Experienced convenience sector boss to strengthen buying group’s retail capabilities
UNITAS Wholesale has revealed that the former head of retail at Nisa, Victoria Lockie, has joined the buying group as retail director.
Lockie has many years of experience in the independent convenience sector, including 12 years leading the Nisa Retail field team supporting stores in the UK and Ireland.
She is an ambassador for Diversity in Wholesale, Women in Wholesale, GroceryAid and WiHTL Women to Watch 2024. For many years, she has heavily supported the Association of Convenience Stores campaigns and activities, including the recent Shopkind campaign.
Unitas said the appointment reflected its investment and ambition to further grow its retail offer and capabilities. Lockie will be instrumental in the continued development of the Plan for Profit category management scheme, the group’s retail and wholesale promotional programmes, and the roll out of the Local Living own-brand range.
Unitas Wholesale managing director John Kinney said: “We are delighted to have Victoria leading the next phase of the implementation of our retail strategy. She is the perfect choice to continue our growth in retail, supporting our members in building an attractive symbol group offering and expanding the reach of their retail clubs.”
Lockie added: “I am really excited to be joining Unitas. The group provides such a vital service to both independent wholesalers and retailers.
“It’s a tough time for independent retailers at the moment, and the promotions, category advice and value own-brand range we have to offer are all vital to help our independent retailers compete in today’s marketplace.
“Unitas hosts some of the biggest, best, and importantly entrepreneurial wholesalers and I am looking forward to working with these members, in partnership with our suppliers, to drive our retail agenda forward.”
The group’s retail operation was recently praised by suppliers, who chose the Unitas Wholesale Support Centre as the best Retail Wholesaler in the 2024 Advantage Report.
