Central Convenience Stores, the UK’s fastest growing convenience store chain, is expanding to the Isle of Wight.
Ringwood based Central has acquired the Hunnyhill Stores Group, which has 12 stores currently trading under the Spar facia.
Central confirmed that is has plans to invest in all stores and is looking forward to working with the staff to carry on the great service provided by Hunnyhill stores. Focussed on the south and south west of England, Central is looking to establish 300 stores over the next four years. The Isle of Wight acquisition takes the number of stores to 115.
Steve Wilkinson, Central’s Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled to be coming to the Island and building on the excellent reputation the Hunnyhill Group has enjoyed for many years. Its stores are much loved and we will take things forward with their ethos very much in mind.
“Here at Central we take pride in providing consumers with high quality stores, offering both value and convenient shopping.
“Our aim is to provide an offering centred on the best national brands alongside locally sourced products suited to an individual location. Central Stores are open extended hours, seven days a week with the community’s needs at the centre of our thinking.”
John Perrett, managing director of Hunnyhill Stores Group, said: “When choosing who to sell the business to we wanted to find a company that would be able to offer our staff the opportunities for secure and rewarding employment and continue to provide our customers with good value and excellent service. With Central, we know that we are leaving our stores in safe hands.”