Bestway Wholesale, the UK’s largest independent wholesaler and owner of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, is trialling two new retail formats aimed at appealing to a broader and more affluent demographic. The new stores—BB and Tippl—are being introduced as extensions of their existing brands with a focus on enhancing product range and elevating the in-store experience.

The trial will begin with new locations in Buxton, Derbyshire and Garforth near Leeds, where the company will evaluate customer response and performance ahead of any broader rollout.

BB: premium edge for Bargain Booze

The BB format is a refreshed take on Bargain Booze, Bestway’s long-established value-driven off-licence chain. The new concept retains the original brand’s strong appeal in value-led communities but offers a more upmarket product mix. It will include premium beers, wines, and spirits alongside a broader range of convenience foods, aiming to attract higher-income shoppers who might not typically visit a traditional Bargain Booze store.

Dawood Pervez, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, told Better Retailing that BB was designed to preserve Bargain Booze’s “heritage” while expanding its capability to perform in more premium retail environments.

“Bargain Booze has fantastic cut-through in areas that require a value proposition on core off-licence lines, but BB’s is a model that can help the brand cut through in other, more premium areas,” Pervez said.

Tippl: a broader take on Wine Rack

Running parallel to BB is Tippl, a modernised version of Wine Rack. While Wine Rack has traditionally focused on wine and specialist alcohol, the new Tippl format will expand to include a wider range of beer, spirits, and food items, effectively transforming it into a more comprehensive convenience-led destination.

Pervez explained that Tippl was developed in response to the limitations implied by the Wine Rack name, which could be perceived as being too wine-centric. “The Wine Rack name suggests even more limited ranging, and Tippl allows us to offer a broader range of beers, wines and spirits as well as food options,” he said.

Strategic response to changing shopper habits

The launch of BB and Tippl reflects Bestway’s strategy to adapt to evolving consumer preferences, especially as more shoppers look for premium products in convenient locations. Both new concepts aim to blend the value heritage of the parent brands with a more sophisticated retail offering that can work in urban, suburban, and commuter-belt areas.

By leveraging its knowledge of localised retail strategies and building on the brand equity of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, Bestway hopes these new store formats will allow it to penetrate new market segments and grow its footprint beyond the traditional bargain-focused base.

If successful, BB and Tippl could be rolled out to additional locations across the UK, offering a compelling new option for franchisees and a wider audience of convenience shoppers.

Bestway targets premium market with new store formats

Bestway Wholesale, the UK’s largest independent wholesaler and owner of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, is trialling two new retail formats aimed at appealing to a broader and more affluent demographic. The new stores—BB and Tippl—are being introduced as extensions of their existing brands with a focus on enhancing product range and elevating the in-store experience.

The trial will begin with new locations in Buxton, Derbyshire and Garforth near Leeds, where the company will evaluate customer response and performance ahead of any broader rollout.

BB: premium edge for Bargain Booze

The BB format is a refreshed take on Bargain Booze, Bestway’s long-established value-driven off-licence chain. The new concept retains the original brand’s strong appeal in value-led communities but offers a more upmarket product mix. It will include premium beers, wines, and spirits alongside a broader range of convenience foods, aiming to attract higher-income shoppers who might not typically visit a traditional Bargain Booze store.

Dawood Pervez, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, told Better Retailing that BB was designed to preserve Bargain Booze’s “heritage” while expanding its capability to perform in more premium retail environments.

“Bargain Booze has fantastic cut-through in areas that require a value proposition on core off-licence lines, but BB’s is a model that can help the brand cut through in other, more premium areas,” Pervez said.

Tippl: a broader take on Wine Rack

Running parallel to BB is Tippl, a modernised version of Wine Rack. While Wine Rack has traditionally focused on wine and specialist alcohol, the new Tippl format will expand to include a wider range of beer, spirits, and food items, effectively transforming it into a more comprehensive convenience-led destination.

Pervez explained that Tippl was developed in response to the limitations implied by the Wine Rack name, which could be perceived as being too wine-centric. “The Wine Rack name suggests even more limited ranging, and Tippl allows us to offer a broader range of beers, wines and spirits as well as food options,” he said.

Strategic response to changing shopper habits

The launch of BB and Tippl reflects Bestway’s strategy to adapt to evolving consumer preferences, especially as more shoppers look for premium products in convenient locations. Both new concepts aim to blend the value heritage of the parent brands with a more sophisticated retail offering that can work in urban, suburban, and commuter-belt areas.

By leveraging its knowledge of localised retail strategies and building on the brand equity of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, Bestway hopes these new store formats will allow it to penetrate new market segments and grow its footprint beyond the traditional bargain-focused base.

If successful, BB and Tippl could be rolled out to additional locations across the UK, offering a compelling new option for franchisees and a wider audience of convenience shoppers.