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Appleby Westward Group Limited│Forecourt Site in Dorset Is Now Firmly On the Map A major redevelopment project at a Dorset forecourt store - the third in the last 10 years - has put food-to-go firmly at the centre of the business. The scheme, a co-investment project between Loders Garage of Dorchester and SPAR's regional distribution company Appleby Westward, has transformed the 1,250 sq. ft. store in a bid to expand its takeaway food business. "We are a food-to-go store and very much a breakfast and lunchtime destination stop for many of our customers," said the company's managing director, Lee Loder. "As a result, we decided to re-design the layout to make food-to-go the heartbeat of the store. "We have brought the kitchen area into the store itself to create a bit of theatre, and have appointed Steve Jarvis, who has considerable experience in catering, as the dedicated manager to run the operation." Loders Garage moved its forecourt store under the SPAR umbrella ten years ago, and saw an immediate uplift in sales of 30% in the store and 20% on fuel. The company carried out its last shop refit in 2007. "We moved to SPAR because of the strength of the brand," said Lee. "Historically, we had been motor traders, not shopkeepers, and needed to get on board with the experts. Appleby Westward co-invested in the development of the shop from the outset, and we introduced an off licence, food-to-go and fresh and chilled produce.

A former newsagents shop in Boscastle, North Cornwall has been re-opened as a SPAR store following a joint investment project involving the owners and Appleby Westward. Iain Lewis and Becky Harrison worked alongside Appleby Westward to convert the newsagency into a modern convenience store which now offers local customers the full SPAR range as well as news and magazines. The store was completely refitted with a new ceiling, floor, counter, new fixtures and freezers and a SPARpos system. In addition, new chillers have been installed offering customers a wide range of fresh foods and soft drinks. The new Boscastle store also has a wide choice of beers, wines and spirits as well as a food-to-go offer, and services include home delivery, National Lottery and a free-to-use ATM. Regional Sales Manager Graham Allen said: "The conversion has proved very popular with customers, with a very positive overall feedback and many expressing surprise at how big the range is within the store. The development will make the business more viable and serve the community all year round." Did you know? Appleby Westward is the SPAR (SPAR website) Retail Distribution Centre (RDC) in the West Country. They have a long-established local distribution service currently meeting the needs of a large number of great stores from Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth in the East, Helston, Falmouth and Truro in the West and Bristol and Bath in the North.