The latest Shop & Go site has opened on the former Shell forecourt on Cottingham Road in Corby, part of Parfetts’ ongoing geographical expansion as it pushes further into the Midlands and South.
The eight-pump site is run by independent forecourt operator and local businessman Stuart Riding. Stuart took over the business in September 2024 from the previous operators, embarking on a major refurbishment programme to transform the location into a multi-service destination site.
Alongside the fully updated 1,750 sq ft Shop & Go store, which features a premium wood-panelled interior, the revamped site includes a top-of-the-range three-bay jet wash, parcel lockers, and an on-site launderette.
Since switching the store fascia to Shop & Go, weekly shop sales are now averaging £18,000, marking a 10% to 15% increase on the previous format. Profit margins have also improved, driven by Parfetts’ value-led promotions and a product mix tailored to the local community.
With Corby home to a 70,000-strong population and a large Scottish and ex-steelworker community, the store makes a point of stocking regional favourites like Scottish tablet. Irn-Bru has become the store’s best-selling product, as a regional favourite.
Stuart Riding, owner of the Shop & Go Corby, said: “My background is actually in fuel wholesale rather than retail, so when the chance came up to take on the Corby site, my business partner and I jumped at it. This is our first retail operation, and we really wanted a symbol partner that gave us the independence to run the business our own way, combined with solid support and a team structure that we can always rely on.
“I visited the Parfetts depot in Birmingham and was very impressed with the entire setup, with great offers and comprehensive stock ranges. The Shop & Go model just works for our demographic. Price-marked packs are delivering real value for our customers, volumes are up, and the profit margins are looking very healthy. The support from our account manager has been excellent, and the shop looks great. We are seeing brilliant results already, and the future looks incredibly promising.”
Parfetts has designed the Shop & Go format specifically for transient locations, commuter hubs, and busy forecourts where shoppers want to get in and out quickly. The core range focuses heavily on food-to-go, impulse lines, snacks, and chilled drinks, as well as everyday top-up essentials.
Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, added: “Hitting the 25-store mark with Shop & Go is a great achievement for everyone involved, and it shows the real momentum behind this format. We developed Shop & Go because retailers were asking for a modern, high-margin brand tailored for busy people on the move.
“Seeing it perform so well at a high-turnover, £7m site like Corby shows exactly what the format can do. Stuart and his team have done a fantastic job of turning this into a forecourt that has everything customers need, all in one place. Our growth through our newer depots in Birmingham and Southampton means we can support even more independent retailers across the country, helping them pull in footfall and protect their margins.”
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