* Attractive and popular licensed convenience store in the charming village of Milton, within the rural Ross - shire countryside of the Highlands of Scotland.
* Superb central village trading location providing an essential service to the local community generating a brisk trade from the sale of a wide range of convenience goods and varied services.
* Extending to circa 85m2 with a spacious retail area supported by 2 store rooms, an office and staff facilities.
* Simple business model trading to a high level of turnover producing sound profitability (£56, 996 as at 31st March 2022).
* Spacious external areas offering ample parking for deliveries / customers plus outside sitting area.
**Description**
Milton Stores is an attractive and easy - to - operate business in a prominent
position within a rural village setting. Set in the heart of the village of
Milton, the original subjects date to the mid - 1970s. Internally the shop
extends to about 85m2, contains large refrigerated and freezer storage
cabinets and a flexible range of free - standing shelving units which
effectively display products to customers. A spacious sales counter with rear
cigarette merchandising plus fully automated epos till system is located to
the front of the store. This location provides an ergonomic and secure focal
point for serving customers efficiently. Ample stock storage is located to the
rear of the shop and in addition there is an office and staff facilities.
**Trade**
Situated in an area renowned for its natural beauty, the business benefits
from a high level of year - round trade from local inhabitants, with some
tourist trade in the summer months; the shop is at the heart of the community
providing a positive service. The business has a solid reputation locally.
This retail unit is the only convenience store within the village, providing a
wide selection of essentials to the broader community. Sale items include
fresh produce, general grocery items, licensed goods and cigarettes, bakery
lines, soft drinks, etc. Other income streams are the Lottery, Pay Point
services and, parcel pick - up and drop - off facilities. There is a cash machine
within the shop. The store also provides lpg gas cylinders. To the front of
the store are 3 benches which encourages people to take lunch and a takeaway
coffee from the store. The present configuration makes it an easy - to - operate
business. Internally the sales area is well laid out utilising a modern range
of shelving units and display stands. The shop also has a good range of
refrigeration and freezer units. The sales counter is ideally situated for
security next to the main entrance. The fully automated epos system aids stock
management and accounting records. The shop has a CCTV system which aids
security. The business is supported by adequate storage rooms and facilities.
The business does not have its own website and this could be an area of
business development. The store does however have its own Facebook page.
_Milton Stores trades to a solid and sustainable level of turnover and
profitability with the last 2 years figures being (as at 31st March): _
**2020**
Turnover - £390, 063
Adjusted Net Profit - £54, 600
**2019**
Turnover - £347, 564
Adjusted Net Profit - £44, 944
**opening hours**
The business trades as follows:
Monday to Friday - 8: 30am to 9: 00pm
Saturday - 9: 00am to 9: 00pm
Sunday - 10: 00am to 4: 00pm
**staff**
The current owners work full - time within the business but also employ 2 part -
time staff.
**Location**
Milton village is situated by Kildary approximately 6 miles north of
Invergordon and 7 miles south of Tain and just off the A9 which forms part of
the North Coast 500 Tourist Route. The village offers its own primary school,
village pub (currently closed) and community centre. Secondary school pupils
are bused to Invergordon Academy. Invergordon and Tain benefit from a wide
selection of local amenities and welfare services plus both towns have good
recreational facilities. Other centres of population such as Inverness,
Dingwall and Alness are all within commuting distance. Milton Stores sits
centrally to this popular community which has a population of circa 600.
Recreationally the broader area boasts a number of sandy beaches at Balintore,
Portmahomack and Dornoch. There are also a range of top - quality golf courses
in the area including Tain and the world famous Royal Dornoch. In addition,
there are a great number of places of general interest such as distilleries,
castles etc. The area is renowned for its sea life and the Firths and coastal
areas are home to seals, minke whales and the ever - popular dolphins. Water
sports and fishing are highly popular pass times in the region, as are field
sports.
**Reason for sale**
The present owners purchased the property in 2001 and it is now their desire
to retire that brings this exciting business and lifestyle opportunity on to
the market.
**The property**
This modern property dates from the mid - 1970s, of insulated double - skin block
construction with rendering and under a pitched tiled roof to the rear aspects
and sheet metal box profile roof to the front elements. The business is
arranged over the ground floor only. Access is gained from a concrete slab
path leading from the main road ensuring ease of access.
The business has a prominent roadside location in the village with a modern
and well - signed frontage. There is ample parking to the rear and side of the
shop. Internally the business is well - presented utilising a good range of
flexible fixtures and fittings, including free - standing displays and
refrigeration and freezer units. The main sales counter is on the right
towards the front of the unit, immediately inside the main entrance, providing
sensible control of the sales area and facilitating good customer service. The
office is set to the left - hand side of the unit and the storage areas are
located to the rear of the customer areas adjacent to a rear door which
facilitates ease of deliveries. There is a staff washroom.
**Owners accommodation**
There is no owner's accommodation with this sale.
**Grounds**
The business has a prominent roadside position with parking for 6 cars to the
rear and side plus there is unrestricted on - road parking; combined, these
parking facilities meet customer needs. Externally, there is a secure gas
bottle cage. Within the grounds is an area set with 3 picnic benches which are
popular during the warmer months.
**Services**
The property benefits from mains electricity, water and drainage. The shop is
illuminated by ample sunlight through large windows to the front aspects and
ceiling windows plus strip - lighting. The shop has an alarm system and CCTV
with security being supplemented by roller shutters to the front of the store.
There is external floodlighting.

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