kwiksave Returns to the High Street
12/05/2012
The famous kwiksave name has returned to the high street with the opening of the first all-new convenience format store in Little Lever, Bolton.
kwiksave is now owned by Costcutter Supermarkets Groups and promises to offer low prices and great value, heralding the beginning of a new-era for the famous high street brand. kwiksave retailer Bhavesh Parekh held a ‘store-warming’ party to celebrate the opening of his new store, with hundreds of people from the local community attending to see the new store for themselves.
Bhavesh Parekh, commented: “It is really exciting to be the first new kwiksave store to open. We are at the heart of the local community and it is vitally important to us that we provide good quality products and exceptional value to our customers and the kwiksave brand allows us to do this. The response from the local community has been fantastic and we’ve already seen a massive uplift of new customers since the fascia was installed.”
Ian Bishop, Marketing Director of Costcutter Supermarkets Group, said: “kwiksave is very strong brand that is synonymous with value, and this commitment remains at the heart of our new offer. kwiksave retailers will benefit from the same world class service given to all our retailers, with a dedicated marketing strategy and exceptional promotional offers."
He added: "Bhavesh’s store looks fantastic and underlines that a ‘low prices, great value’ proposition can be achieved without compromising store standards and the consumer shopping experience.”
Costcutter Retailer Donates £2,000 to Local Charities
20/04/2012
Costcutter retailer Nadeem Ashraf has donated £2,000 to two York based charities.
The Costcutter store on Bishopthorpe Road, York, presented Internet Café, run by St Clement’s Church, and Walker Barstow Homes Trust, Sheltered Homes for Elderly People each with a cheque for £1,000.
The money was raised through Costcutter’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity. The charity raises funds for local good causes and charities through the sale of specific products, from which a donation is made to MADL. Retailers then nominate good causes in their local communities that they wish to make donations to.
Commenting on the donations Costcutter store owner Nadeem Ashraf said: “Our store has been part of the local community for eight years and the MADL scheme has helped us raise much needed funds for two great charities. It is a privilege to be able to help both organisations and I’d like to thank all my customers who have helped raise this money.”
Nick Ivel, Chief Executive of Costcutter Supermarkets Group Ltd, added: “Costcutter is proud to be local and the Making A Difference Locally charity gives our retailers the opportunity to raise money for charities and good causes in their community. It is fantastic that Nadeem’s store has raised such a significant amount of money for two great, local causes.”
The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor David Horton, commented: “I was delighted to attend the event at the Costcutter shop on Bishopthorpe Road, and see first hand the support given by them to the local community, and to two very local good causes.’’
On receiving the donation, Steve Smith, from Internet Café said: “I would like to thank Nadeem and all his Costcutter customers on raising this money. This donation ensures we can continue to provide this vital community facility.”
Chris Birch, Vice Chairman of Walker Barstow Homes Trust, concluded: “We are delighted to receive this generous donation which will help us to upgrade the facilities for the residents, particularly the bathrooms and improved insulation.”
Costcutter names ‘Mum in a Million’
16/03/2012
Karen Payne from Cradley Heath in the West Midlands has been named 'Costcutter Mum in a Million' following a search to find the nation’s top mum.
Costcutter and Thorntons Chocolates team-up to find the country’s truly terrific mum, one who continually put others before herself. The competition was run via www.costcutter.com with nominations received from across the United Kingdom. Seven lucky finalists were chosen from all the entries, who were then part of a public vote to find the 'Mum in a Million'.
Karen was nominated by her step-daughter Kimberley and won the coveted title with over 53% of the public vote.
Kimberley nominated her fantastic mum, who cared for her dad when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer, whist continuing to be an amazing mum for Kimberly and her two sisters, and also finding time to be a 'fantastic Nan' to Kimberley’s twins.
Commenting on becoming 'Mum in a Million', Karen said: “I really can’t believe it. I was shocked when I found out that Kimberley had nominated me, it was so sweet of her. To be named Mum in a Million is really really special. We’ve had our tough times but we’re a close family and it’s a team effort so we all support each other.”
As well as the title of 'Mum in a Million', Karen has won herself a luxury spa break where she can relax and pamper herself for a change, and also a delicious hamper of Thorntons chocolates. The six finalists have also each won a Thorntons hamper.
Ian Taylor, Business Manager at Thorntons, commented: “I’d like to congratulate Karen on being named Mum in a Million and I hope she thoroughly enjoys her Red Letter Days spa break. The reaction to this competition has been phenomenal and I’d like to thank everyone who nominated their mum and also everyone who voted.”
