Surging sales continue in smartened up store

Sales at a Nisa convenience store have increased in almost every category thanks to a series of changes made to the Luton shop that had needed a bit of TLC.

Latest figures, based on sales in January 2019 versus January 2018 reveal excellent uplifts including hot food +55%, hot drinks +36%, ethnic foods (mostly Polish products) +49%, home baking +13%, cheese +18%, ready meals +17% and toiletries +17%.

The Nisa Local in Houghton Regis was converted to the latest Store of the Future Evolution fascia in October last year and some key improvements were made to bring it up to date and create a more inviting environment for shoppers.

The alterations at the 2,500 sq.ft. shop involved moving the food to go offering from the rear of the store to the front and replacing waist height coffee machine and hot food counter with larger, upright equipment. This led to an immediate sales increase of an impressive 45 per cent on hot food.

Further steps were taken to freshen up the store and create a brighter, cleaner appearance with the installation of LED lighting and some redecoration which gave the store a new lease of life.

But the final step came in January when the store was remerchandised leading to the startling sales results for the store.    

Trading manager at Lenus Trading, Ian Bacon, said: “Sales on the grocery sub departments are most certainly up due to their new locations. They have greater space than before and better visibility.

“We have also introduced additional Co-op products since the moves and we’re introducing some new bread lines for the bakery table at the front of the store which is helping to drive more customers into the chilled department, and we are hoping that sales grow further in this area in 2019.”