Supporting Budgens store development

As the economic climate continues to challenge businesses, Budgens has introduced a range of innovations designed to save money and help retailers improve their offer to local communities. Store development plays an important part in these developments.

“Store development is an integral part of our focus on developing our brands and putting our retail partners at the heart of all that we do," said Jemima Bird, Budgens Marketing Director."The team has worked closely with manufacturers and suppliers to get the best in class products whilst giving our retail partners unrivalled opportunities for cost savings on the optimal equipment available.”

Through competitive tendering; improved negotiations and collective buying; focus on regional contractors; the introduction of a web based management system and the utilisation of energy saving materials, Budgens has refreshed the whole store development process. This includes:

• Refrigeration - specifications for cabinet refrigeration are now set at the highest possible benchmark. A complete review of the supplier base model has also been carried out and equipment ranked upon whole life cost projections, energy efficiency and capital investment, resulting in a cost per unit decrease of almost 30%. 
• Lighting -  By embracing the latest technology we believe that we now have the most energy efficient lighting on offer, with a guide price saving of 25% on annual running costs. Our supplier partner, iGuzzini, also achieves cost savings of approximately 35%.
• Counters - Injection moulding and bonding reduce set up costs. Environmental considerations have been made at all stages with a 90% reduction of landfill waste and all sheet materials obtained from renewable sources.
• Fascias/imagery - Through value engineering and innovation we have designed state of the art one piece flexible fascias with energy saving LED back lights. These new products are lighter, recyclable, drive down refit costs and offer savings of 30%.

The essence of the Budgens brand is Real food for today’s communities. All 183 Budgens stores are now in the hands of independent entrepreneurs working at the heart of local communities. In 2008, retail sales in independent Budgens stores grew by 44.5% to £503 million. Musgrave retail partners operating the nine retail brands we support across Republic of Ireland, UK and Spain delivered combined turnover of €7.1 billion, up 6 per cent on the previous year.