Costcutter Retailers Scoop Top Awards
16/03/2012
Congratulations to three Costcutter retailers who are celebrating after scooping top industry honours at high profile award ceremonies.
Malcolm Cheema, who owns Malcolm’s Store Costcutter in Tile Hill, Coventry was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at Convenience Store Magazine’s Convenience Retail Awards in London. The store was also highly commended in the Best Independent Store category.
In Scotland Jay Javid’s Costcutter on Glasgow Road, Paisley, was named the Symbol Store of the Year at the Scottish Grocer’s annual awards event.
Great Granddad buys winning Lotto ticket from Costcutter
08/03/2012
Great Granddad George Keates is celebrating today after scooping a massive £3,507,769 with one of his first ever lottery ticket purchases. George, 77, hit the jackpot in the 29 February draw and says the reason he bought a ticket was because it was a £7m rollover. George bought his winning ticket from Costcutter in Sussex Road, Southport.
This is only the 10th occasion since the lottery started that George has bought a ticket. He now has plans to travel to Australia to visit a close friend – someone he thought he would never see again.
George, from Southport, said: “I only bought the ticket because it was a big rollover and I just did a Lucky Dip. It was lucky number 10 for me as this is only the 10th occasion since the lottery started that I have bought a ticket.
“My wife plays the lottery all of the time and I didn’t even tell her I had bought a ticket.”
It was the day after the draw when George looked on Television to check his numbers that he discovered he had won. “I could not believe it when I saw all of my numbers on the television screen. I moved a little closer to the television to check again and yes they were still all there, so I moved closer again and then just cheered at the top of my voice.
“I shouted to my wife who was upstairs at the time: “I’ve won the lottery, I’ve won the lottery.” She just did not believe me, responding with: “No you haven’t, don’t be pulling my leg.
“She then came down the stairs and was just in a state of collapse. I literally had to sit her on the stairs and tell her to take deep breaths to calm her down,” George said.
George, who worked as a porter at Greaves Hall Hospital in Southport prior to his retirement, has been married to Beryl, 74, a former hospital domestic, for 57 years. The couple are now planning to buy a new car and bungalow, in addition to visiting a friend in Australia. George added: “I never thought I would get to see my friend again. I certainly would not have ever been able to afford to travel to Australia.”
George, who has four sons, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild says he will also ensure his family is well looked after. He does not, however, have any plans to leave Southport. He said: “I have lived here all of my life so we certainly will not be moving away from the area.”
Beryl added: “I just could not believe it when George told me he had won. I play every week but I do think that fate has come into play a little. Just the day before George won I was in a taxi and we drove past the Lottery office in Liverpool. The driver said to me: “That’s where you will be going when you win the lottery.” A day later George hit the jackpot!”
George says he will now definitely be continuing to play the lottery and has already bought his tickets for this week. George bought his winning ticket from Costcutter in Sussex Road, Southport and his winning numbers were: 13, 14, 29, 41, 46 and 49.
Costcutter Retains Warwick University
11/01/2012
Costcutter Supermarkets Group has secured a five year trading agreement with the University of Warwick.
Following a competitive and thorough tendering process, Costcutter has retained the supply contract to operate the campus’s 7500 sq ft store which has traded under the Costcutter fascia since 1998.
Mark Potter, University of Warwick Retail Operations Director said: “Costcutter has a proven track record when it comes to providing best in class for service, value and overall package. In partnership with Country Choice, Costcutter has already successfully delivered the UK’s first Pasta Pronto “food to go” concept in store, and further development work on our hot and cold food offer will be undertaken as part of our new trading agreement.”
Nick Ivel, Costcutter Chief Executive said: “The University of Warwick is a very important customer for Costcutter and we are delighted that our offering still comes out top, despite healthy competition from others in the convenience sector.”
Mr Potter concluded: “Our partnerships with external suppliers are of significant importance to us as we strive to meet our aim of becoming one of the best university’s in the world. The contract extension with Costcutter demonstrates their continuing ability to meet and exceed our needs with innovative and bespoke retail solutions that work.”
Winning EuroMillions Ticket Bought at Costcutter
03/01/2012
A couple from Tockwith in Yorkshire had an extra special Christmas after scooping £1 million in the special EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle draw on 23 December.
Judy and Frank Whitmore bought the winning ticket from Costcutter in Tockwith and kept it in an antique family teapot over Christmas until they were able to claim their prize.
