Thain Coventry has been appointed to the newly created role of general manager for buying at convenience store operator Martin McColl.

Coventry will take full responsibility for the company's five key categories of grocery, chilled, alcohol, news and tobacco.

He is also expected to place immediate focus on its expansion of chilled products and sandwiches, as well as improvement of magazine availability within the newly rebranded Martin McColl store estate.

Coventry has worked in the convenience sector for 20 years, and joins Martin McColl from sandwich retailer Benjys, where he held the position of trading director.