on going support with business decisions right across the board including general marketing help and advice.

“We don’t just leave retailers to get on with it – a comment we often hear about the competition. All retailers get regular four weekly visits, ensuring they are kept up to date with all our latest developments and promotional activity. We have made this support aspect an essential point in the offering to retailers and they really welcome it – running a shop alone out there can be one of the most difficult jobs there is and we are really proud to be able to be there and offer all the advice and support needed.”

Elsewhere in the Bestway group, Batleys cash and carry has branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, where a strong business on the wholesale side of the group has been built up over 23 years, with many independent retailer or catering customers buying regularly or having goods delivered to their own premises. In addition, Bestway has recently acquired the Bellevue Cash and Carry group; they have two depots in Scotland in Edinburgh and Stirling.

James Hall, controller of the Best one symbol group speaking at a management conference to the Bestway Group said,  “ Best one has shown stronger growth than any other symbol group. Since the group’s inception, seven years ago, it has grown in excess of 20 percent year on year and is aiming to break through the £150,000,000 sales barrier this year and doubling current sales within two years.

“The symbol group sector has seen sales growth overall of 7 percent to £10.4bn and now accounts for 36 percent of sales in the convenience market – interestingly enough from just 29 percent of stores.

“This growth comes on the back of the unveiling of a new state of the art communications system via the new Best one website. Available to all members of the symbol group as well as to prospective members, the website has been considerably enhanced to also provide a members area which allows orders to be placed on-line coupled with easy payment options. The website also features all the current and themed promotions, complete with the ability to download and print shelf edge labels in store. Also available are national planograms, a full shop fitting and design information service as well as immediate communication to all drop shipment suppliers. Within one week of opening the new website we received thirty-two new enquires for membership.

“The team that drives Best one has been increased to contend with the general increase in business. The business development managers (BDE’s)  are spread across all regions of the country. It is there job to create that special relationship between the retailer members and Best one operations. In addition the BDE’s offer unique support to the members on all aspects of running their business.

“The key aim of the direction for Best one is to increase the number of Best one fascias to new retailer members who have the best qualities to join and represent what Best one, as one of the most dynamic symbol groups, has to offer.”

Further information:

MEDIA - Peter Cunard, PR Advisor

Bestway Group - 020 8991 5843

Retailers - 020 8453 8353