Costcutter puts store standards to the test

Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) has revealed that a recent store standards audit of stores stocking Co-op own brand has seen over 97% of retailers pass the standards tests.

The audit, the first stage of plans to improve store standards and consistency across the Group, has so far seen more than 600 retailers work with their Business Development Managers (BDMs) to ensure that eight core standards, including product labelling and a ‘would I buy it’ test, were properly followed and enforced in store. Supported by mock audits by the BDM team to reveal any areas in need of work, these stores have now been spot checked by an independent auditor.

Sean Russell, Costcutter Supermarkets Group’s Director of Marketing, stated: “These audits have proved to be the perfect platform to drive improved standards across every aspect of the store, ensuring a greater degree of uniformity for shoppers when they shop at any CSG store. This is the great start we were expecting and forms part of our strategy for the future.”

 “The standards our retailers have been inspected on, ensure consistency of quality and presentation. By driving up store standards, the whole Group benefits as we’re able to reliably deliver a pleasant experience in store, driving footfall and frequency of visit for all our retailers.”

 Costcutter Supermarkets Group retailers currently have access to over 800 Co-op products, with the range set to more than double in size.

Retailers stocking Co-op products will continue to be independently spot-checked up to twice a year to ensure store standards remain high.