Integration Highlights 26.03
This article will take approximately 2 minutes to read
Published 26 Mar 2026 in Our New Society
Welcome to Week 9 of our Integration journey.
As we continue to bring our Society together, our procurement team has been focused on identifying savings that will help reinvest in our business.
Here is where we are today and what we are focusing on next:
Our Procurement Savings – The Headlines
The Big Picture Goal
- We are aiming for £5.7 million annualised savings by the end of the 2029 financial year.
This Year's Target
- This year’s goal is to deliver £1.5 million in benefits.
- We are off to a strong start. We have secured £400,000 in annualised benefits, which equates to £360,000 for this current year.
Opportunities Identified
- We have 21 priority projects (15 already underway), with a total annualised saving opportunity of £3.9 million.
- Alongside these, we have also identified an additional £2.1 million in potential profit opportunities from areas such as fuel, carrier bags, and retail media.
Our procurement leaders are confident we are on track and that we are well-positioned to meet, and potentially exceed, our targets.
Our Strategic Focus
As we navigate the integration, we will keep our approach simple and prioritise the biggest wins. This means:
- We will not limit ourselves strictly to integration-only savings.
- If a project delivers strong value, whether it’s linked to integration or our day-to-day operations, we will prioritise it.
Your ideas matter
Many of the best savings ideas come from colleagues who see our operations up close, every day.
To unlock more of that insight, we are working with the People Team to introduce a new initiative that will recognise and reward colleagues who submit viable, well-thought-out cost-saving ideas.
Whether it is an idea about reducing waste, standardising equipment, or simply remembering to switch off lights, your insights are invaluable to our success.
Look out for more details on how to submit your ideas soon!
Chelmsford Star Support Centre update
Following the first group of colleagues leaving at the end of February, a further 15 colleagues will leave on 27 March.
Three colleagues will remain in post until the end of June to support final store cutovers and completion of accounts.
We would like to thank those colleagues for their contribution and support during the integration and wish them all the very best for the future.
And finally
Thank you, as always, to colleagues across the Society who continue to support this work while serving our members, customers and communities every day.