NISA retailers enter 2019 following a year of major change for the symbol with The Co-op successfully completing its purchase of the member-owned group in May.
Since then, Nisa retailers have been given access to a select range of Co-op own label products, and can expect to see more next year, as Nigel Gray, retail director at Nisa, explained: “The final phase of the introductory range roll out of Co-op own label products went live in November and by early 2019 Nisa partners will see the rest of The Co-op own brand ambient range become available to them as well as more from the fresh food range.
“Current Nisa partners now stocking the range in their stores are enjoying good margins and seeing sales being driven by the introduction of Co-op products, in particular the addition of new lines that have not previously been available to independent retailers.”
“Nisa partners have a real advantage in Co-op own brand products. They now have access to an own brand proposition the likes of which they had not had access to before.”
The sales driving power of The Co-op’s own label range can be seen in the latest grocery figures from Kantar Worldpanel, which show the multiple managed to increase sales by 5.1% for the 12 weeks to 4 November.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail insight, noted that The Co-op’s own brand lines had proven to be particularly popular with shoppers.
“Own label had an especially noteworthy performance, outpacing brands particularly in categories as varied as biscuits, ice cream and cleaning suppliers,” he said.
