Bestway Wholesale has announced the launch of the Good Food Retail Network in collaboration with Impact on Urban Health and Rice Marketing to improve access to healthier, affordable and culturally relevant food in independent convenience stores – a first-of-its-kind national programme.
For millions of families across the UK, particularly in lower-income communities, the convenience store is the store that they use and rely on. When healthier choices are missing, communities are left with limited options, often defaulting to less healthy diets. The Good Food Retail Network is tackling this issue head-on by enabling independent retailers to stock and promote healthier ranges that customers trust and can afford.
This launch comes at a pivotal moment, as Government develops its Ten-Year Health Plan and considers extending HFSS (High Fat, Salt and Sugar) restrictions to the convenience sector. The initiative has already attracted Government interest as a practical model for driving change at store level.
From pilot to national movement
The Good Food Retail Network builds on a pioneering project launched in 2019 by Rice Marketing and Impact on Urban Health, with Bestway Wholesale as wholesale partner. A successful 2020 pilot, run through selected Bestway depots, proved that retailers could increase sales and sustainability by stocking healthier options.
The pilot saw over 100 healthier lines (across chilled, frozen, grocery, bakery, confectionery, soft drinks and snacks) promoted in two London Bestway depots, supported by point-of-sale, promotional activity and stronger shelf-labelling. Results showed that simple changes in pricing, placement and promotions can have a measurable impact on purchasing behaviour – and ultimately on health outcomes.
This innovative work has been scaled through Bestway’s unrivalled national footprint. With 62 depots and 100,000 retail customers, Bestway provides the reach and support to translate pilot learnings into a national movement – creating real impact for retailers, suppliers and communities alike.
Scaling up: a national blueprint
Today, the Network launches as a scalable model that already includes more than 220 engaged retailers across Costcutter, best-one, Londis, Nisa, Premier and SPAR, with supplier backing from brands such as Danone, Kind Snacks, KP Snacks, Mars and Nestle and the support of 13 local authorities. Research partners, including the University of Oxford’s Healthy Sustainable Places team, have shown interest in the model.
“Bestway Wholesale is proud to be the first national wholesaler to implement this model, developed with Rice Marketing and Impact for Urban Health,” said Kenton Burchell, Group Trading Director, Bestway Wholesale. “Together we’ve proven that healthier products can drive sales through smarter placement and promotion – and this is a blueprint that can be scaled across the industry.
“No other wholesaler has the scale and relationships to deliver this at pace – and that is why Bestway is leading the charge. For Bestway, this work is central to our ESG commitments. We recognise our responsibility to support public health, anticipate government policy, and help independent retailers grow sustainably. By leading this collective movement, we can make a real difference to families who need access to affordable, nutritious food the most.”
“We are delighted to launch the next stage of the Good Food Retail Network,” said Stephanie Rice, Director of Rice Marketing. This is more than a campaign; it’s a long-term shift in how the sector can operate. By uniting wholesalers, suppliers, retailers and local government, we’ve created a scalable blueprint for the industry. With healthier, affordable products already gaining traction, this Network is driving real, lasting change.”
Peter Babudu, Exec Director, Impact on Urban Health
Launch event
The launch event, hosted by Peter Babudu, Executive Director of Impact on Urban Health, brings together wholesalers, suppliers, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), councils and retailers. Attendees will hear the findings of the first-year external evaluation and be invited to join the Network.
Burchell concluded: “This project demonstrates Bestway’s commitment to both sustainability and public health – empowering independent retailers to be part of the solution while also driving their commercial success.”
Further to the launch, Bestway Wholesale will host a series of one-day trade events across seven London depots – the same depots that have supplied the Good Food Retail Network with stock funded by local Councils. Backed by leading supplier partners, the events will feature deep-cut promotions on a wide selection from the Healthier 100 range. The initiative is designed to give retailers within the network even greater incentive to stock healthier options, while also benefiting from attractive margins.