Taste of Britain in Spain

A YORKSHIRE-based franchise operation which is taking a taste of Britain to foreign shores is has opened its first outlets in Spain.

Thomas Green's, which is based on Ripon's College Business Park, is aiming to roll out a network of British grocery shops throughout Europe. After early success in Holland, it has launched its first three stores in the Costa Blanca region of Spain - in Moraira, Benijofar and Gran Alacant - to serve the significant expatriate British community and growing tourist industry, as well as the local population.

Philip Evans, managing director of Thomas Green's, said: "Following the early success of our stores in The Hague and in Amsterdam, we are delighted to have begun our rollout in Spain. "Spain, which is home to over a million British expats and welcomes over 16m British tourists to its resorts each year, is a natural market for Thomas Green's.

"In particular, the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol represent excellent locations for franchisees given their popularity with Britons on holiday or seeking a home in the sun." He said the concept had received significant interest from potential franchisees in Europe, most notably in Spain, and he expect to roll out over 40 stores, including 20 in Spain, within the next three years.

Founded in 2004, Thomas Green Ltd works in partnership with Scunthorpe-based Nisa-Today's - the UK's largest distribution and services organisation for independent retail and wholesale companies - and its export partner Nisa International. Nisa International is the UK's premier wholesale exporter of grocery products to over 90 countries worldwide and a 2004 winner of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise in International Trade.

With access to Nisa-Today's product range and Nisa International's global distribution network, Thomas Green's is able to supply its overseas shops with over 12,000 ambient, chilled and frozen food products - lines typically sold in all major UK supermarkets.

Marketing

In addition, Thomas Green's supplies many non food items including magazines, DVDs and stationery to its franchisees. Thomas Green's helps the franchisees to develop their stores, with full retail branding, product selection, store layout plans and marketing advice. According to Mr Evans, the new franchisees in the Costa Blanca are already looking for their second sites. Josh Jewell, who has opened a franchise store in Moraira, said he was now looking to open a second outlet: "The Thomas Green's brand appeals to both British customers and Spanish residents looking for something different. The extensive range of goods supplied through the partnership with Nisa-Today's, together with ongoing support from head office, means that I can focus on my customers and growing the business. "Opening a second store on the Costa Blanca will enable me to capture more of what is a very receptive market."