Costcutter in early stage talks around wide-ranging PR brief

The major convenience store player is believed to be in early stage discussions around appointing an agency for a new wide-ranging PR brief.

The work could cover everything from consumer through to crisis comms, with the brief likely to be an ongoing one.

News of the talks comes as the 1,700 store-strong franchiser’s territory in petrol forecourts is increasingly being encroached on by the major supermarket names.

Last week The Telegraph reported that according to a study by Christie & Co an average of 40 supermarket forecourts had been granted planning permission each year since 2009. It predicted that there could be another 160 sites by the end of 2016.

A well placed source pointed to the threat of the ‘big four’ – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons - in this area as being an issue any appointed agency would be likely to look at.

They also pointed to overseeing the large network of stores as likely to be part of any brief.

Last year, Costcutter Supermarkets Group reported a 4% year-on-year rise in sales, with 112 new retailers joining the group in the first half of 2012.

Costcutter declined to comment on the discussions.

This article was first published on prweek.com