Thin 利益（をあげる）s for Londis shopkeepers

By BEN LAURANCE FOR MAILONLINE
Updated: 00:00 BST, 9 May 2004

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OWNERS of Londis corner shops could be forgiven for looking pleased. If three-４半期/4分の1s of Britain's 1,900-加える Londis shopkeepers 受託する a £60 million 企て，努力，提案 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するd by Irish 卸売業者 Musgrave, the 地元の man behind the 反対する is in line for an 普通の／平均（する） windfall of £31,000.

For most Londis retailers - indeed for most 独立した・無所属 shopkeepers - that is not a sum to be 匂いをかぐd at. にもかかわらず the h ard work and punishing hours, running a small shop is only a means to become financially comfortable, not 最高の-rich.

Londis is the main 卸売 供給者 to its shopkeepers, so they are its （弁護士の）依頼人s. But each has a 株 in the company and it is that 株 that shopkeepers are 存在 勧めるd to sell to Musgrave, which already owns Budgens in Britain.

A typical Londis 出口 will have a sales area of about 1,100 square feet. It will open at 7.30am --earlier if it also sells newspapers - and will not の近くに before 中央の-evening. 週刊誌 sales are likely to be about £13,000, 含むing 付加価値税 - rather lower if the shop doesn't have a licence to sell alcohol.

On the surface, it is a £670,000-a-year 商売／仕事. But 利益（をあげる）s are harder to come by.

? タバコ and cigarettes are likely to （不足などを）補う a fifth of that 週刊誌 turnover. Here the 利益（をあげる） 利ざやs are a mere 6%, with a £5 packet of cigarettes giving a 甚だしい／１２ダース 利ざや of only 30p.

? Alcohol is likely to be the next biggest 部類, making up about 15% of sales. This 利益（をあげる） 利ざや is much better at 22% or so.

? Confectionery, accounting for perhaps 12% of sales, has a 利益（をあげる） 利ざや of 25%.

? General groceries bring in only about 8% of takings, but have a 甚だしい／１２ダース 利ざや of about 25%. Milk, 酪農場 製品s, 冷気／寒がらせるd fresh foods, fruit and vegetables, soft drinks, crisps and 軽食s bring a 利ざや 近づくing 30%.

And bread and cakes are the highest at 35%. But these 比較して high-利ざや 部類s together account for little more than a ４半期/4分の1 of turnover. によれば Tony Riddy, the 小売 director of Londis, the 甚だしい／１２ダース 利益（をあげる） 利ざや for a typical shop 普通の／平均（する）s 24%.

That is a little over £3,000 out of 週刊誌 sales of £13,000. But then costs have to be totted up. About half of Londis shopkeepers rent their 前提s, perhaps 支払う／賃金ing £250 to £300 a week. They may have taken on bank 貸付金s to buy 器具／備品 such as freezers and chiller 閣僚s.

There is electricity, heating, 修理s and 商売／仕事 率s. Periodi c refitting of a 1,000 sq ft shop to keep it up-to-date could cost between £15,000 and £60,000. Basic 会員の地位 of Londis costs £21 a week.

許すing £1,000 a week for these expenses and 週刊誌 利益（をあげる）s are 負かす／撃墜する to £2,000. Out of that comes 給料. With eight part-time staff, a 週刊誌 行う 法案 is likely to be £800.

In many 事例／患者s, 特に with Asian proprietors, who 代表する 70% of Londis shopkeepers, these '従業員s' will be family, which will keep the 行う 法案 負かす／撃墜する.

But they still 推定する／予想する some rewards. So the 底（に届く） line for an 普通の／平均（する） Londis proprietor is a 利益（をあげる） of about £1,200 a week for running a 商売／仕事 that is open for perhaps 100 hours.

On that basis, the Musgrave 企て，努力，提案 is the 同等（の） to about six months' 利益（をあげる）. No wonder Londis shopkeepers are looking happy.

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MAYANK Patel starts work at his Londis shop in Stoke Newington, north London, at six each day. He bakes bread, pastries and croissants, then opens for 商売／仕事 at 7.30. With the help of wife Anju and his parents, Karsanbhai and Lata, above, Mayank's shop is open for 12 hours.

The family took it over three years after leaving Zambia in 1976. 'Maybe my children will take over, but I'd like them to go to college first,' says Mayank, 42. 'The 広大な／多数の／重要な sacrifice you make with a 商売／仕事 like this is time. Without the help of the family, it would be difficult, maybe impossible.'

He is pleased about the Musgrave 申し込む／申し出. But the £31,000 windfall will soon be spent - Mayank is about to lay out £40,000 on refitting the shop.