Sandpiper CI
| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Headquarters | Channel Islands |
| Products | Grocery, General merchandise |
| Website | www.sandpiperci.com |
Sandpiper CI (formerly CI Traders) is a company based in the Channel Islands. It operates the 'Checkers Xpress' supermarket brand and a number of franchises of UK retailers.
On 27 June 2007 [1] the group was sold to a private equity consortium comprising Duke Street Capital and Europa Capital for £260 million. In 2016 the company ownership reverted to a Channel Islands consortium.
History
In October 2010 it was announced that contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the three major Checkers supermarkets, located at Redhouses and Rue des Pres in Jersey and Admiral Park in Guernsey, to Waitrose.[2] The deal is subject, amongst other things, to the approval of the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority and is not expected to complete before 31 October 2010. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The stores will continue to be run by Sandpiper CI until the end of January 2011 and will then be handed over to Waitrose over a period; Waitrose then intends to refurbish and rebrand each of the stores to its own house style in March/April 2011.
Current operations
Sandpiper CI consists of wholly owned operations trading as Checkers Xpress, Foodhall and Wine Warehouse and a number of other franchises: Iceland, Costa Coffee, The Cornish Bakery (formerly Pasty Presto), Hotel Chocolat, Crew Clothing, Jack Wills, George, Greggs and Moss Bros.
Checkers
Checkers was a small supermarket chain in the Channel Islands, which was operated by Sandpiper CI. It was sold in 2011 to Waitrose. There are still several smaller Checkers Xpress convenience outlets across the Channel Islands, some of which have been replaced with newly branded Food Hall stores, which are still owned by Sandpiper CI. In 2016, Sandpiper CI's Island Shopper stores were rebranded as Checkers Xpress.
The Checkers brand was relaunched in 2009 with a plan to "reveal a fresh new look emphasising the freshness and quality of our food".[3] Many Waitrose products were made available to Channel Island shoppers, when a partnership was struck with the John Lewis Partnership, owners of the Waitrose chain of stores.[4] Also in 2009, Robert Dyas 'shop-in-shop' outlets were opened in Checkers stores, by arrangement with the UK store chain. The 3 large Checkers stores in the Channel Islands have since been bought by Waitrose and rebranded.
CI Hospitality
CI Hospitality (which operates in excess of 80 pubs across the islands) and wholesale import and distribution under the CIMANDIS banner. This division is now the liberation group and owned and managed separately.
Property
The property division (formally COMPROP) is responsible for acquisition and development of commercial and residential property. This is then sold or retained for letting.
L'Abeille
L'Abeille operates from a modern factory south-east of Nantes. Its principal activity is the production of carbonated soft drinks, MMD Shipping Services, a Portsmouth-based business which specialises in stevedoring, warehousing and distribution services, publishing, brewing, baking and Channel Rentals (company and residential technology hire) figure amongst the groups other activities.
Costa Coffee
Sandpiper CI operates Costa Coffee stores in Jersey, Guernsey, Spain, and Gibraltar. There are currently 5 stores in Jersey, 2 in Guernsey, 7 in Spain and 1 in Gibraltar. The stores in Spain and Gibraltar have started a Sandpiper CI's new sister company, Sandpiper Iberia. 75 stores are expected to be open in Spain by 2019.
Burger King
In January 2016, Sandpiper CI announced a deal with Burger King to operate restaurants in the Channel Islands. Sandpiper CI has requested the building of an old fabric shop in Jersey gets a license to serve food, so Sandpiper CI can open a Burger King there, however nothing more has been said.
Former operations
Safeway
Between 2005 and 2011, CI Traders/ Sandpiper CI operated the Safeway stores in Guernsey and Jersey.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen
In 2013, Sandpiper CI operated 2 Gourmet Burger Kitchen restaurants in Guernsey and Jersey
Pet and Home Discount Centre
In 2014, Sandpiper started its Pet and Home Discount Centre branded 'shop-in-shops'. The concept was discount products at unbeatable prices. Three stores were opened in Jersey, and one was opened in Guernsey. All stores quietly closed the same year. The 'shop-in-shop' areas that Pet and Home Discount Centre took up now house Checkers Xpress, Greggs, Iceland, and Wine Warehouse stores.
References
- ↑ Jersey Evening Post, 27 June 2007
- ↑ "Checkers". Sandpiper CI. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
- ↑ "Checkers". Sandpiper CI. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
- ↑ "Waitrose". Sandpiper CI. Retrieved 2010-10-29.