Local Plus

Local Plus was a regional convenience-store trading name used by Conveco Ltd in South West England. The group emerged in 2001 after a management buyout of three Alldays regional development companies and the stores operated by them. The buyout was led by Allen Hutchby, Richard Tipper and Greg Gardener, who acquired the former Alldays South West estate and rebranded the stores under the Local Plus fascia. The resulting business was not a single incorporated operating company in the simplest sense: Conveco was the group name for three related trading companies—Plymouth and Cornwall Convenience Stores Limited, Devon and Cornwall Convenience Stores Limited, and Somerset and Bristol Convenience Stores Limited. The business operated 64 convenience stores across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Bristol. Its head office was located at the Long Ashton store in Bristol. In its initial period, Local Plus stores were supplied by Nisa, reflecting the common independent and symbol-group model in British convenience retailing, in which a regional operator maintains its own store identity while using a wholesale and distribution partner. The group also expanded through acquisitions. In November 2001 it bought four Spar stores in Cornwall, followed by two additional Spar stores about a year later. Those acquired locations retained Spar branding and supply arrangements rather than being converted to Local Plus. The group experienced financial and operational difficulties, prompting a management change in 2003. The original chief executive departed and turnaround specialist Tony O'Neill was brought in to address the company's position. Under the new management, Conveco changed its distribution relationship and signed a new agreement with Spar. The stores were supplied by Appleby Westward Limited, the Spar wholesaler based in Saltash, Cornwall. During the months that followed, most Local Plus fascias were replaced with Spar fascias. This effectively reduced the distinctiveness and visibility of the Local Plus brand while moving the estate toward the Spar symbol-group system. At the beginning of 2004, The Co-operative Group announced that it had acquired Conveco outright. The transaction did not immediately eliminate all existing operating arrangements. Because of contracts signed by Conveco, The Co-operative Group continued trading the stores as Spar for approximately six months after the acquisition. It then reorganised the estate geographically. The Plymouth and South Devon stores were sold to the Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society, while the remaining stores were retained by The Co-operative Group and subsequently operated under the Co-op Welcome fascia. Local Plus therefore had a short life as a distinct regional convenience brand. Its history illustrates the consolidation of British convenience retailing in the early 2000s: a management buyout created a regional operator, supplier and symbol-group arrangements shaped its store identity, and a larger cooperative retailer ultimately absorbed and redistributed the estate. The Local Plus name is no longer an active retail fascia, and the brand's former stores now operate under successor ownership or different banners.

Local Plus originated in the restructuring of Alldays' South West English operations. In 2001, Allen Hutchby, Richard Tipper and Greg Gardener completed a management buyout involving three Alldays regional development companies. The resulting group operated under the name Conveco Ltd, although the business was divided among Plymouth and Cornwall Convenience Stores Limited, Devon and Cornwall Convenience Stores Limited, and Somerset and Bristol Convenience Stores Limited. The former Alldays locations were rebranded Local Plus and initially supplied by Nisa. Conveco developed a regional estate of 64 convenience stores in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Bristol, with its head office at the Long Ashton store near Bristol. Its format was local convenience retailing rather than a national supermarket operation, serving everyday grocery and household needs in smaller communities. Conveco also pursued selective expansion. In November 2001 it acquired four Spar stores in Cornwall, and approximately a year later added two further Spar locations. These stores retained Spar branding and continued to be supplied through Spar, showing that Conveco operated a mixed fascia estate rather than converting every acquired store to Local Plus. By 2003, the company was experiencing difficulties and brought in new management. The original chief executive left, while Tony O'Neill joined as a troubleshooter and chief executive-level turnaround figure. Conveco subsequently entered a new distribution agreement with Spar, supplied by Appleby Westward Limited in Saltash, Cornwall. Over the following months, most stores using the Local Plus identity were converted to Spar fascias. This supplier and branding change substantially weakened Local Plus as a standalone retail identity. At the start of 2004, The Co-operative Group announced the outright purchase of Conveco. The Co-operative Group initially kept the stores trading as Spar for about six months because of contractual commitments entered into by Conveco. It then divided the estate. Stores in Plymouth and South Devon were sold to the Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society, while the remainder stayed with The Co-operative Group and were later operated under the Co-op Welcome fascia. The Local Plus brand consequently became defunct soon after its creation. Its trajectory—from a management buyout of regional stores, through a mixed Nisa and Spar supply structure, to acquisition and redistribution by cooperative retailers—reflects the competitive and consolidating nature of the British convenience-store market during the early 2000s.

• 2004

  Conveco acquired by The Co-operative Group

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The Co-operative Group purchased Conveco outright and later divided the former estate between itself and the Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society.

• 2003

  Turnaround management introduced

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The original chief executive departed and Tony O'Neill was appointed to address the company's difficulties.

• 2003

  Local Plus stores shift toward Spar

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  A new Spar distribution agreement led to most Local Plus stores being converted to Spar fascias.

• 2002

  Two additional Spar stores acquired

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Conveco purchased two further Spar locations approximately one year after its initial Cornwall acquisition.

• 2001

  Conveco is created through a management buyout

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Allen Hutchby, Richard Tipper and Greg Gardener acquired three Alldays regional development companies in South West England, forming the Conveco group.

• 2001

  Former Alldays stores are rebranded Local Plus

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The stores acquired from Alldays adopted the Local Plus trading name and were supplied by Nisa.

• 2001

  Four Spar stores acquired in Cornwall

  [1]Local Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Conveco expanded its estate by acquiring four Spar stores, which continued to operate under the Spar fascia.

A regional neighborhood convenience-store fascia serving communities in South West England, initially operated independently within the Alldays successor estate and later aligned with Spar supply and branding.

• Convenience retail · 2001

  Local Plus convenience stores

  The core Local Plus offering was a network of neighborhood convenience stores serving Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Bristol. Stores provided the everyday grocery, packaged food, drinks and household products associated with small-format British convenience retail. The brand operated as a regional fascia rather than as a national supermarket chain, with supply initially arranged through Nisa. Most of the stores later changed to Spar branding.

• 2004

  Acquisition of Conveco by The Co-operative GroupM&A

  Background

  The regional convenience group was put up for acquisition after its management and operating difficulties.

  Action taken

  The Co-operative Group acquired Conveco outright and initially continued the stores under Spar because of existing contractual commitments.

  Aftermath

  The estate was split geographically: Plymouth and South Devon stores went to the Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society, while the remaining stores were retained by The Co-operative Group and later traded under the Co-op Welcome fascia.

  Source

• 2003

  Switch to Spar distribution and brandingStrategy

  Background

  Conveco was experiencing difficulties and sought a revised operating and distribution arrangement.

  Action taken

  The company signed a new distribution deal with Spar through Appleby Westward Limited, after which most Local Plus stores replaced their fascias with Spar branding.

  Aftermath

  The change reduced the number of stores operating under the Local Plus identity and moved the estate into the Spar symbol-group system.

  Source

1. 1Local Plusen.wikipedia.org