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

Logo used in the UK until 2016, and in Ireland until 2024

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.

References

  1. ↑ "What is Costcutter?". Costcutter.com. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "About Costcutter Ireland". Costcutter.ie.
  3. ↑ "A Comprehensive Comparison: Londis, Costcutter, and Premier Stores Across the UK". Geolocet. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Nisa's chairman to step down", Yorkshire Post, 2 November 2006
  5. ↑ "Nisa-Costcutter deal collapses". Talkingretail.com. 23 October 2006.
  6. ↑ "Costcutter begins a new era with Kwiksave". Thegrocer.co.uk.
  7. ↑ "Co-op rebuffed after £15m takeover raid on struggling Costcutter". Sky News. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "Co-op and Costcutter Supermarkets Group announce wholesale agreement". Co-operative.coop. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Nazir, Sahar (7 April 2020). "Costcutter launches 20 pop-up stores in NHS hospitals". Retailgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "Bestway snaps up Costcutter for undisclosed fee". The Grocer. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Local retailers planning merger", BBC News, 10 May 2006

Other sources

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costcutter