CONVENIENCE retail entrepreneur David Sands is returning to the industry with a new store – trading under the Nisa Local fascia – in Glenrothes.
Sands, who sold the established David Sands business to The Co-operative Food in early 2012, will open his new store on the site of a former pub in the Fife town’s Caskieberran Road, next month.
Keith Fernie, a senior manager and buyer with the former David Sands group, has been brought in as managing director of David’s Kitchen Ltd, and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the business. He has been supervising the construction of the new store and is currently recruiting staff.
The other directors of the new business are David’s father Lindsay Sands and his sister, Marjorie Watts – both were directors of David Sands.
The Nisa Local store will stock a comprehensive c-store range. But the new firm says a key part of the new shop’s offer will be the David’s Kitchen range of food-to-go products – named after David Sands and using the same branding and logo as a range of products developed by the former Sands retail business.
Sands, who has been developing a number of property interests since selling the fifth-generation family business, said: “It’s great to be back in the high-profile convenience store arena and I’m absolutely delighted to have Keith Fernie on board – he is an extremely trusted colleague, vastly experienced and the ideal person to have at the helm of this exciting new business.
“Keith will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the business with the support of Nisa, the largest independent grocery buying group in the UK.”
The store will trade from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week. It will have an ATM; a 26-vehicle car park and an in-store bakery counter – in partnership with a local baker – providing customers with fresh rolls, cakes and savouries.
“Our mission is to provide great customer service, tasty fresh food, quality and value for money in a modern convenience store that is at the very heart of the local community,” said Fernie. “What’s more, we’ll have fantastic promotions from Nisa – all designed to help our customers make great savings on essential products.”
The new store also intends to support local and Scottish producers.
