Criteria for membership: To become a member of our retail group, retailers must commit to a minimum weekly spend of £4,000 and operate stores that are at least 300sq ft in size. Additionally, members are required to support our Premier promotional programme and have an Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) system, which is available to them free of charge.
Cost of membership: Joining our group comes at no cost.
Financial packages and credit terms: We offer a range of leasing and financial packages to assist with capital expenditure and commercial mortgages. Credit terms are agreed upon during the sign-up process.
Minimum contract length: Members are required to commit to a minimum contract length of three years.
Trading area agreement: We assess stores individually, taking into consideration factors such as catchment area and local competition, to determine if a trading area agreement can be offered. This agreement assures members exclusivity within a specified radius.
Minimum drop requirement: The minimum order requirement is £1,000, excluding tobacco.
Ordering options: Retailers may place orders either online through Booker’s website or through their EPoS system.
Own-label lines and ranges: We offer over 600 own-brand products across Euro Shopper and Jack’s, along with various alcohol brands.
Arrangements for fresh produce and chilled and frozen foods: We provide a comprehensive range of fresh and frozen products, delivered directly from the local branch to the store. For chilled products, we offer an extended range of more than 300 long-life options, resulting in minimal wastage and a 30% profit-on-return for many lines.
EPoS adoption and technology packages: The majority of our Premier stores have EPoS systems, and we offer a free-of-charge system for retailers. We are also launching a scheme to implement electronic shelf-edge labels, which not only promotes sustainability but also saves customers approximately 14 hours of staff time each week.
Consumer advertising investment: Yes, our consumer leaflets are produced on a monthly basis and our “Mega Deal” promotions are advertised on television. We employ social media marketing strategies, and we have recently introduced an online tool to assist retailers in setting up and managing their own store pages. Premier now incorporates QR codes, granting consumers access to an electronic promotional leaflet.
Promotional offerings: Our package includes promotions in chilled, frozen, beers, wines and spirits, healthy living, and everyday low prices, which are refreshed every four weeks. Retailers receive free leaflets to distribute in their area and a complete point-of-sale kit comprising posters, shelf-barkers, and stack cards.
Our “Mega Deals” are strategically designed to drive footfall and generate over 15% profit-on-return. Furthermore, our core deals typically yield at least a 25% POR. We also feature a captivating “Wow” deal on the front page of the Premier leaflet to encourage repeat purchases.
Category management support: Our merchandising teams at Booker will collaborate with retailers to design store layouts that align with current trends and maximize sales. We consider growth categories, including chilled and frozen goods, as well as local products. The introduction of a Premier “beer cave” has resulted in some customers witnessing a doubling of sales, while an American bay has led to a nine-fold increase. For smaller-format stores (300sq ft), we offer a dedicated plan that maximizes the aforementioned benefits within a smaller space.
Recent support measures for retailers: Premier has recently relaunched its Customer Journey Guide, which includes new American, Big Night In, and Refresh drinks stations, featuring our latest addition, the Thick Shakes milkshake machine. We have also implemented sustainability initiatives for both stores and their communities by partnering with FareShare, Too Good to Go, and Olio.
Why choose Premier: As the largest symbol group in the UK, Premier offers exclusive group deals without any joining fees. Our retailers benefit from exceptional local support through our extensive network of local branches and a dedicated sales and development team comprising over 100 colleagues. We provide market-leading promotions, footfall-driving own-label product ranges, and free marketing support.
Factfile:
Average store size: 1,300sq ft
Average store turnover: £15,000 per week
Number of UK retail members: Over 4,000
UK fascias: Premier
Retailer snapshot:
Owner: Arun Ehamparam
Store name: Premier Talbot Village
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset
Years as a member: 13 years
Turnover before and after membership (per week): Pre-refit: £17,500; Post-refit: £35,500
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7am to 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 10pm
Main advantages of membership: Premier offers market-leading deals, excellent support from our team, high-quality own-brand ranges (Jack’s and Euro Shopper), and the early adoption of new trends.
Why choose Premier over competitors: We were drawn to Premier due to the Spend & Save discount scheme, strong profit-on-return, enticing shopper promotions, and the flexibility it offers.
For further information:
Fascia name: Premier
Address: Booker, Equity House, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1LT
Telephone: 01933 371246
Email: martyn.parkinson@booker.co.uk
Website
Twitter: @mylocalpremier
First contact for potential members: Martyn Parkinson, Sales Director, Booker Wholesale