The couple were one of 25 ticket-holders who each banked £1 million in the special EuroMillions draw. Judy only bought the ticket because the draw was creating so many winners and discovered the win on Christmas Eve. She said: “I got the laptop out and hadn’t won with my numbers so then looked through the 25 raffle numbers. I checked it six times and my husband and I kept reading them out to one another.In the end we decided we had better call my son to check.”
Judy’s son, who lives down the road appeared in an instant, and eventually confirmed, ‘Yes Mother you have won it’. “We screamed a bit and then my son had to call Camelot as I couldn’t speak.”
Rather than rushing out for last minute Christmas shopping the couple decided it was best to go for a walk. “We just wandered down the river with great big smiles on our faces and occasionally laughing,” she said.
Judy was worried about where to keep the ticket now it was worth £1 million. “My tickets are usually just in my purse or on the window sill. After a few ideas my husband suggested we put it in a special teapot we have on the kitchen shelf, it was his great great grandmother’s. We were sure it would be safe there.”
The couple didn’t reveal the win to their two other children until they visited on Christmas Day, after the initial shock both were over the moon for the couple.
Judy and Frank intend on helping out family as well as splashing out on themselves and buying a new car.
Father Christmas Visits Costcutter
14/12/2011
Costcutter in Tile Hill, Coventry, received a special visit from Father Christmas when he took a break from his busy present wrapping schedule to pop by and meet customers and staff at the busy store.
Father Christmas was the guest of honour at the store’s annual Christmas party, with children and adults braving the wintery weather to meet him and to join in the festive fun.
Organised by brothers Paul and Pinda Cheema, who run Malcolm’s Store, the event included popular Christmas carols from a local choir, hot soup, mince pies and some festive drinks.
Paul Cheema commented: “We put a lot of effort into our big Christmas party and it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves despite the weather. It is important for us to give something back to the community and we worked very closely with key suppliers to provide food and drinks to help the party go with a swing.”
He added: “It’s always very special when Father Christmas arrives and the children really really enjoy meeting him and giving him their present list!”
Costcutter Retailer Donates £1,000 to Local Hospital
02/12/2011
Weston Park Hospital has become one of the latest beneficiaries of Making a Difference Locally with a £1,000 donation from David Harrison, a Costcutter retailer in Wisewood, Sheffield.
Making a Difference Locally is a charity dedicated to raising much-needed funds for good causes and charities across the UK and it allows customers to raise money by purchasing specific products. Products are specially selected every three weeks and a few pence from each sale goes straight into retailer’s Making a Difference Locally fund. Retailers can then nominate charities or good causes to receive a donation.
The Wisewood Costcutter store has helped raise significant funds for charity in recent years, organising car treasure hunts and also donating £750 to Breast Cancer Care in 2010, again via the Making a Difference Locally charity.
Mr Harrison commented: “Our Costcutter store is part of the local community and we are very proud to play our part in helping to raise much needed funds for charities such as Weston Park Hospital.”
Costcutter Store Named Independent Retailer of the Year
29/09/2011
Costcutter Store Named Independent Retailer of the Year
Malcolm’s Store Costcutter in Tile Hill, Coventry, is celebrating having scooped the much coveted Independent Retailer of the Year award at the prestigious Retail Industry Awards 2011.
The store, which is part of Costcutter Supermarkets Group, also picked up the Drinks Retailer of the Year award at the ceremony in London.
The family business, now in its 28th year of trading, is run by brothers Paul and Pinder Cheema, who took over the running of the store from their parents Malcolm and Baljit who started the business.
Commenting on the double award win, Paul Cheema said: “We are extremely proud to have won these two Retail Industry Awards and they are reward for all the hard work that everyone has put into making Malcolm’s a successful, community focused store. We pride ourselves on listening to our customers and meeting their needs on a daily basis, which has enabled us to build a large and very loyal customer base. Their continued support is the reason we have been able to develop a successful, award winning, Costcutter convenience store.”
Nick Ivel, Costcutter Managing Director, said: “Everyone at Costcutter is delighted that Malcolm’s Store has won the Independent Retailer of the Year and Drinks Retailer of the Year awards. The family have worked extremely hard to deliver a great convenience store and these national awards are recognition of the effort they have put into their business.”
Costcutter on TV
12/09/2011
Costcutter Supermarkets Group returns to TV screens this month with the introduction of its latest TV advertising campaign.
