Spain: Eroski launches new franchise c-store format at petrol stations

Vegalsa-Eroski is introducing a new model of franchised convenience store in two formats: at petrol stations and as an urban shop.

The Spanish food distribution company Vegalsa-Eroski has today inaugurated its first franchised Eroski Rapid store format in a fuel station. Located in a Valdés Oil Group site in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Vegalsa-Eroski is thus adding a new convenience store format to its commercial offer.

The opening of this store represents the "main new development in the franchise business for Vegalsa-Eroski's next strategic plan", says the company's Expansion and Franchising Director, Pedro Suárez.

According to this plan, Eroski Rapid will focus on two convenience store formats: on the one hand, in service stations, either belonging to large and medium-sized oil companies or to independent petrol stations that can be adapted to its franchise model; on the other, the Eroski Rapid urban convenience store format, which will be located in major cities.

With a surface area of 125 m2, this new shop in Santiago de Compostela has an assortment of 2,100 references of leading manufacturers' brands and EROSKI's own brand - food, hygienic and cleaning, as well as non-food. This new shop will be open 365 days a year from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Vegalsa-Eroski has 273 store in Galicia, Asturias and Castilla y León, including company-owned (227) and franchised outlets (46) under the following brands: Hipermercados y gasolineras Eroski, Eroski/Center, Autoservicios Familia, Cash Record, Eroski/City, Aliprox and Rapid.