Blakemore Retail has launched standalone Subway and Greggs departments for the first time.
The company said the store - situated next to its SPAR store in Staplehurst, Kent - is part of a strategy to improve and expand retail spaces across the business.
Previously housed inside SPAR Staplehurst, the Subway was expanded to an empty unit nearby alongside a brand new Greggs department.
Blakemore said feedback from customers has been positive, with sales anticipated to grow as the local population becomes aware of the new store.
Matt Teague, managing director at Blakemore Retail, commented: “At Blakemore Retail we have many years’ experience of running franchise food service businesses. However, they have always been part of an existing store.
“The empty unit near our Staplehurst store offered us an opportunity to learn about running the franchises as standalone departments, as there is definitely an appetite within our strategic programme to operate more standalone franchise opportunities across our territory.
“This latest development at Staplehurst fits perfectly with our strategic programme on many fronts, creating new retail selling space in which to grow the business, enhancing our foodservice business to deliver high gross margin sales and finally, allowing us the opportunity to remodel our existing SPAR proposition with a focus on developing and improving our fresh food sales.”
The additional space created by the Subway move has enabled ranges within the SPAR store to be extended.
The store is now set for phase two of its development which will see the introduction of County Bridge fresh meat and enhancement of the bakery proposition to grow fresh food participation in store.
Both franchises will operate in the same unit but will have different opening times, with Subway opening Monday – Thursday, 7am – 9pm; Friday and Saturday, 7am – 9:30pm and Sunday 8am – 9pm. Greggs will open Monday to Saturday, 7am – 5pm and Sunday, 9am-5pm.
