Matt Turner has been appointed as head of franchise at Southern Co-op, following Mike Fitton’s retirement.
Turner was previously head of funeral services at the society, a role he held for nearly three years.
He initially joined Southern Co-op in 2016 as area operations manager. In his new remit, he will oversee strategy and support for franchise stores, which operate under the ‘Welcome’ fascia.
“I’m really excited to step into the head of franchise role at a time when collaboration and support for our franchise partners has never been more important,” Turner told The Grocer.
“Having worked closely with colleagues and partners across the business, I’ve seen first-hand the strength of our franchise model and the opportunities we have to build on it.
“The role brings fresh challenges – from supporting partners through a changing economic landscape to strengthening standards and innovation, but also real opportunities to help our franchisees grow sustainably and confidently.”
Emma Connors has stepped into the position of head of end of life services, moving from her role as head of crematoria and burial grounds.
Mike Fitton retired in March, following more than 14 years at Southern Co-op as head of franchise. He joined from Nisa as head of retail sales, after previously holding senior retail support and sales roles at AF Blakemore and Budgens.
Reflecting on his tenure at Southern Co-op, Fitton said: “We had 20 stores branded ‘Welcome’ when I joined in 2012, and over the last 14 years, we have increased this to 77 stores and continue to grow.
“We converted all stores to a new EPoS and IT system, completely changed the look and feel of the stores, won various awards and generally punched above our weight in what is a very busy space, the convenience market.
“Independent retailers have been part of my life for the last 27 years and seeing their energy, tenacity, and ability to find the next big thing has been an absolute privilege for me to have experienced. So many friends and contacts made over that time, far too many to mention individually.
“What have I learnt, be true to yourself. Be honest, make sure you tell the whole story, even if it’s not what the retailer wanted to hear. It’s not just business, it is personal and in the convenience trade, you will live or die by your reputation.
“Retailers so often just need someone to talk to, to bounce ideas off others and to feel they are not on their own, so I always say, reach out, read the trade press for ideas, and make use of the ACS. It’s an amazing organisation for support and to help meet other like minded retailers who have often, encountered exactly the same issues as you may be struggling with. You are not on your own.”
Turner’s appointment comes as Southern Co-op members have overwhelmingly backed its proposed merger with the Co-op Group. A vote at a special general meeting held last week saw 97.1% of Southern Co-op members backing the plans, which were first announced on 8 April.
While the merger now looks certain to go through, members must vote again at a second SGM on 21 May to confirm the transfer.
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