CJ Lang reports positive progress as it continues its turnaround

Scottish SPAR wholesaler and leading convenience retailer CJ Lang and Son Ltd has reported a rise in sales and underlying profits as it continues to implement its strategy for growth.

The long-established Scottish wholesale and community convenience store business, based in Dundee, has published its financial statement for the year ending 30 April 2020.

Building on the growth achieved in 2018/19 turnover has increased by 3.4%, to £194.2m. Underlying pre-tax profits have doubled to £1.5m. The results include the impact of the very early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic which saw an increase in demand in the final six weeks of the financial year. It also includes additional investment made in stores to create safe environments for customers and employees.

CJ Lang and Son Ltd CEO, Colin McLean, commented: “The onset of COVID-19 at the end of the last financial year, and the subsequent months that followed, have seen the retail landscape completely change. Our primary focus has been the continued wellbeing of our staff and customers and we have invested in our stores, distribution centre and offices to ensure that we have created safe environments for all. Being solely Scottish focussed has enabled us to adapt quickly and react flexibly to the changing retail landscape whilst continuing to provide a first-class service to our independent retail customers, consumers and communities at a time when they have needed us most.

“Prior to the onset of COVID-19 our business was already growing, buoyed by the development of our food-to-go offer; a continued focus on improving and implementing consistent store standards; the development of our independent retailer customer base; and improvements to our offer in order to meet the changing customer needs within convenience retailing.

“We have continued to implement our strategy for profitable growth developed last year, but we also have had to take further difficult decisions to improve the overall profitability of our business.

“Whilst the retail landscape is ever changing we continue to follow our long-term strategic path, driving our back to basics programme, balanced with initiatives to improve our offer and attract more independent retailers to SPAR Scotland.

“In these challenging times we remain committed to delivering what is best for the communities that we support. As a truly Scottish wholesaler and convenience retailer, we are focused on providing our customers with our excellent SPAR award-winning own label ranges, together with the best of Scottish local ranges and deals, to give them a real incentive to shop in our stores.

“I would like to thank all our customers and staff for their continued support”