retail
Grocery retailer Spar has partnered with Deliveroo to offer delivery from all 2,160 of its convenience stores across England, Scotland and Wales. The scheme will begin operating from 66 stores and will then be rolled out to the rest, including independent and company-owned Spar stores. Lee Johnson, Spar UK strategy and operations director, said: “During the years of the pandemic, Spar stores around the UK extended their service to communities by providing a variety of ecommerce delivery and call-and-collect solutions to local consumers. We are looking to accelerate this trend and cater to even more customers in the vicinity of Spar stores by partnering with Deliveroo.”
Hobbycraft is to open three new stores this year after it reported strong trade. The retailer plans to open stores in Bromborough, Merseyside; Biggleswade, Bedfordshire; and Southend, Essex. Despite experiencing a 14.8% boost in revenue, chief executive Dominic Jordan highlighted significant headwinds due to the pandemic and cost of living crisis, adding that Hobbycraft was “conscious that the year ahead will be very challenging, particularly given the significant inflationary pressures on our customers, and we are starting to see this impact on market demand in the early part of full-year 2023.”
PROPERTY
The former Debenhams store in York city centre is being considered for refurbishment. The Watches of Switzerland Group has applied to City of York Council to redevelop part of the store to create a 6,727sq ft Mappin & Webb store. The planning application said: “The desired intent is to elevate this store to fully showcase the brand and to significantly enhance this part of Davygate. In doing so it will be aligned with York’s City Council’s policy of promoting and maintaining Davygate as a world class retail destination.” The other former Debenhams at Monks Cross is expected to become a Decathlon store.
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