Convenience store owners are taking far too long to adapt their offer to fast changing customer needs, according to John Hart, marketing director of Appleby Westward.
Addressing retailers at the Spar Wessex tradeshow at the Westpoint Arena in Exeter he said: "It staggers us to find that too many of our stores simply aren't getting the message quickly enough. They are taking far too long to change."
He explained how Appleby Westward was developing and refining its store formats to meet changing customer needs, with the introduction of Spar Express stores and plans for a EuroSpar within the next 12 months.
"There needs to be constant re-invention in our business. The market is dynamic and far too many of you are not responding to this quickly enough. There is still a window of opportunity but it is nearly closed and you must act before it is too late."
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