Nisa says its new wholesale fresh produce service has resulted in a 17% rise in category sales volume since its launch last month.

The initiative aims to give its members the opportunity to purchase a selection of loose produce in larger quantities, improving cost efficiency and profit margin in the process.

Nisa said 65 members had started sourcing its fresh produce for the first time since the launch of the service on 7 March.

“We have been buying fresh fruit and veg from the new wholesale service on Nisa’s OCS system and we are really happy with the quality, while prices are beating those delivered direct from the market,” said Nisa member Richard Cox, Nisa Local, Southminster.

Nisa’s trading director Stewart Smith said: “As a business we’ve been in a period of turnaround, which is always challenging, but it’s a testament to the hard work of the team at Nisa’s member support centre and of our desire to deliver the best deals we can to our members, that we have been able to roll out this wholesale fresh produce service.

“The intention is to give our members a convenient and efficient way to purchase fresh produce, ordered online and delivered to their door, which offer sector leading prices and a healthy profit margin, enabling them to perform competitively in a market place where the discounters and multiples are chasing the lowest price.”