SLR August 2025 Edition

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REMOTE CONTROL

Running a multi award-winning store in Glasgow…from India

NOT SO LOCAL

Parfetts opens first Scottish store

GREEN SAVINGS Ross Macpherson spends big to save

LABUBU BOO-BOO

Fake Labubu dolls ‘flood’ Scotland

Last chance to book your tickets for Checkout Scotland 2025! – p25

Recipes Banana Pancakes

vegetarian

Preparatio n: 5 mins Cooking: 5 mins Serves 4, costs und er £1.0

gluten free

0

Ingredien ts

Method

• 1 (100g)

Banana • 2 (100g) Eggs • (1g) Cinnam on

1. Peel the banana and place in a bowl, then mash with a fork.

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4. Pour 1/4 of the mix ture into the pan making sure the pan too thick but also doe cake isn’t sn’t fill the whole pan .

Wh en golden Kids will enj flip with a brown spa oy mashing, cook on the tula or knife and mixing and other side flipping! .

5. Repeat for each pan cake, depending on the size frying pan of your Nutritiona you may be l Informatio more than able to coo one at a tim n k removed Based on e. When from a single with cinnam the pan sprinkle Energy serving of on.

Fat 53.00 kcals 6. Enjoy hot 47g 221 kJ or cold.

2.30g Saturates 0.60g

Sugar 4.50g

Salt 0.10g

Recipe court esy

of

August 2025

Contents

Contents ISSUE 268

NEWS 06

07 08 10 11 12

20 22

Investment Morrisons and Bestway announce major improvements to their offer as they vie for independent retailers’ business.

Symbol Groups English wholesaler Parfetts opens its first Go Local Extra store north of the border.

Retail Crime New Scottish Government figures reveal the country’s shoplifting hotspots.

Counterfeit Goods Shoddily made knock-off Labubu monster dolls are flooding Scotland.

Illicit Tobacco Trading Standards teams in the Lothians seize more than 24,000 cigarettes from just three retailers.

News Extra Horizon Scandal Sir Wyn Williams’ report highlights the plight of two Scottish postmasters as he demands full and fair redress for victims.

Product News Costa Coffee refreshes its RTDs and Highland Spring’s Flavours range hits convenience.

Off-Trade News Aspall Cyder pushes its premium credentials as Echo Falls teams up with GK Barry.

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20

23

33

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INSIDE BUSINESS 24 25

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36 62

2 Minutes Of Your Time Andy Ferguson Red Star Brands’ Scotland BDM explains why RTDs are big business.

Checkout Scotland Time is fast running out if you’d like to have an amazing night out while also raising funds for industry charity, GroceryAid. SLR Awards The Sadiq family picked up a highly deserved Special Recognition trophy at the recent SLR Awards for four decades at the cutting edge of local retailing in Scotland.

Store Profile Costcutter Barassie and Coylton Supplier switches, clever investments and financial support have saved Ross Macpherson thousands of pounds.

Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

Under The Counter Strawberry & Crème Sandwich? The Auld Boy has seen it all before.

FEATURES 38 44 50

59

Halloween Plan ahead with Halloween and you can really get your claws into this lucrative occasion.

Forecourts Savvy forecourt operators are investing in technology to futureproof their businesses.

Smoking Alternatives Get the inside track on what’s hot and what’s not in the wake of the disposable vapes ban with our exclusive Talysis data.

Advertising Feature Vuse Ultra The BAT brand unveils its most advanced vaping experience to date.

ON THE COVER 16

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Remote Working Snehal Magadum runs the cutting-edge Girish’s @ Barmulloch store in Glasgow from 4,000 miles away in India.

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

5

News INVESTMENT Groups offer bigger savings

CJ Lang looks to recruit more retailers with new appointment Spar Scotland wholesaler and retailer CJ Lang & Son has announced the appointment of Ashleigh MacPherson as Business Development Manager in a bid to strengthen its Independent Sales Team.

MacPherson will be responsible for business development in Area 4, which takes in Glasgow, the Central Belt, Ayrshire and Dumfries.

Slush guidance toolkit Following on from its updated voluntary guidance, which now advises that slush ice drinks containing glycerol should not be sold to children aged under seven, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has developed a stakeholder toolkit with social media assets that retailers can use to help raise awareness of the advice. FSS also continues to

Morrisons and Bestway up ante to support indies Industry titans Morrisons and Bestway have announced major improvements as they vie for independent retailers’ business.

The former has introduced an enhanced rebate scheme for independent retail partners, while the latter has invested £10m in everyday price cuts to help indies boost margins.

Morrisons’ independent retail partners can now earn up to a 6% volume rebate, up from the previous cap of 1.5%. They will also have access to a supermarket loyalty scheme as the Morrisons More Card starts to roll out. This will let shoppers access More Card Prices in c-stores and also earn More Card Points on purchases.

Meanwhile, Bestway has marked its 50th anniversary year with a

£10m investment to lower prices across high demand, everyday essentials. The move is designed to give retailers a consistent edge in attracting shoppers and boosting margins.

