The background Rippleglen was founded in 1979 by current chairman Harry Medcalf, who opened the first shop in Cotteridge, Birmingham. Within a decade Medcalf owned 52 stores, more than doubling his initial goal of opening 25 shops in the first 10 years of business. The group Today Rippleglen is the second-largest CTN business in the UK with 173 newsagents shops in towns and cities throughout England and Wales. These are staffed by about 1,000 people in stores trading under four fascias: Arden News, Supernews, Supercigs and Candies. And the recent takeover of 61-shop Northcliffe Retail from Daily Mail and General Trust is set to push Rippleglen's turnover over £100m in the next financial year. The next stage Last month the company announced plans to muscle into the convenience arena with a pilot project involving the sale of 150 chilled and ambient foods in one of its stores, including bread and milk. As many as 120 alcoholic drinks will go on to shelves and goods are being bought from wholesaler Palmer & Harvey McLane. However managing director Mike Colley insists newspapers and magazines will remain the retailer's number-one priority.