Costcutter is a name used by two convenience shop symbol groups in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.[1][2] It previously had stores in Poland. The shops are independently owned and join the groups, paying a fee for marketing and branding support and purchasing their stock from the brand owners.
As of 2025, the Costcutter network includes over 1,200 shops in the United Kingdom[3] and over 120 in Ireland.[2]
United Kingdom
Costcutter was founded in 1986, by Colin Graves.[4]
A proposed merger with Nisa-Today's collapsed in November 2006, after concerns about a cartel.[4] which were reported to the Office of Fair Trading by members of Nisa-Today's, who opposed the merger.[5]
Costcutter revived the Kwik Save brand in 2012, from a separate chain which had ceased trading.[6]
In 2018, The Co-op Group made an offer of £15 million in an attempt to take ownership of Costcutter. The bid was rejected, but it was believed the Costcutter was open to further talks.[7] The Co-op subsequently became the sole supplier to the Costcutter group.[8]
In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Costcutter built 20 pop-up shops in NHS hospitals.[9]
In December 2020, Costcutter's UK business was acquired by Bestway Wholesale. The Co-op supply agreement will continue until 2026.[10]
Republic of Ireland
In 2000, the brand entered the Irish market as a separate business under the ownership of Barry Group.[2]
In 2024, Costcutter Ireland ditched its previous logo with a new one, still different from the one in the UK in being all red rather than green and red.
Poland
Costcutter expanded into Poland in the mid-2000s, operating 52 stores by 2006.[11] The brand later withdrew from the country and no longer operates there.
Other sources
External links
References
- What is Costcutter? Costcutter.com, retrieved 17 November 2012^
- About Costcutter Ireland Costcutter.ie^
- A Comprehensive Comparison: Londis, Costcutter, and Premier Stores Across the UK Geolocet, retrieved 9 September 2025^
- "Nisa's chairman to step down", Yorkshire Post, 2 November 2006^
- Nisa-Costcutter deal collapses Talkingretail.com, 23 October 2006^
- Costcutter begins a new era with Kwiksave Thegrocer.co.uk^
- Co-op rebuffed after £15m takeover raid on struggling Costcutter Sky News, retrieved 2020-03-20^
- Co-op and Costcutter Supermarkets Group announce wholesale agreement Co-operative.coop, retrieved 12 April 2024^
- Sahar Nazir. Costcutter launches 20 pop-up stores in NHS hospitals Retailgazette.co.uk, 7 April 2020, retrieved 2020-05-07^
- Bestway snaps up Costcutter for undisclosed fee The Grocer, retrieved 2024-03-06^
- "Local retailers planning merger", BBC News, 10 May 2006^