Wilson-Rymer: “We’re on track to complete switchover”

Costcutter has started migrating retailers in the South West over to its new buy-and-supply agreement with P&H.

The move comes two months after it started moving members in Northern Ireland over to the new system ahead of its distribution contract with Nisa ending in July.

Costcutter CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer said it was “absolutely on track to complete the full and final switchover to the new system”.

As well as the South West, seasonal stores had also started to move across, he said. Although migration in Northern Ireland was hit by technical problems last month, Willson-Rymer said its final group of NI members would move to P&H in the next two weeks.

Acknowledging the problems in NI, he added: “With any business transformation of this size there will be some challenges along the way. We have created a new platform, which is bringing a significant amount of change, but we have been able to resolve any issues that have arisen at a very fast rate.

“For those still to migrate, we have always been clear about our priority, which is to make the migration process as simple as possible for each and every retailer across our estate,” he added. “We have met with all of our members to discuss and agree individual migration plans that are right for their individual stores and those members are looking forward to moving across when their time comes.”

However, some retailers have chosen to leave. This week, Nisa revealed Paul Gormley, from Drumquin in Northern Ireland had switched from Costcutter to Nisa.

Last week, P&H MD Martyn Ward said Costcutter and P&H’s joint venture buying group The Buyco was “on track” and had been backed by suppliers including Kellogg’s and Carlsberg.