Dawood Pervez, Managing Director at Bestway Wholesale, commented: “This isn’t a oneoff deal. It’s a real investment in the day-to-day success of the independent retail sector.”

advise that free refill promotions should not be offered to children under 10 years.

Food sales in Scotland dip After three months of growth, Scottish retail sales dwindled in June, while food sales also dropped, according to the SRC-KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor for the five weeks to 5 July. Total sales in Scotland decreased by 0.4% compared with June 2024, when they had decreased by 3.4%. Meanwhile, Total Food sales in Scotland decreased by 2.3% compared with June 2024, when they had dropped by 1.7%.

UWS officially a Great Place To Work

AWARDS

Dunfermline Nisa team is Pride of Scotland Staff and owners of the Nisa Local in Abbeyview, Dunfermline, have been honoured with a Pride of Scotland Award for Outstanding Bravery.

When an armed, masked man entered the store last year, post office worker Cheryl Gourlay refused to hand over money from the till. The bandit then vaulted the counter to access the cash, but shopworker Bob Bell also jumped over and hit the would-be robber.

Shop owners Aisha Javid and her son Usman then ran to help, and they managed to wrestle the man to the floor and remove the gun from his possession, in addition to a knife he had hidden on his person.

The gunman, Robert Danskin, was jailed for seven years for attempted robbery with an imitation firearm.

Aisha said: “We didn’t have time to think – we just acted. It was instinct. We work hard, and we look out for each other and our customers. The support from our community since then has been overwhelming.”

United Wholesale (Scotland) (UWS) has earned 2025 Great Place To Work certification.

The prestigious recognition was awarded based entirely on feedback from UWS employees.

This year, 71% of team members claimed UWS was a great place to work. Great Place To Work is a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviours.

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SLR | AUGUST 2025

COMMUNITY Money made more accessible

Scotmid unveils community funding initiative Scotmid has launched a new scheme to make community funding more accessible by allowing members to vote for causes using their membership card when they shop.

The Member Choice Awards programme will give more than 60

charities and community groups across Scotland and the North of England vital funding support each year.

Each region’s top-voted group will receive £5,000, with all other shortlisted groups awarded £1,000.

In Scotland, top-voted groups will also pitch at Scotmid Annual General Meetings for the chance to win a further £5,000.

Applications are now open, and Scotmid is calling on local charities and good causes to get involved.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SLRMAG

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News SYMBOL GROUPS New fascia enters the country

Scotland’s first Go Local opens, nine more planned The first Go Local Extra store in Scotland opened on Lockerbie High Street in Dumfries and Galloway on 19 July and English symbol operator, Parfetts, has its sights set on nine more Scottish stores within a year.

Owned by Raj Sankaranathan and Ravi Sangaranathan of SR Freshway, the new shop boasts edge-lit LED panel lighting, a bakery and a beer cave.

The store, which previously operated as a Red Cross charity shop, will especially appeal to local families as the unit also houses a soft play.

Joe Tindle, National Sales Controller at Parfetts, told SLR: “We’ve been servicing stores in and around Lockerbie and Dumfries for around two-and-a-half to three

Co-op sets up hacker campaign as four arrested A National Crime Agency investigation into cyber attacks targeting Co-op, M&S and Harrods has led to four people being arrested on suspicion of a number of offences. Meanwhile, Co-op is to team up with an ethical hacking organisation to help prevent cybercrime by identifying young cyber talent and channelling their skills into positive careers.

years now and we’ve just been waiting for the right opportunity to then launch the symbol group up there.”

Parfetts currently runs nine depots across the Midlands, Southampton and the North of England and Tindle believes there could be potential for a depot in Scotland further down the line.

Scottish stores are currently supplied by Parfetts’ Middlesbrough

depot, which is over two hours away. “We’re always pushing boundaries to go up there,” said Tindle. “When there’s businesses there that want to work with us, we’ll find a way to make it work.”

The group has taken on a dedicated Retail Development Advisor, Arwel Carter, to recruit more retailers, with a focus on Dumfries and Galloway and the TD postcode (Galashiels) as well.

Wholesale industry survey finds Filshill Best in Class For the 15th year running, JW Filshill has been ranked Best in Class among UK wholesalers and convenience symbol groups in an independent and anonymous survey of suppliers

by The Advantage Group. Chris Miller, Filshill’s Chief Commercial Officer, said the survey showed that the Renfrew-based wholesaler’s strategy of working in partnership with its suppliers

COMMUNITY Retail chain gives back

Greens initiative ‘pays it forward’ A donation scheme called ‘The Kindness Chain’ has been launched

by Greens Retail to support local shoppers in need.

The initiative allows customers to donate £1.50 at the till, which is converted into a Kindness Token and displayed on a board in-store.

Anyone in need can discreetly take a token and use it at the checkout for £1.50 off their shopping, no questions asked.

“We know that even a small gesture can make a big difference,” said Harris Aslam, Managing Director at Greens Retail. “The Kindness Chain is all about neighbours helping neighbours. It’s local people supporting each other, and we’re proud to do our part in facilitating that.”

