It’s all about the service
John Benson was fed up with the wholesale service he received for his eight grocery stores, so he decided to set up one of his own. He established Bellevue Cash & Carry, a 22,000 sq ft outlet in Edinburgh, in 1969 with eight employees. Today, his twin sons, Graham and George, run the Landmark-affiliated business, with 80 employees. The C&C is 54,000 sq ft and there is a 22,000 sq ft depot in Stirling.
The Benson twins got to grips with the warehouse very early on as they worked a few shifts a week to earn their pocket money from the age of 14. “We both worked in the cash and carry cleaning toilets, brushing floors and then moved on to shelf stacking and helping customers,” says George Benson, Bellevue Cash & Carry commercial director. “We came straight out of school and joined the business. I actually wanted to become a PE teacher but after some gentle counselling from my father, I changed my mind. I don’t regret it one bit.”
Benson started working in his family’s grocery stores and was only 20 when he was given the responsibility of running all eight stores after the general manager left.
One of the biggest projects going on at Bellevue at the moment is the Hot House scheme run by Landmark. The buying group’s programme helps Bellevue, one of its members, work with independent stores to improve standards. “If we can persuade our customers to be brave enough to go for the Hot House scheme, profitability can really improve,” says Benson. He says that having persuaded Edinburgh retailer John Sheik to get involved in the scheme – a Tesco Express was opening up close by – the store is now enjoying a sales uplift of 50%. Sheik’s £50,000+ investment will be paid off within three years.
Benson says 50% of his time is spent talking to customers and the rest he spends dealing with suppliers.
“I try to get on the shop floor as often as I can. It’s really important to have good interaction with customers. This is a people industry.”
He also does all the marketing for the business and has several new projects up his sleeve to help continue Bellevue’s development. It has had a very good year and has won a clutch of awards, including the Champion of Champions award from the Scottish Wholesale Association. But Benson says: “We cannot rest on our laurels. We are creating a fruit market and giving more space to get the proper market feel. We are also going to put in a fresh bakery with Cuisine de France.”
“Customers will have to move with us. It’s not all about price. It’s about the service we can all provide.”
John Benson was fed up with the wholesale service he received for his eight grocery stores, so he decided to set up one of his own. He established Bellevue Cash & Carry, a 22,000 sq ft outlet in Edinburgh, in 1969 with eight employees. Today, his twin sons, Graham and George, run the Landmark-affiliated business, with 80 employees. The C&C is 54,000 sq ft and there is a 22,000 sq ft depot in Stirling.
The Benson twins got to grips with the warehouse very early on as they worked a few shifts a week to earn their pocket money from the age of 14. “We both worked in the cash and carry cleaning toilets, brushing floors and then moved on to shelf stacking and helping customers,” says George Benson, Bellevue Cash & Carry commercial director. “We came straight out of school and joined the business. I actually wanted to become a PE teacher but after some gentle counselling from my father, I changed my mind. I don’t regret it one bit.”
Benson started working in his family’s grocery stores and was only 20 when he was given the responsibility of running all eight stores after the general manager left.
One of the biggest projects going on at Bellevue at the moment is the Hot House scheme run by Landmark. The buying group’s programme helps Bellevue, one of its members, work with independent stores to improve standards. “If we can persuade our customers to be brave enough to go for the Hot House scheme, profitability can really improve,” says Benson. He says that having persuaded Edinburgh retailer John Sheik to get involved in the scheme – a Tesco Express was opening up close by – the store is now enjoying a sales uplift of 50%. Sheik’s £50,000+ investment will be paid off within three years.
Benson says 50% of his time is spent talking to customers and the rest he spends dealing with suppliers.
“I try to get on the shop floor as often as I can. It’s really important to have good interaction with customers. This is a people industry.”
He also does all the marketing for the business and has several new projects up his sleeve to help continue Bellevue’s development. It has had a very good year and has won a clutch of awards, including the Champion of Champions award from the Scottish Wholesale Association. But Benson says: “We cannot rest on our laurels. We are creating a fruit market and giving more space to get the proper market feel. We are also going to put in a fresh bakery with Cuisine de France.”
“Customers will have to move with us. It’s not all about price. It’s about the service we can all provide.”
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