19 SEPTEMBER 2025 ASIAN TRADER 55
owerful forces are at
work in the UK grocery
sector, buffeting
businesses both large and small.
In the convenience sector
retailers sit at the confluence of
technical innovation, economic
storms – wage inflation, rates and
tax, investment uncertainty – and
the effects of repeated bouts of
government legislation that never
enhance and only feel as if they
punish the channel.
Twice a year, Asian Trader tries
to give a summary of the
convenience landscape within
the larger grocery sector, while
looking at the best options for
independent retailers if they wish
to join one of the symbol,
franchise or fascia groups, often
organised by wholesalers, which
promise safety in numbers,
economies of scale, support and
branding, own-label ranges and a
host of other advantages that
offer the individual a bit of
four-wheel drive power in a
turbulent and rough market
environment.
In exchange there might be
fees, standards, minimum order
obligations and rules to follow
– these are generally not too
onerous and help the symbol to
carry on its work in helping its
members. For some die-hard
indies, any rules will always be
too many – and for them,
maybe the halfway house of
a buyers’ club might be more
suitable.
Whatever the
personality and situation of
individual retailers, it
appears that each year
more of them decide to join
some sort of symbol group.
Partly it is the economic
climate but also partly it
reflects the changing
nature of the sector.
Second- and sometimes
third-generation owners
who have been educated
to work within more
corporate environments
might find being part of
something larger less restrictive
or intimidating.
Evolution
The old mum-and-pop store is
now more likely a small chain of
two, three or more shops that can
benefit disproportionately from
the business superstructure of a
symbol group. Finally, it’s simply
becoming harder to be out there
on your own – not impossible by
any means, but it’s getting to be
that you really have to want it –
especially with symbol and fascia
offers improving all the time, the
expertise and services and help on
offer from them too gigantic an
advantage to waive.
It’s all about finding the one
that suits you best – and many
retailers swap between them
quite happily; others operating
several shops might belong to
multiple symbols. Really,
anything
goes. The right partner for a store
might depend on its location and
demographics, while one
belonging to the same owner
twenty miles away – rural versus
urban, say, or poor inner-city
versus stockbroker belt – might
necessitate different symbol
identities to optimise for the
locality.
The beauty is that there is so
much to choose from and so many
valuable and helpful options
designed specifically to improve
the businesses of the independent
retailer. Development managers
with years of experience are on
hand, and symbols will even
invest alongside the retailer in
store renovations and expansions.
The independent can remain so,
while benefitting from the power
of a much larger organisation –
better delivery terms, marketing
campaigns, guidance and advice
– the list goes on.
I have been writing these
introductions twice a year for
nearly eight years now, and the
changes, though slow, are
perceptible. The evolution of
highly professional, ever-
improving symbols is impressive,
and this means the incentive to
join instead of remaining an old
stick-in-the-mud gets more
attractive each season. You have
to think of it as not losing your
identity but owning a piece of a
larger one.
Brian Straiton, Independent
Sales Director for SPAR Scotland,
for example, says that it offers the
best of both worlds: the
independence of running your
own store and the strength of a
globally recognised brand.
“Our model allows
independent retailers to retain
local character and autonomy,
while benefiting from collective
buying power, operational
support and award-winning
marketing,” he explains. “We
work in close partnership with
independent retailers to
co-develop tailored store formats
that reflect the needs of their
communities, whether it’s a
city-centre location or a rural
forecourt.
“With over 750 exclusive
SPAR own-label products and
access to both regional and
national lines, we offer true
differentiation in a competitive
market. Our model is designed to
A galaxy of symbol opportunities
In an evolving industry it can
makes sense to ally with something
bigger to gain advantages in the
marketplace – so don’t be a Groucho
(Marx) and refuse to join any club
that would have you as a member.
INTRODUCTION
SYMBOL, FRANCHISE & FASCIA SUPPLEMENT