Bestway Retail today (Feb 27) confirmed that leading Glasgow independent retailer Girish Jeeva will be joining the Costcutter symbol group as part of an exciting new chapter for his high-performing Barmulloch store.
The multi-award-winning retailer will transition from Booker’s Premier fascia to Costcutter following a significant £100,000 investment programme, with phase one of the refit seeing the store relaunched under the Costcutter brand this spring.
The move marks a strategic step forward for Girish as he focuses on strengthening his fresh and chilled proposition, supported by access to Co-op own-brand ranges and enhanced category support through Bestway Retail.
Jamie Davison, Retail Director at Bestway Retail, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Girish to the Costcutter family. He is one of Scotland’s most entrepreneurial and forward-thinking independent retailers, with an outstanding track record of growth, innovation and community engagement.
“His Barmulloch store is already performing strongly, and we’re excited to support his ambitions as he evolves the offer further under the Costcutter brand.”
The initial phase of the refit will focus entirely on the transition to Costcutter, including a substantial expansion of the fresh and chilled range from 12 metres to 18.5 metres to drive fresh innovation, quality perception and footfall.
Jamie continued: “Phase One is centred on establishing a best-in-class Costcutter store - with a strengthened fresh offer, improved layout and enhanced customer experience. Girish is investing heavily in getting the fundamentals absolutely right, and we believe this will unlock significant further growth.”
As part of longer-term development plans, Girish is exploring the introduction of Bestway Retail’s highly successful Costcutter hybrid model, which operates a specialist beers, wines and spirits store within a store concept.
This would form phase two of the store’s development, targeted towards the end of the year.
“The hybrid format has delivered excellent results in selected locations,” added Jamie.
“Girish is one of a number of Scottish retailers who are looking at adopting this exciting model as part of a phased approach. However, the immediate focus is firmly on delivering a standout Costcutter store for the local community.”
Girish Jeeva said: “This is an incredibly exciting next step for us. We’ve had a fantastic journey so far and are incredibly proud of what the store has achieved. The move to Costcutter allows us to strengthen our fresh and chilled offer and take the business to the next level.
We’re investing significantly in the refit and look forward to unveiling the new-look Costcutter store to customers very soon.”
In addition to the brand transition, the store will move to 24-hour trading following completion of the refit - further enhancing convenience for the local community.
Jamie concluded: “Retailers like Girish embody the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of Costcutter. We’re proud to be supporting his ambitions and look forward to a very successful partnership.”