Smarter Capital is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 50% stake in British Corner Shop, the UK's leading online retailer of British food and groceries for expats worldwide, as part of a financial restructuring process.
Since the acquisition, Smarter Capital has undertaken a comprehensive transformation of the business, strengthening its operational foundations, enhancing technology, and positioning it for further international expansion.
The e-commerce business connects British Expats and British food lovers globally with their favourite British food items from home, wherever they are in the world.
Long established and with a large and loyal base of customers, the brand is well loved and a household name internationally amongst Brits abroad. It boasts excellent customer service and a range of thousands of British food and drink products, with international delivery.
Peter Howarth, CTO at Smarter Capital, commented on the acquisition:
'It has been a pleasure working together with our new business partners to bring British Corner Shop back with a new lease of life.'
'The brand has a very loyal following which has been a fantastic motivator, with many customers expressing their delight to have the service back again and ordering their old British favourites.'
'Streamlining the technology, management controls, finance aspects and operational efficiencies has been important foundational work to set the business up for the next phase of growth. There is a great buzz around having the Brand within the group as a cornerstone of our E-commerce vertical, and the team are eager to add more large e-commerce businesses to the portfolio.'
Key Achievements Since Acquisition
- Technology Overhaul: Smarter Capital re-architected British Corner Shop's technology ecosystem, achieving an 85% reduction in third-party system costs. The bespoke web application and administration systems were refactored and significantly extended, improving scalability and efficiency.
- Enhanced Business Intelligence: A new Management Information (MI) reporting system was developed, providing advanced visibility and control over margins and profitability, including built-in courier reconciliation.
- Financial System Upgrade: A new finance system was designed and fully integrated to streamline operations.
- D2C Business Relaunch: Within just three months, British Corner Shop's direct-to-consumer (D2C) business was successfully re-launched, with key digital marketing channels reactivated.
- Market Expansion: A soft launch in North America validated the new operational capabilities, exceeding budget expectations by 38% in the first six months.
- Supply Chain Strengthening: The business re-engaged with key suppliers, securing pricing and supply chain stability.
- Stock Control & Fulfilment: An MVP in-house Stock Control and Warehouse Management System (WMS) was developed, minimising reliance on costly third-party solutions. Fulfilment operations were established and optimised, with staff trained in efficient pick-and-pack processes.
Preparing for International B2B Expansion
With a solid operational foundation in place, British Corner Shop is now gearing up for international B2B wholesale growth:
- New Leadership: A Head of B2B Wholesale Exports was recruited to spearhead growth in global wholesale markets
- B2B Infrastructure: A dedicated wholesale web page and enquiry channels have been set up to streamline trade partnerships.
- First Major Contract: British Corner Shop secured its first distribution partnership supplying the African market.
- Freight & Export Capabilities: Freight, labelling, and export finance infrastructure were established to support international trade.
Smarter Capital
Smarter Capital remains committed to accelerating British Corner Shop's growth, expanding its global footprint, and enhancing operational efficiency. With a strong foundation in place, the business is now well-positioned for its next phase of expansion. As part of this strategy, Smarter Capital is actively seeking UK FMCG brands to acquire and collaborate with, leveraging its expertise to drive growth, extend market reach, and create new opportunities in this sector.
Are you eager to explore how we can join forces and catapult your business to new heights? Let's have an informal chat about the possibilities that await. Enquire today and let's kickstart your journey towards success!
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