Nisa aims for more recruits as it hits highest ever membership

Neil Turton said the separation from the wholesale Today’s Group would help to turn Nisa into a retail-focused business.

Scunthorpe-based Nisa is a member-owned organisation, which helps independent retailers remain competitive in the food and drink markets.

Writing in the Nisa magazine. Your Consortium, Mr Turton said: “Nisa has just under 1,100 retail members, which is the highest ever.

“This year we will recruit more than 220 new members.

“Two members are joining for every member leaving. I still believe there is every reason for all good independent retailers to want to be Nisa members.

“What other group would operate so overtly and openly for their benefit?

“This year, for example, we have saved around £4m as a result of the distribution move to DHL (the global logistics firm).

“That’s huge credit to my colleagues who have managed that change and the DHL team. In most businesses, that would have dropped straight to profit. In Nisa, it’s been rapidly reinvested in member benefit.”

Mr Turton said Nisa had “exciting initiatives” planned to reduce prices of key lines, such as milk and produce, which are vital to members’ consumers and will drive repeat business.

He added: “We will continue to invest alongside our suppliers in deals which show the consumer Nisa stores can compete with the major multiples.

“The clear and direct focus on the needs of our retail members will be more evident than ever before.”

In January, a number of Today’s Group wholesalers left to form Today’s Wholesale Services, which is based in Doncaster.

Mr Turton said: “The separation of the Today’s Group marks a significant moment for the company, I would like to wish the Today’s team all the very best for their independent future as friends.”

Nisa also plans to broadcast a new television advert from April 23, to help raise awareness of the Nisa brand.

Despite a tough economic climate, Nisa has grown to achieve a £1.5bn turnover in recent years.

In 2009 Bibby Line tried to buy Nisa-Today’s, resulting in a bid worth £51m that was rejected by management as being a “very significant undervaluation” of the business.

Nisa was formed in 1977 to protect the interests of independent retailers against the growth of the big retailers.