SPAR independent retailer Oliver Blake is motoring ahead with plans to develop the family’s Oasis service station and secure its future position as a haven for customers.
The Blake family have had their forecourt site at Long Riston in the East Riding of Yorkshire since the 1950s, consistently evolving the business in that time.
A move to SPAR in 2019 in association with James Hall & Co. Ltd has accelerated progress with three expansions of the store in that time.
Recent developments in-store have seen James Hall & Co. Ltd’s Cheeky Coffee brand added in, delivering a better value coffee for customers.
Investment in two walk-in cold rooms has improved product availability through greater stock holding, and the store’s kitchen area is to be relocated and enlarged to further enhance Food To Go capacity.
An internal wall is also being removed to increase shop-floor freezer and grocery space.
Oliver, the third generation of the family business, has just renewed his agreement with SPAR which has happened at the same time as a switch of forecourt brand to JET.
The forecourt is now in JET branding, with JET Ultra 99-octane fuel available. Two EV chargers will be added soon alongside an extension of customer car parking space that will be completed this spring.
News of the ongoing works caught the attention of the ‘Services King’ Rich Cross, a service station enthusiast, who visited the Blakes’ site to meet Oliver and see the progression.
Oliver said: “It has been a brilliant start to 2025 with our SPAR renewal and the switch to JET on the forecourt. I was delighted to welcome Rich to Long Riston and share our family story and show him around.
“I am already very pleased with the Cheeky Coffee machine in terms of cups sold. Our customers are really taking to it and the brand gives flexibility on linking deals with Food To Go.
“The kitchen will help support our Food To Go ambitions when fully operational. More than that, the extra shopping area with more grocery and frozen food supports our aim of becoming a destination for bigger shops and more basket spend.
“Outside, the completion of the new customer car park is the wraparound support for all that capacity improvement work.
“Our two EV charge points delivering 350kva will be installed soon and they have battery back-up to boost charging when the grid is in demand, which I think is important to get customers back on the road quickly.”
Rich Cross said: “It has been a pleasure to visit to Long Riston to meet with Oliver whose passion for serving customers as a forecourt retailer is obvious.
“His understanding of what it means to be a community retailer is integral to the site’s growth, and his SPAR store and JET forecourt provide an excellent offer for both local customers and passing trade here in this corner of rural East Yorkshire.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.
Children in Year Four at Ashton Primary School in Preston have baked heart-shaped shortbreads dipped in chocolate and have donated them to residents at Abraham House, Marina View, and Swansea Terrace.
The tasty treats were well received by residents and the project has supported the children to develop new skills and broaden their awareness of the community around them.
Ingredients were supplied by James Hall & Co. Ltd, together with a SPAR recipe card, which was put together with help from the University of Central Lancashire’s Dietetics department.
The initiative is part of a longer-term project with multiple partners working together across the academic year which is aiming to support Ashton Primary School in a range of areas.
These including knowledge development with children and families, supporting the school to become more self-sufficient with food supply, and increasing the connection between the school and the community around them.
“Baking shortbread has been a labour of love," said Michelle Harrison-Baines, Year Four teacher at Ashton Primary School. "The children adored the process of donning aprons and getting out the mixing bowls and rolling pins to produce the heart shaped biscuits.
“It was a lovely opportunity to coincide with Valentine’s Day, and it was brilliant for the children to see the smiles on the faces of the residents when we arrived at each of the homes.”
Katie Atherton, Trading Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We have enjoyed every one of the opportunities we have done supporting Ashton Primary School this academic year, but I think the Valentine’s Day baking session has been the most heart-warming yet.
“As a proud Preston-based family business with family values, we are pleased to be supporting skills development within children and helping the school build a connection with the community, which is what we do at SPAR.”
A good majority of Brits likes to support small businesses all the year round, shows a recent survey, suggesting affection for the UK’s small businesses remains strong.
According to a recent from American Express based on the survey of 2,000 adults, two-thirds (63 per cent) of consumers believe it is important to support small independent businesses all year round, and not just during seasonal peaks like Small Business Saturday, which in 2024 saw a collective £634m spent in-store and online.
Consumers highlighted various reasons why they would continue shopping small, including how these businesses boost the appeal of their local high street (53 per cent); the personalised experience they enjoy when shopping (50 per cent); and a desire to support their local community (43 per cent).
Brits will be taking an increasingly savvy approach to their spending, the research found.
Half (50 per cent) of all respondents say they will buy from alternative retailers if they feel they can get a better deal elsewhere, with a third (33 per cent) stating they would be encouraged to do so by specific offers.
Shoppers plan to lean into ways of achieving greater value for money this year, compared to last; buying pre-loved items, maximising seasonal sales, and using payment cards that offer rewards and points on their purchases were among the top ranked tactics.
Furthermore, Gen Z and Millennial shoppers ranked as the most thorough when it comes to their research before spending, particularly if planning to purchase big ticket items like furniture. Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of this age group said they either always or sometimes seek recommendations in advance.
Dan Edelman, UK general manager, merchant services at American Express, said, “The one guarantee with retail is that it never stands still, and it’s the retailers who best meet ever-evolving customer expectations that will succeed.
"Our research identifies some distinct priorities that are likely to influence consumer spending behaviour in the months ahead.
“For small businesses, it’s hugely positive to see continued recognition of, and affinity for, shopping small highlighted by the research.
"Small businesses pride themselves on the unique experiences and service they offer, something that clearly appeals to consumers.”
Plants, a UK-based health-food brand and business set up by Deliciously Ella founder Ella Mills, has acquired the Allplants assets from administration.
