XL Stop & Shop Achieves a Key Milestone

70th Store Opened in Northern Ireland

XL Stop & Shop reached an important milestone in the first half of 2006 with the unveiling of the group’s 70th store in Northern Ireland by Holmes Wholesale Services - the recent winner of a prestigious UK “Best Delivered Wholesaler” award.

The opening of the 70th XL Stop & Shop store – Drumnasoo Service Station, Portadown - is an achievement that reflects the growing popularity of the XL Stop & Shop brand amongst independent retailers. As a niche market operator serving small-to-medium size independent retail stores, XL Stop & Shop is now firmly established as a leading symbol group in the Province.

The XL symbol is fully supported by Holmes Wholesale Services, recent winner of the UK’s "Best Delivered Wholesaler" award for 2006 in the Today’s Group Awards for Excellence. Holmes Wholesale Services, a division of J&J Haslett Ltd, provides a one-stop-shop supply solution for independent retailers and a unique locally based service through seven regional wholesale depots. In addition to full delivered wholesale and central billing services, Holmes provides a highly convenient cash and carry service on a scale unrivalled by any other symbol group operator.

The sustained growth in XL membership has been matched only by the group’s sustained growth in rate of sale through member stores. The group’s proactive retailers are now reaping the rewards of a sustained consumer marketing programme that has established XL Stop & Shop as a reputable convenience store brand serving communities throughout the Province.

The XL brand’s consumer franchise will be sustained with a heavyweight investment in in-store marketing, direct marketing and national advertising. The latest consumer marketing initiative planned for 2006 will be the unveiling of the new XL Stop & Shop website in the second half of the year. In addition to providing a central source of information for the internet generation, the site will communicate the XL Stop & Shop national promotions directly to consumers.

Peter Quinn, Holmes’ Business Development Manager, is the front man for XL Stop & Shop and his key objective going forward is to unlock the potential of individual member stores by applying retail development techniques. Working with the support of the local Holmes sales development team, XL members will benefit from an increase in retail services, including category management advice and merchandising support from key FMCG suppliers.

Despite the sustained growth and success of the group, the Holmes management team is not complacent about the future of the XL Stop & Shop group. It is recognised to succeed in the fiercely competitive and at times turbulent the independent retail market, XL Stop & Shop must continuously strive to improve its service in support of its growing base of members. In turn XL members will need to continuously adapt to ensure that they attain the best retail standards needed to satisfy the evolving expectations of their customers.

Peter Quinn, Business Development Manager and Nial Patterson, proprietor of XL Stop & Shop in Ballymena.

Dudley Ramsden, Chairman of the Today's Group, presents Alan Dorman, Senior Trading Manager for Holmes Wholesale Services, with the "Best Delivered Wholesaler" Award at the 2006 Today's Group Awards for Excellence. Also pictured are Bob Mills, compere, and Rodney Hunt, MD of the Today's Group.