VIDEO: Musgrave CEO Chris Martin Discusses Future Development Plans

BROMHAM, U.K. -- In this new Retail Vision video, Insight Managing Director Dan Munford talks to Musgrave Group CEO Chris Martin. Interviewed at Kash Jaffar's Budgens store in Bromham, United Kingdom, Munford asks Martin about his motivations and future plans for development in the U.K., Ireland and Spain markets.

Martin claims he fell into the world of retail, having first trained as an accountant in Leeds. He joined Asda and then Pizza Hut, followed by Mothercare, gaining experience in the food and foodservice businesses, plus franchise operations.

Martin told Munford how Musgrave, a family business founded in Cork in 1876, has gone from being a wholesale-led business to a retail organization when retailers came together under the the VG brand, and the SuperValue and Centra fascias were born in the late '70s.

Today, Musgrave operates more than 600 Supervalu and Centra stores in Ireland alone, but its roots are still family based, said Martin.

In a period that he calls "new austerity," consumers are buying more "own brand" ranges, thinking twice about getting into the car, and shopping when they have gotten paid. They are also using their local shops a lot more, Martin explained.

On the recently acquired Superquinn business, Martin said it gave Musgrave a stronger foothold in Dublin, where it has been historically underrepresented. Superquinn's strength in fresh is another opportunity, which Musgrave plans to build on.

In Great Britain, where Musgrave operates the Londis and Budgens brands, Martin said the company is beginning to witness similar trends coming into the market as in Ireland. Discounters are becoming part of the mainstream shop, for example.

This video is sponsored by in-store bakery and foodservice partner, CountryChoice.

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