Reinforcing its ‘Proud to be Local’ position, the new TV adverts break on 22nd August 2011 and will for the first time be aired across a range of digital stations including ITV2 and 3, Sky News, Sky 1 and 2, MTV, Living TV and the Food Network, as well as maintaining its presence on terrestrial channels ITV1 and Daybreak. Continuing Costcutter’s value, variety and offers messaging the new 30 second and 10 second advert formats will deliver considerably more commercials until the end of the run in November, significantly increasing brand awareness.
Ian Bishop, Costcutter Marketing Director, said: “Introducing digital channels to our media schedule gives Costcutter the opportunity to increase penetration with our key audiences and drive stronger coverage, as well as build on the awareness already created via terrestrial channels. The digital switchover brings a wider channel choice to consumers so it is crucial that we embrace this shift and integrate it into our planning.”nHe continued: “This campaign represents the biggest spend on TV advertising in Costcutter’s history and underlines our continued support for our retailers. We committed ourselves to doubling our TV presence in 2011 and this latest wave of activity meets this target. Costcutter is Proud to be Local and the deals promoted in these TV adverts represent exceptional value for our customers.” The adverts were created in conjunction with Mezzo Films and The Whole Caboodle.
25th Anniversary
12/09/2011
To celebrate its 25th anniversary Costcutter today unveiled two new store fascias that will be rolled out early in the New Year across the group.
As part of a wider modernisation campaign the traditional white Costcutter fascia has been refreshed and is complemented by the launch of a completely new myCostcutter brand – positioning Costcutter at the forefront of convenience retailing for the next 25 years.
The brand transformation follows extensive market research and consultation with Costcutter retailers, which identified the need to segment the convenience market.
The moves sees an evolution of the ubiquitous Costcutter brand, which is Proud to be Local, simplifying the fascia and introducing a cleaner, fresher feel whilst ensuring its key strengths – its instant recognisability – remains at its core. The introduction of the myCostcutter brand with vibrant black, red and green colourways, heralds a significant departure from the traditional white and green and ushers in a superior brand experience. Remaining loyal to Costcutter’s value promises, the new premium feel fascias provide retailers with the opportunity to differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.
Ian Bishop, Costcutter Marketing Director, said: “We felt it was vital to the continued growth of Costcutter to introduce these new look fascias. The Costcutter brand sits firmly in the middle market and will continue to do so, delivering exceptional value to its customers. The introduction of the myCostcutter brand, with its distinctive look, is at the request of retailers who want to differentiate themselves and provide their customers with an increased premium product offering.”
The full myCostcutter package introduces new colours, layouts and textured finishes throughout the store, maintaining a high end environment. Ian Bishop added: “This really does signal a new era for Costcutter and convenience retailing in general. The myCostcutter brand will reward disciplined retailers who continually strive to achieve the highest standards, providing the perfect platform from which to grow their business by appealing to a new market segment.”
The new look Costcutter is enhanced by the creation of new store exterior guidelines, including open window displays allowing customers to see into the store and more natural light to flood in, creating a more welcoming atmosphere. The innovation continues in store with clearly defined zones providing greater sight lines and improved customer navigation.
New Costcutter website
16/08/2011
Costcutter Supermarkets Group today launches a completely new consumer focused website to drive brand awareness, customer engagement and increase the presence and personality of retailers.
The new costcutter.com website will reinforce the key fresh and local, value messaging, whilst providing improved customer relevance through local search initiatives and enable retailers to increase interaction within their community. Built on a new content management system, the new website boasts a simplified design giving a much improved user experience.
Promoting the ‘Local Value’ message, the new website uses the very latest Google Local services and geo-based marketing to promote each retailer based on their location. The enhanced search function includes key store information with Google maps, Street view and personalised store imagery and comments for every store – amplifying the Proud to be Local position. In addition local newsfeeds and relevant store offers create increased content, allowing further engagement opportunities with consumers. Integrating links to the Costcutter Facebook page and Twitter account extends potential for building the online community.
Ian Bishop, Costcutter Marketing Director, said: “The challenge was to build a website that clearly communicates our brand values and provides relevant, uncluttered information for our customers. The advanced technology we have employed enables the costcutter.com website to be extremely local, promoting individual retailers, their services and the offers they are carrying which will aid footfall into store.” He added: “The new costcutter.com website extends our brand personality and integrates it with consumers needs. Building an engage online community is important to us and through initiatives such as customers nominating charities for our Local Pride campaign, newsletters and recipe tips we believe we have created a website that our customers will want to spend time on and return to.”