Unilever has created a panel of cutting edge independent retailers to brainstorm ideas that it hopes will help c-stores and the manufacturer grow sales.

The Retail Advisory Panel will have a key role in helping to shape the Partners for Growth programme, which provides advice about how to run a c-store, with suggestions about ranging and layout.

The seven retailers Shailesh Parekh, Jonathan James, Ramesh Shingadia, Dean Holborn, Chris Philips, Kishor Patel and Naweed Ashraf were selected for their knowledge of merchandising, store layout and their progressive attitudes.

"We know the value that Partners for Growth can have for a retailer and we wanted to ensure the programme continued to improve sales for as many retailers as possible," said Stephen Moodie, Unilever customer director for convenience. "Bringing together the expertise of the panel will help us to continue to innovate, and to find new ways to reach those who as yet haven't implemented the Partners for Growth programme."

A recent survey showed that the 62% of retailers that had adopted the advice had seen sales increase as a result.

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