Convenience store chain McColl’s defied supermarket price wars, as it benefited from the rollout of new-look stores and additional services.
The Essex-based group, which has more than 750 convenience stores plus 544 newsagents, said earnings in the six months to May 25 rose 10.9% to £15.9 million, although costs from its recent stock market flotation meant it racked up a bottom-line loss of £4m.
McColl’s has been rolling out a store transformation programme and working with the Post Office on its “local” model, where more services are offered across retail counters.
It has finished 40 of the conversions so far and hopes to complete the whole of the 191-strong estate by the end of the financial year.
Over the period, McColl’s acquired 23 stores, converted 20 newsagents to food and wine formats and upgraded another 98 convenience stores.
The business, which recently launched loyalty card scheme Plus to reward repeat customers, said sales in its upgraded stores were around 2.4% higher.
The group opened its 750th convenience store last month and plans to have 1,000 by the end of June 2016.
McColl’s was valued at £200m when it listed on the London market in February, but now trades 11% below its 191p launch price.
To comply with corporate governance, chairman James Lancaster will now just act as CEO. Current non-executive director and deputy chairman John Coleman will become non-executive chairman.