According to a statement signed off my Mills and her husband Matthew, Plants has bought Allplants “name and associated brand assets”.
London-based Allplants was put into the hands of advisory firm Interpath in November, resulting in 65 staff losing their jobs.
At the time, Interpath said, “In common with a number of other companies across the plant-based food sector, the company had faced trading headwinds in recent years, including rising food, transport and energy costs and the impact of fragile consumer confidence in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis.
“After a period of sustained losses, the directors sought to explore their strategic options, including exploring the possibility of a sale or refinancing. However, when a solvent solution could not be found, they took the difficult decision to seek the appointment of administrators.”
Financial terms of the asset transfer to Plants have not been disclosed.
In the same statement, Natasha Harbinson, a director at Interpath who led the transaction, said, “The Allplants brand had grown to become synonymous with ethically-produced, healthy, plant-based nutrition, so we’re pleased to have concluded this transaction which will enable it to continue under the direction of the experienced Plants’ team.”
Founded in 2016 by Jonathan Petrides, Allplants produced frozen vegan meals, mainly sold online but also in select independent retailers.
Plants, meanwhile, offers pasta, pasta sauces and salad dressings, which are selectively sold in Waitrose and online with Ocado..
“We will bring together Plants and Allplants to create something truly special - a new, natural, plant-based powerhouse,” the Mills duo said.
“We have long admired the Allplants brand, and the brand name has remarkable consumer awareness across the UK.
“We are pleased to have signed an agreement to specifically acquire the brand name and associated brand assets, and we’re so excited to build an exciting future for this brand with such enormous promise.”
The Mills family no longer owns Deliciously Ella. It was sold in September to the Hero Group, a Swiss manufacturer of health-focused baby foods, snack bars and spreads, for an undisclosed sum, but Mills remains its CEO.
Regulators have proposed sweeping changes for the baby formula industry after finding that parents could save about £300 a year by switching to lower-priced products.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today (14) said issues such as high prices and branding in the industry were leading to “poor outcomes”.
Some brands cost more than the weekly value of family benefits, leading to claims that some parents opted to forgo food to buy the product.
Baby formula should be placed in standardised packaging in hospitals while parents should be allowed to use gift vouchers and loyalty card points to buy formula milk, added CMA.
Labelling of infant formula in hospitals or other healthcare locations should be standardised.
Proposing five measures, CMA stated these will improve outcomes for parents and could allow them to save £300 a year by switching to a lower-priced brand, after a year-long study into the infant formula market.
However, the regulator has decided against recommending regulations such as a price cap on baby formula or a profit-margin cap, saying such a move would “involve significant risks” and could push up the prices of cheaper formula products to reach the ceiling, leading to some parents “missing out on cheaper options on the market”.
Sarah Cardell, the chief executive of the CMA, said many parents who “need, or choose, to formula feed, pick a brand at a vulnerable moment, based on incomplete information, often believing that higher prices must mean better quality”.
She added: “This is despite NHS advice stating that all brands will meet your baby’s nutritional needs, regardless of brand or price.”
Regulators have previously pointed to prices rising by 25 per cent over the past two years while consumers have borne the brunt of rising factory costs.
The industry is dominated by three companies: Danone, Kendal and Nestlé, which make up about 90 per cent of the market.
Baby milk brands often provide hospitals with formula below cost, because once parents start using a brand, they tend to stick with it.
Standardised packaging would "eliminate" brand influence after parents leave hospitals, the regulator said.
Retailers should also make it easier for parents to compare prices, and the ban on advertising should be extended to include follow-on formula.
Restrictions on price promotions and discounts on formula should remain in place so mothers are not discouraged from breastfeeding, it said.
But people should be allowed to use points, gift cards and vouchers to get the most for their money,
Buying group Unitas Wholesale has welcomed the announcement made by its wholesale member Parfetts over its expansion in south of England with the opening of a new depot in Southampton.
As announced today (13), Parfetts is set to open a new 113,000 sq ft depot that will enable it to deliver across the south coast and into Greater London while also serving as cash and carry depot for retailers across the region.
Parfetts' new depot will be opened later this year. It is expected to provide independent retailers across the South with access to a wide range of regular promotions, from weekly manager’s specials to Big Ticket promotions and quarterly showcases.
Welcoming the news, Unitas Wholesale managing director John Kinney said, "“Unitas member Parfetts’ second new depot in three years demonstrates the incredible strength of their retail cash and carry and delivery model.
"Retailers love to visit the new generation of state-of-the art depots like Parfetts Birmingham. They are perfect showrooms for suppliers’ innovative and ingenious merchandising displays and Parfetts is leading the way.
“We are delighted that one of our biggest members is expanding into national coverage with its excellent Go Local proposition.
"We look forward to supporting the whole Parfetts team as they bring their fantastic independent wholesale and symbol model to thousands more retailers in the south of England.”
Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said, “The launch of our ninth depot underlines our commitment to serving a national customer base.
"We are determined to bring our employee-owned model to as many retailers as possible to ensure they can benefit from the industry-leading support we offer.
“We are on track to reach £1bn turnover and 2,000 symbol group retailers. Our relentless focus on supporting retailer margins has accelerated our growth over the last few years.”
Currently, Parfetts has depots in Aintree, Anfield, Birmingham, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Somercotes and Stockport.
Parfetts has also launched a new forecourt and transient customers symbol format recently.
The new format Shop & Go offers a bespoke product range and dedicated promotions designed for specific shopper missions, emphasising impulse, confectionery, snacks, and soft drinks. It also provides food-to-go, beers, wines, spirits, and specialist ranges, including car care and maintenance.