Salim Patel, an experienced retail industry expert, fulfilled his dream of creating a community destination hub with the launch of The Swan forecourt in Mirfield, West Yorkshire on April 25th. The forecourt’s exceptional range of services includes a Nisa store, valeting bay, petrol filling services, electric vehicle charging point, and an outdoor seating area. Patel had the foresight to identify the need for a forecourt on the M62 stretch between Mirfield and Dewsbury, and put his expertise into practice.
The forecourt is an all-inclusive hub, providing a wide variety of services for everybody. It has an American section and a Food to Go area, offering Indian cuisine and English breakfast in the morning, along with a ‘Fresh’ corner providing coffee machine, ice cream, Tango Ice Blasts, and other delicacies. The Swan forecourt also has an area dedicated to electronics, books, and DVDs, providing an ultimate retail experience to customers.
Patel retained the original name and signage of the former Swan Pub, on the site of which the forecourt now operates. “We kept the old signage for the pub and restored it… because this is important for the local community,” he added. The local community recognized The Swan Pub as an important hub, and Patel wanted to retain the same name and signage to honor this heritage.
The store launch event on April 25th, supported by giant brands like Nisa, BP, and Red Bull, was a resounding success. Besides, the Nisa store development team’s support from behind the scenes was “excellent,” according to Patel, particularly in the run-up to the store launch. The launch welcomed 60 guests from across the country, showing their support for the venture.
The Swan forecourt is Patel’s third successful forecourt project launch, demonstrating his exceptional experience in the retail industry. Victoria Lockie, Head of Retail at Nisa, commended The Swan, stating, “The forecourt is a perfect example of how retailers can create a community hub by operating multi-faceted stores offering a variety of services.” Lockie further added that the availability of Co-op own brand at Nisa stores like The Swan ensures that high-quality own-brand products are available at competitive prices.
The Swan forecourt is a testament to Patel’s commitment to bring together the community in a convenient location that caters to all their needs. With his expertise and foresight, Patel has successfully created the perfect destination hub that has received overwhelming support from the local community and retail giants.