AF Blakemore launches £4.5m investment package and new rebate scheme

AF Blakemore has launched a £4.5m investment package and rebate scheme offering up to 8% aimed at boosting the commercial proposition for convenience retailers.

At the Spar Retail Show 2025: Better Together in Telford on 19 June, the wholesaler committed to providing retailers with “a powerful package of tools and retail expertise” under a new membership scheme called Blakemore Trade Partners Plus.

The membership can unlock Silver, Gold, or Platinum tiers depending on a retailer’s wholesale spend with AF Blakemore.

Each tier brings varied benefits, including funded apprenticeship opportunities, discounted EPoS, and store merchandising expertise.

The tiered system also offers retailers a “highly competitive rebate scheme”. The more the retailer spends with the wholesaler, the more rebate they will earn, AF Blakemore explained.

To access the full 8%, for example, retailers must stock 600 core lines, participate in the innovative promotional programme designed to boost basket spend and purchase bread through a nominated Blakemore supplier.

The cash rebates are paid quarterly. If a retailer is a Platinum member, they can get access to rebate advances of up to £150,000 to fund store development projects.

“This initiative reflects who we are as a business,” said AF Blakemore retail MD Matt Teague. “A family-owned convenience retailer that understands the realities our partners face – and invests in solutions that work.

“We’re invested in shared success. It’s not about offering a one-size-fits-all model – it’s about equipping each retailer with the right tools, insight, and support to drive growth on their terms.”

AF Blakemore retail sales director Tomas Blakemore added: “As a convenience retailer ourselves, we know this sector inside out. We understand the missions that matter, from food for now to food for later, and we’ve created solutions that work at store level – with the right product ranges, in-house logistics offering market-leading service levels, and bespoke store design that helps retailers stand out.”