Parfetts has launched its first Shop & Go convenience store in the south of England with a new forecourt site in Gosport, Hampshire.

The location, which is home to a petrol filling station, underwent a £250k upgrade, with the management of retailer Muresh Seevaratnam.

This new store marks a key milestone as the first Shop & Go outlet which is supplied from the Southampton depot.

The Shop & Go features impulse and distress purchases, confectionery, snacks, and soft drinks, as well as food-to-go, alcoholic beverages and specialist ranges.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

This is the latest addition to the growing network of 23 smaller-format stores across the UK, with 40 new stores set to roll out over the next 12 months.

The move builds the wholesaler’s presence in the south of England after the opening of the Southampton depot last year.

After debuting the new format, Seevaratnam has strengthened profit margins driven by hot food sales and higher-value categories including wine and spirits according to the business.

Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said: “Shop & Go is designed for transient locations with time-sensitive shoppers, from forecourts to commuter hubs.

“We developed the format in response to retailer demand and the whole team has worked hard to create something that brings real value, strong margins and a clear point of difference.”