It paid to shop around for Scotmid

Over the past three years Scotmid has grown rapidly through acquisition and in mid 2003 mindful that whilst businesses are in the expansion phase it is not always possible to focus on non-strategic overheads, Scotmid engaged the services of Expense Reduction Analysts Richard Clayton and Lorna Paterson.

Initially Richard worked with the Scotmid Marketing team, advising them about the acquisition of a new digital press for the in-house printing function. Richard was able to draw upon the procurement expertise of his Expense Reduction Analysts colleagues to ensure that the right equipment was identified to suit the purchasing brief. Richard and Lorna were then asked by Scotmid’s Head of Property & Development Adrian Lorimer to review stationery costs. Adrian says: “At the outset I was somewhat sceptical that Expense Reduction Analysts could achieve savings of any significance in an area where we had already done considerable work”, so he was naturally pleasantly surprised when they were able to report a 41% savings! Further projects followed including a review of paper costs for the Print Room, copier acquisitions and the purchase of EPOS Till equipment.

Scotmid Profile

The Scottish Midland Co-operative Society Ltd (Scotmid) was established in 1859. It has grown to be one of Scotland’s top twenty companies and, with more than 4,000 staff, one of its largest employers. As part of the Co-operative movement, Scotmid has over 250 retail outlets, selling food and household goods through the Scotmid and Morning Noon and Night stores and a wide range of health and beauty products through SemiChem outlets.