Rapidly expanding independent chain Mills Group has opened its first Nisa-branded stores.

A new 850 sq ft store in Wallsend, near Newcastle, bears the Nisa fascia, while two former Somerfields in Whitby and Haxby bought from The Co-op Group, have been converted to the Nisa Extra format.

MD Nigel Mills said he planned to open six more former Co-op stores under the Nisa Extra banner.

Mills Group, which made its name operating traditional CTNs, this year announced plans to diversify into c-stores.