Editing Symbol group

{{short description|Retail business model}}
[[File:Belfast (315), October 2009.JPG|thumb|right|An example of a Centra shop on Stranmills Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland]]

A '''symbol group''' is a form of [[Franchising|franchise]] of [[convenience shop]]s, found primarily in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]]. They do not own or operate shops, but act as suppliers to independent shops which then trade under a common banner. 

Unlike other forms of franchise, they have expanded primarily by selling their services to existing shops, rather than by actively developing new outlets. Examples of such franchises are [[Spar (retailer)|Spar]], [[Londis (United Kingdom)|Londis]], [[Nisa (retailer)|Nisa Local]] and [[Centra]].

[[File:Nisa - Warren Lane (geograph 2998587).jpg|thumb|right|An example of a Nisa Local shop]]

==Groups==
Symbol groups include:
*[[Centra]]
*[[SuperValu (Ireland)|SuperValu]]
*[[Mace (retailer)|Mace]]
*[[Spar (retailer)|Spar]]
*[[Gala (supermarket)|Gala]]
*[[Best-one]], [[Bargain Booze]] and Wine Rack (part of [[Bestway Wholesale]])
*[[Costcutter]] - 2,600 shops (part of [[Bestway Wholesale]], supplied by Cooperative Group until 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us &#124; Costcutter Supermarkets Group |url=https://www.costcuttersupermarketsgroup.com/about-us/ |website=www.costcuttersupermarketsgroup.com}}</ref>
*[[Nisa (retailer)|Nisa]] - 2,400 shops (part of [[The Co-operative Group]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-13 |title=Co-op buys Nisa for £143m after members back takeover |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/nov/13/co-op-buys-nisa-for-143m-after-members-back-takeover |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Premier Stores]] - 3,400 shops<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Owen |date=January 27, 2017 |title=What Tesco's merger with Booker could mean for your Premier Store or Londis |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/what-tescos-merger-booker-could-12517344 |website=North Wales Live}}</ref> (part of [[Booker Group]])
*[[Londis (United Kingdom)|Londis]] and [[Budgens]] - 1,800 shops<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us &#124; Londis |url=https://www.londis.co.uk/about-us |website=www.londis.co.uk}}</ref> (part of [[Booker Group]])

Booker Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Tesco]].

==Market==
In 2014, the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) reported that the symbol group market is worth £15.5bn, with a 42% share of the UK convenience market through 17,080 shops.<ref>{{cite web|title=Symbol groups: market overview|url=http://www.igd.com/Research/Retail/Convenience/3381/Symbol-Groups---Market-Overview/|publisher=The Institute of Grocery Distribution|accessdate=5 October 2015}}</ref>

In the 2010s there was significant consolidation in the sector, as [[Tesco]] purchased [[Booker Group|Booker]] and the [[Co-operative Group]] purchased Nisa.

==See also==
*[[Co-op Food]] which has a similar corporate structure, although is not usually considered a symbol group.
*[[Edeka]], a German grocery chain which has a structure similar to a symbol group

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Symbol Group}}
[[Category:Convenience stores]]
[[Category:Business models]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Purchasing consortia]]
[[Category:Convection]]

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