Symbol group retail chief reveals ambitions for north of the border through Nisa’s proposition
NISA is confident that its proposition for retailers will enable it to achieve ambitious growth targets in Scotland.
That was the message from Victoria Lockie, the firm’s head of retail, when she visited the stores of some of Nisa’s partners north of the border last month.
Forward-thinking retailer Jay Javid – whose PGNJ company runs 10 Nisa shops across greater Glasgow, with plans to double that number by the end of 2025 – reinforced this view.
With a target of opening 400 new outlets across the UK – more than 30 of them in Scotland – in 2023, Lockie said Nisa was ahead of its expectations.
The expansion involves recruiting single and multi-site retailers to the symbol, as well as helping them to open new sites.
She said: “We’re in Scotland to stay and we’re proud of our retailers here. Our relationships and mutual respect are the most important things.”
Using a visit to Javid’s Nisa Local City Store in Hope Street, Glasgow, to make her point, Lockie explained: “Our success is down to Nisa’s proposition.
“There’s a depth and breadth to the range, including high-quality, ethically and sustainably sourced Co-op brand products that are trusted by consumers.
“The format creates a layout that flows with the right space for each category and flexibility for innovations such as slushies and food to go.
“Nisa’s specialists are always on hand to support, be it over store format or business planning. And our Making A Difference Locally charity enables retailers to support community initiatives and gain customer loyalty.”
Since teaming up with Nisa four years ago, Javid’s store portfolio has risen from four to 10, with two more set to open.
He said: “There are expectations with every symbol but Nisa gives you the tools to make profits and make the retail journey much easier.
“This allows me to focus on expanding the business and Nisa gives us the confidence to roll out further stores. Our vision for growth is shared.
“With Nisa, we also get shared insights from other stores, while our Cambuslang outlet is based on the Expo store and concepts shown to us. For us, Nisa is the golden group and a lot of other retailers think that, too.”
