Local Sourcing Helps Profits at David Sands
19 October 2009
Independent convenience store group, David Sands Ltd, has seen a sharp increase in turnover on the back of new store openings and a stronger focus on local and Scottish produce.
Announcing its results for the year ending 31st December 2008, the Kinross-based group has revealed an increase in sales to £34.6 million in 2008 from £28.9 million in 2007 and a rise in pre-tax operating profit to £1.37 million from £1.12 million in the same period.
The company, which currently operates 27 stores in Fife, Perthshire and Kinross, last year restructured its senior management team as part of a strategy to fuel future growth and drive the business forward.
One new store - at Abbeyview, Dunfermline - was opened during the year and a number were refurbished.
In 2009, David Sands has further extended its stores portfolio with the opening of new outlets at Markinch and Lauder Road, Kirkcaldy. The store at Jeanfield Road, Perth has also doubled in size following a major refurbishment.
David Sands, chief executive officer, said: "We made great inroads during 2008 in terms of ramping up our store numbers and continuing with our refurbishment programme.
"I have made no secret of the fact that we are committed to growing David Sands by acquiring existing retail outlets and, if the location is the right fit for our business, by building brand new stores.
"Our distribution operation is robust and has the capacity to service around 50 stores so we have the mechanics in place to forge ahead with our aggressive growth strategy.
"However, we are very much a community-focused retailer and will only purchase stores that are in locations where we know we can successfully combine the value for money offer and friendly service on which we have built our reputation and loyal customer base."
David Sands convenience stores are licensed, sell newspapers and magazines, have a strong fresh food offer, in-store bakery and services including PayPoint, an ATM and the National Lottery. New initiatives are also being developed, including 'Food to Go' - the sale of hot and cold food, drinks and snacks to take away - which the company sees as being one of several key growth future areas.
A new central kitchen division, located in vacant premises above the Kinross store, was established this summer to drive the company's fast-growing 'Food to Go' business.
A new David Sands brand - Eat Fresh - has been created for the sandwiches, fruit bowls and salads that are freshly prepared each day by this division for distribution to all stores.
David Sands has also increased its commitment to local and Scottish sourcing and, in the last two years, has given listings to a wide range of products including fresh meat, fish and bakery lines, from companies such as the Puddledub Pork & Fifeshire Bacon Company, based at Auchtertool in west Fife, Thistly Cross cider from Belhaven Fruit Farm, Dunbar and the world-famous Grant's black pudding from Stuart Grant in Grantown-on-Spey.
David Sands Ltd was founded in Kinross in 1812 and currently operates 27 stores in Fife, Kinross and Perthshire. The company is a member of the Nisa-Today's group, the member-owned organisation that supports independent retailers and wholesalers in the food and drink sector with a range of buying, marketing and distribution services.
David Sands website
