The convenience market continues to expand rapidly with IGD's 2004 Convenience Retail Report estimating its worth at around £30 billion by 2009. Londis, the fastest growing symbol group in the UK, has over 2,200 independent convenience store owner members and is committed to helping them compete effectively and grow profitable businesses.

Londis was recently acquired by Musgrave, the Irish-based multi-national grocery wholesaler, which is continuing to make significant investments in infrastructure and technology. From enhancing its chilled and fresh range, to improving its distribution network and from further developing its EPoS system, to rolling out a Chip & PIN solution, the outlook for Londis' retailers is very promising.

With each retailer belonging to one of six different store formats - convenience, neighbourhood,supermarket, forecourt, pharmacy and city centre - depending on their size and market, members benefit from Londis' strong brand image and purchasing power. The Group provides its retailers with a complete support package that includes a development proposition, EPoS system and support as well as effective promotional programmes, all backed by regular visits from a field-based team of retail experts.

One of the first to introduce EPoS technology to its members 19 years ago, Londis has always seen IT as a priority. Over the years it has developed its own EPoS system, a very user friendly scanning-based system - Londis Laser - which is designed to run on Epson's touchscreen Intelligent Register.

The system offers full back office functionality including price control, full stock management, financial and stock shrinkage reporting, till security watch and customer accounts. A dial-up connection between head-office, the regional distribution centre and stores ensures that information such as price changes, promotions, orders and delivery notes can be exchanged efficiently.

At the point of sale, the IR's touchscreen interface has proved very popular with Londis retailers. Fast and easy to use, it enables them to offer the multi-buy and mix and match promotions that customers have come to expect from their local convenience store. Plus, in order to help its members and their customers combat credit card fraud, Londis now offers a Chip & PIN solution, utilising Retail Logic software, which is supported by the Epson terminals.

"We haven't looked back since deciding on Epson's IR two years ago as part of our Londis Laser product. Its touchscreen technology makes till operation foolproof and is definitely a hit with our retailers," said Tony Nelder, Retail Systems Controller, at Londis. "Without doubt the IR delivers all the functionality we require plus it's extremely reliable, which is a critical issue for us in retaining the confidence of our members." And what of the IR's built-in TM-T88 thermal receipt printers?: "Previous PoS printers gave us no end of problems including broken pins, damage from fallen coins, jammed paper and ribbons. The TM-T88 has none of these issues and proved to be fully reliable."

With its EPoS system currently rolled out to 387 member stores, Londis has a project plan to increase this number to over 500 in the next year. "Investment in EPoS provides a minimum 2% net profit which provides retailers with an impressive Return On Investment." Tony Nelder concluded, "An advanced EPoS solution can make all the difference to efficiency, accuracy and the overall management of a retail business and we can't recommend Epson's hardware to our members enough."

For further information contact
Ian Jackman, Epson Tel: 01442 227406
Email: ijackman@epson.co.uk