Mace (store)
Encyclopedia
Mace is a convenience store
symbol group
operated in the UK and Ireland. The stores are independently owned and join the group, paying a fee for marketing and branding support and purchasing their stock from the brand owner.
The Mace brand has had several owners in its history in Great Britain. Palmer and Harvey
acquired the entire rights to Mace throughout Great Britain in 2005, finally unifying the brand under one owner. This stability has allowed the brand to recover from defections by retailers brought on by the disruption of regular ownership changes of the brand in the past.
In May 2005 P&H acquired the franchise for the Mace in Scotland from Somerfield
, previously operated by Aberness Foods until March 2004. Because the brand had 3 owners in such a short space of time there had been much disruption for Mace retailers. Since the Sommerfield takeover Mace "had been haemorrhaging independent retailers to other symbols since it bought Mace from Aberness". 25 stores defected to Spar
during the takeover by P&H from Sommerfield.
In 1999 P&H acquired Booker Wholesale Foods from Booker plc, giving P&H control of the Mace symbol group in England and Wales. A large number of retailers we unhappy with the change and 80 stores left soon after the takeover. Initially they were unable to satisfy customer expectations with one stating "I don't think they're geared up to serve our type of trade. They're more used to being a' supplier, rather than the' supplier."
. They bought the brand when they purchased JJ Haslett in 2007. JJ Haslett had been an independent wholesaler since an MBO
from BWG Foods
in 2003. Because of the brand previously had the same owner across the island of Ireland, it has a completely different image to the British Mace, and until recently was identical to that used in the Republic.
There are approximately 200 Mace stores in Northern Ireland, some trading as Mace Express. Musgrave also own the Centra
, XL stop and shop and Supervalu
brands.
Mace in the Republic of Ireland is now owned entirely by BWG Foods
. Previously the rights to the brands have been split with Mangans Wholesale and Vantage Holdings owning certain regional rights. In 2000 BWG bought the Mace rights belonging to Vantage Holdings and in 2008 BWG Bought out the entire Mangans Group. These purchases finally consolidated the brand in the Republic of Ireland under one owner. In the Republic, BWG services about 230 stores across it Supermarket, Foodstore and Forecourt formats. BWG also owns the Spar
and XL brands in the Republic of Ireland.
In Ireland, north and south, the Mace stores offer a more advances range of in-store services compared to Britain. Almost all stores offer hot food "to go" and hot "bean to cup" beverages. The stores are also typically larger, with smaller stores in Northern Ireland branded Mace Express. Stores of this size in the Republic would be branded XL by BWG Foods rather than Mace.
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
symbol group
Symbol group
Symbol group is a mainly British term for a form of franchise in the retail sector. They do not own or operate stores, but act as suppliers to independent grocers and small supermarkets and produce stores which then trade under a common banner...
operated in the UK and Ireland. The stores are independently owned and join the group, paying a fee for marketing and branding support and purchasing their stock from the brand owner.
Great Britain
The Mace brand has had several owners in its history in Great Britain. Palmer and Harvey
Palmer and Harvey
Palmer and Harvey plc is a UK based wholesaler that services the, multiples, convenience, forecourt and CTN sectors....
acquired the entire rights to Mace throughout Great Britain in 2005, finally unifying the brand under one owner. This stability has allowed the brand to recover from defections by retailers brought on by the disruption of regular ownership changes of the brand in the past.
In May 2005 P&H acquired the franchise for the Mace in Scotland from Somerfield
Somerfield
Somerfield was a chain of small to medium sized supermarkets operating in the United Kingdom. The company was taken over by the Co-operative Group on 2 March 2009 in a £1.57 billion deal, creating the UK's fifth largest food retailer. The name is currently being phased out and replaced by the...
, previously operated by Aberness Foods until March 2004. Because the brand had 3 owners in such a short space of time there had been much disruption for Mace retailers. Since the Sommerfield takeover Mace "had been haemorrhaging independent retailers to other symbols since it bought Mace from Aberness". 25 stores defected to Spar
Spar
In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a...
during the takeover by P&H from Sommerfield.
In 1999 P&H acquired Booker Wholesale Foods from Booker plc, giving P&H control of the Mace symbol group in England and Wales. A large number of retailers we unhappy with the change and 80 stores left soon after the takeover. Initially they were unable to satisfy customer expectations with one stating "I don't think they're geared up to serve our type of trade. They're more used to being a' supplier, rather than the' supplier."
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland the brand is owned by Musgrave Retail PartnersMusgrave Group
The Musgrave Group is a major Irish food wholesaler, founded in Cork by the Musgrave brothers, Thomas and Stuart in 1876. Musgrave Group has become Ireland's largest grocery distributor. Today, the Group has operations in Ireland, United Kingdom and Spain. Musgrave is the largest private company in...
. They bought the brand when they purchased JJ Haslett in 2007. JJ Haslett had been an independent wholesaler since an MBO
Mbo
MBO may be:* Mbo language , a language spoken in Cameroon* Mbo language , spoken by the Mbo people of Ituri Province, Mambasa Territory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
from BWG Foods
BWG Foods
BWG Foods Ltd is an Irish wholesaler and retail grocery franchise operator.BWG is the second largest wholesaler in the Republic of Ireland in terms of sales, after Musgrave Group, with sales of over 1.7 billion euro annually...
in 2003. Because of the brand previously had the same owner across the island of Ireland, it has a completely different image to the British Mace, and until recently was identical to that used in the Republic.
There are approximately 200 Mace stores in Northern Ireland, some trading as Mace Express. Musgrave also own the Centra
Centra
Centra is a convenience store chain in Ireland.The chain is run by Musgrave, the Irish food wholesaler, however the stores are all owned by individual franchisees. The chain has three different formats available to franchisees — smaller Quick Stop outlets, mid-sized Foodmarkets, and larger...
, XL stop and shop and Supervalu
SuperValu (Ireland)
SuperValu is a supermarket chain in Ireland and Spain, owned by the Musgraves wholesaler firm. Its headquarters is located in Cork and has stores across the entirety of Ireland.-Company structure:...
brands.
Republic of Ireland
Mace has traded in the Republic of Ireland since 1962. In the beginning there were over a dozen wholesalers operating the brand.Mace in the Republic of Ireland is now owned entirely by BWG Foods
BWG Foods
BWG Foods Ltd is an Irish wholesaler and retail grocery franchise operator.BWG is the second largest wholesaler in the Republic of Ireland in terms of sales, after Musgrave Group, with sales of over 1.7 billion euro annually...
. Previously the rights to the brands have been split with Mangans Wholesale and Vantage Holdings owning certain regional rights. In 2000 BWG bought the Mace rights belonging to Vantage Holdings and in 2008 BWG Bought out the entire Mangans Group. These purchases finally consolidated the brand in the Republic of Ireland under one owner. In the Republic, BWG services about 230 stores across it Supermarket, Foodstore and Forecourt formats. BWG also owns the Spar
Spar
In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a...
and XL brands in the Republic of Ireland.
In Ireland, north and south, the Mace stores offer a more advances range of in-store services compared to Britain. Almost all stores offer hot food "to go" and hot "bean to cup" beverages. The stores are also typically larger, with smaller stores in Northern Ireland branded Mace Express. Stores of this size in the Republic would be branded XL by BWG Foods rather than Mace.