RBS funds Spar convenience store in Marple

The former Premier Store on Stockport Road in Marple has been acquired by local entrepreneurs and convenience store operators Brown & Stone Limited.

The shop has been fully refurbished and re-branded under the Spar brand in a deal supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Brown & Stone Limited, owned by local Directors Paul Stone and Alex Brown, already have extensive experience in the convenience store arena; Paul runs six successful Spar convenience stores in the city centre of Manchester while Alex has previously owned and operated the 24-hour Spar store on St Mary’s Gate in the city.

The store has undergone a £200k refurbishment, including the provision for additional customer parking and seating outside. As well as selling a wide variety of Spar own label products, it also has a range of hot food to go and a new hot drinks station promoting Paul Stone’s, own coffee brand ‘Cheeky Coffee’.

A total of ten new jobs have been created as a result of this latest acquisition.

Paul Stone, Director of Brown & Stone Limited, said: “I am really pleased that we have been successful with our bid to acquire the lease of the former Premier Store on Stockport Road. This location has great potential and is well positioned to attract customers heading in and out of Marple. It’s great to be operating a store so close to where we both live.

“The refurbishment work we have undertaken has made a huge difference to the store, giving it a more modern, upmarket feel and has enabled us to increase the range of fresh food on offer for our customers.”

Stuart Davies, Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland said: “The improvements that Paul and Alex have made to the store are impressive and I am pleased that we have been able to support them in their latest venture. They both have a great deal of experience in the retail sector and their plans to reinvent the store will attract much local interest.”

Paul added: “Stuart Davies and the team at Royal Bank of Scotland have played an instrumental part in enabling us to take on and transform the shop and we have been very impressed with the service they have provided. They completely understood our plans and vision for the business and it has been great to work alongside such a supportive bank.”