Headhunters seek director for Kwik Save

Discount supermarket chain Kwik Save is searching for a marketing and buying director as a result of a shake-up of its senior management.

The chain, which is under considerable margin pressure, has already put out a brief to recruitment agencies for the marketing and buying director’s position.

The job will involve developing a new image for Kwik Save, possibly moving it away from its “hard discounter” style so it can compete more keenly with the convenience store sector.

Kwik Save is under attack both from rival discounters, such as foreign chains Netto, Aldi and Lidl, and top UK supermarket chains like Sainsbury’s and Tesco, which have hit back with lower prices.

It is understood Kwik Save wants to bring back its former merchandise director Jonathan Smith.

One source suggests he could be put in charge of managing the company’s supply chain. Smith left Kwik Save in 1993 to work in Hong Kong for Dairy Farm International, which owns 29 per cent of Kwik Save.