Refining the range at wonderful Welshpool

Sales at a pioneering Welsh forecourt store are enjoying double digit growth a year after first opening in the town of Welshpool.

The 3,000 sq.ft. Tuffins store and forecourt, which launched at the start of October last year, is now a firm favourite for locals as well as passing motorists on the Welshpool bypass, with store sales up 25 per cent year on year and fuel sales growing at a similar rate.

Harry Delves, commercial director for the family business, said the range in the store has been perfected to reflect the demands of shoppers and the blend of locally sourced products, Co-op own label and branded goods is a winning formula.

“We have lots of locally supplied produce in our stores – it is something we pride ourselves on. The Co-op Irresistible products, particularly in snacking, are brilliant and really add to our range. We have managed to create a good blend of local and Co-op,” said Harry.

“We are a great example of an independent retailer who is tapping into many places to make our business a success. We make the most of Nisa with the availability of the Co-op branded lines and the bigger range in order to offer great value, but at the same time we show how well an independent retailer can source its own products and ranges.”

The development, which took more than four years to come to fruition due to long running issues with planning, is the first dual branded Tuffins store, with the well-known family logo sitting alongside the Nisa Local brand, both outside and inside the building.

And with five hybrid tills installed that enable the store to operate for both grocery and fuel sales on an entirely self-service basis, the Delves family believes they offer a unique mix of traditional retailing combined with pioneering modern technology that will help them embrace the future.

Harry said: “Whilst we are traditional retailers, we have embraced a lot of firsts and will continue to look at new opportunities to future proof our business.”