DAVID BROADLEY TAKES THE HELM AT LONG LAWFORD CO-OP LATESHOP

The Heart of England Co-operative Society has appointed David Broadley Manager of its Long Lawford Lateshop.

David’s appointment follows previous roles as Manager Designate at the Meriden Lateshop.

David, who has been with the Society for just over a year, said he had enjoyed much success in his role as Manager Designate at Meriden, where he was based for about six months, and was hoping for similar success at Long Lawford.

He said: “When I first arrived at Meriden I gave the store a bit of a spring clean – sprucing the store up a bit and re-arranging the stock.

“The Society has invested in the store and put in a new floor which has had a knock on effect and in turn led to more custom and the takings went up by 30 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

“I have started making changes to the Long Lawford Lateshop and hopefully we will achieve the same effects here.”

Earlier this year the Heart of England Co-operative Society, which has branches across Coventry, Warwickshire and south Leicestershire, announced a record year of trading profit.

The Society – the largest independent retailer in the region achieved a trading profit of £4 million – an increase of 14.2 per cent on the previous year. Turnover stood at £77.6 million – equating to a 3.3 per cent increase on a like-for-like basis the previous year.

George Flower, General Manager Food at the Heart of England Co-operative Society said the Food Division was particularly successful, with a number of Lateshops and Foodcentres across the region recording double-digit increases in sales during what had been a particularly turbulent year for retailers.

David said his first focus was to build a strong team at the Lateshop and work towards improving the takings at the store.

David, who is a 50-year-old father-of-three, lives with wife Fiona in Nuneaton.