Stuart's Fine Foods has sold six of its 16 Fife-based convenience stores to individual buyers.
The news comes as as the firm secured a new distribution deal with over 100 convenience stores in Scotland with the McColl’s Retail Group. The company already supplies chains including Scotmid and Co-op.
Managing director Keith Stuart, whose great-great-great-grandfather James Stuart started the business, explained, “We had to sell six shops because they weren’t performing and we’ve tried to reallocate staff elsewhere.
'I would never have chosen to close six shops in one swoop, but lockdown and Covid forced our hand and we’ve just tried to strengthen our business.”
The deal with McColl’s Retail Group involves supplying stores across Scotland with family-sized steak pies, mince and steak rounds, Scotch pies, beef sausages and potted meats.
Stuart's already supplies bakery and butchery goods to around 100 Co-op stores, 25 Scotmid outlets and more than 30 Spar stores, as well as the Nisa Local and Premier convenience store chains.
