Lioncroft Wholesale has launched a major refurbishment programme across its Lifestyle Express stores estate as it looks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive wholesale and convenience retail market.
The refit programme has begun with the Lifestyle Express store on Marsh Lane in Erdington, with further refurbishments planned across the symbol group's 340 stores.
According to Dr Jason Wouhra OBE, the refit is designed to modernise Lifestyle Express stores with updated branding and layouts, creating a more premium shopping environment while maintaining competitive pricing.
"This year is shaping up to be a big one for Lioncroft Wholesale Ltd-owned Lifestyle Express, as we've begun our refit programme for many of our stores.
"In an extremely difficult and competitive wholesale and consumer market, we know we need to keep investing to stay ahead. That's why we are updating and upgrading a whole suite of our 340 Lifestyle Express stores, starting with Marsh Lane in Erdington."
The new-look stores are intended to offer customers a more contemporary shopping experience without compromising on value, a key factor as independent retailers continue to compete with major supermarket operators.
"The new branding and layout gives customers a more modern, premium feel for their local store whilst still maintaining our low prices. If we want to compete with the supermarket giants and genuinely get people to shop local, this is critical.
"I also hope that by investing in the shops that are traditionally heartbeats of communities - for example Marsh Lane's Lifestyle Express has been part of the Erdington community for nearly 40 years - we can help bring some life back to local high streets that have really suffered in recent years," Dr Wouhra stated.
Lifestyle Express operates around 340 convenience stores across the UK under the Lioncroft Wholesale-owned symbol group.