Wholesale group’s project will double trading space, add alcohol and boost chilled at Glasgow city centre site
WHOLESALE group Bestway has wasted little time in beginning work on transforming the old Sher Bros cash & carry just south of the River Clyde in Glasgow city centre.
The project, which will see the depot double in size to more than 100,000 sq ft with 7,000 palet spaces, is just the latest in a series of projects carried out by a number of wholesalers that have been transforming the ciy’s wholesale scene.
Bestway says when finished, the project has a July completion date, the site will have been transformed into a “true one-stop wholesale depot for customers in Glasgow and the surrounding areas”.
Pat Collins, formerly of Batleys Cambuslang, is the new general manager and Laurence Ward is deputy manager. New signs, dual-branded Bestway & Batleys Wholesale, have been installed and the firm says the depot will be visible from the M74 motorway.
In the meantime it’s business as usual in the site’s remaining available space. The firm says sales are in line with initial expectations and there has been significant growth in Best-in own-label, alcohol (which Sher Bros did not sell) and chilled produce.
Over 150 metres of freezers will be installed and a full range of chilled, fresh and bakery will be available once the building work is finished, Bestway says.
David Livingstone, operations manager for Scotland said: “The response from customers has been nothing short of phenomenal even though we are currently working with limited space and are not fully operational. Sales are up over the last few weeks, customers really love the inclusion of the new chilled and alcohol sections and have really got behind Best-in own label.
“What’s really encouraging too is that all Lifestyle and Lifestyle Express customers have signed up to our Xtra Local retail club and a few to Best-one. There has also been significant interest from new customers in our symbol and retail club offer and over time we will look to enlist these retailers into the group.”
