The Challenge

• A long-standing Cross client, a market-leading discount retailer, made a strategic decision to significantly expand their chilled and frozen food offering
• Our client wanted to refresh their aging fleet and expand their grocery offer to include frozen food. However, Capex was limited and long-term rental allowed them to move at pace
• The scope and timelines on this project were extremely aggressive, with a desire to deliver more than one new store every day in their estate of 850 stores.

The Solution

• Cross worked with the key stakeholders to develop a detailed equipment spec focused on energy efficiency, product longevity and attractive aesthetics
• We developed a proposition whereby the energy savings from replacing old equipment delivered Opex benefits to pay for the rental on the new equipment
• The retailer also benefits from a fully comprehensive service and maintenance package factored into the monthly charge, ensuring full visibility of future costs and fixed prices for the duration of the contract.

The Outcome

• After a successful initial trial, this concept has been rolled out nationwide in the UK, with the EAAS model allowing the retailer to bypass the Capex route and deliver significant revenue and profit gains immediately, at scale
• CRS have worked to deliver this project across multiple years, including new store openings, store refurbishments, extensions and re-sites.