Tokens cannot be used for restricted items such as tobacco, vapes, alcohol, or PayPoint transactions, but can be used to discount anything else in-store.

Staff are trained to handle redemptions with sensitivity and discretion.

“It’s a really simple system,” added Caroline Cunningham, Area Manager at Greens Retail. “The tokens can discount someone’s daily shop or help buy them a treat that they wouldn’t normally allow themselves.

“We’ve donated the first lot of Kindness Tokens ourselves to kick things off, and we’re blown away by the number of local people who have also decided to give back.”

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AWARDS

Two Scots make Raj Aggarwal Trophy final Glasgow retailers, Natalie Lightfoot of Londis Solo Convenience and Nathalie Fullerton of One Stop Dumbarton Road, have made it to the finals of this year’s Raj Aggarwal Trophy, alongside Chloe Taylor-Green of Spar Western Downs in Stafford.

Organised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the trophy is awarded to retailers who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community retailing over the last year.

Voting is open now on the ACS website and the winner will be announced by Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Small Businesses at this year’s Heart of the Community conference and reception, taking place at the House of Commons’ Attlee Suite and Terrace Pavilion on 2 September.

was “the right one”.

PayPoint doubles Love2shop commission PayPoint, has doubled retailer partner commission on Love2shop gift card sales and revealed new display units.

Retailers can now earn 10% on each physical gift card sold. The move comes at the same time as a newly designed gift card and the launch of new display units for Love2shop gift cards which will help make the offering clear for customers.

Scots spend more on squash and berries Mediocre weather hasn’t stopped Scottish shoppers embracing seasonal categories, such as soft drinks, tropical fruit and berries, according to the latest take home sales data from Kantar. Tropical fruits saw a 22% boost in volume, with blackberries rising by 42.4% and strawberries by 25.8%. Soft drinks, water and squash all saw growth, with their combined volume increasing by 7.9%.

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

7

News THEFT Figures spiral year-on-year

New retailer-run mental health support platform Retailers needing support from their peers can turn to the ‘Retail Family – Online Safe Space’ Facebook page. Hosted

by Glasgow retailer Natalie Lightfoot; fellow retailers Atul Sodha and Neil Godhania; The Fed’s Nathan Hall; and Alisdair Hamilton of Mondelez, the group is hosting weekly virtual meetings, alternating between Mondays and Thursdays. The next meeting will take place on Monday 4 August.

HFSS restrictions fall short, says FSS Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has warned that current proposals to introduce restrictions on the promotion of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products don’t go far enough.

Earlier proposals for meal deals and temporary price restrictions to be included within the HFSS regs are no longer due to go

New figures reveal Scottish shoplifting hotspots Shoplifting incidents grew 16% in 2024-25 year-on-year, equating to 44,730 crimes, according to the Scottish Government’s latest recorded crime figures.

Over two-thirds of local authorities suffered a rise in shoplifting in 2024-25, with over half of these seeing double-digit growth, while just under a third saw a decline in shop theft.

Midlothian has seen the biggest percentage increase in shoplifting, up 73% from 505 crimes in 202324 to 875 in 2024-25.

Edinburgh, which has the highest level of recorded shoplifting in Scotland, saw the second-biggest percentage increase, up 39% from 5,747 crimes to 8,007.

Angus saw a 38% increase, to 768 crimes, while West Lothian rose 36% to 1,589.

Glasgow City, which experiences the second-highest level of shop theft in Scotland, saw shoplifting crimes shoot up 35% to 7,475.

The Shetland Islands, which experience the lowest levels of shop theft, saw shoplifting decline 25% to just 12 crimes in 2024-25, while South Ayrshire saw a 15% drop to 968 crimes. Dundee City welcomed

a 13% drop down to 1,896, while Highland was down 10% to 1,349.

While the spiralling rate of retail crime is hugely concerning, the government figures only account for recorded crime. Almost half (48.2%) of Scottish local retailers said they were unlikely to report shoplifting incidents to the police, according to a recent SGF survey.

Glasgow retailer Saleem Sadiq told SLR just how brazen shoplifters have become. “One chap walked in, went straight over to the coffee and put 16 jars – each one is worth £7 – into his bag,” he said.

Saleem claimed that the police were often too poorly resourced to respond to reports, which had led to him losing faith. “We miss community policing,” he said. “We don’t report crime 99% of the time because what’s the point?”

ahead, but FSS evidence shows that extra measures would make a meaningful impact.

Police appeal following Highland Co-op break-ins Detectives are appealing for information following break-ins at two Co-op stores in Badenoch, which took place on Wednesday 2 July around 2.45am and Thursday 3 July around 11.30pm, followed by a third break-in at Dufftown Co-op in Moray on Friday 4 July around 1.10am. Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious or have relevant CCTV or dashcam footage.

C-stores still a top-three service for communities Convenience stores remain within the top-three services deemed ‘Most essential’; felt to have the ‘Most positive impact’; and viewed as ‘Most important in supporting the local economy’,

TASKFORCE Police clampdown on shoplifting

CRIME REPORTING

39 sent to prosecutor for retail Police update retailer reporting requirements crimes in West Lothian Police have reported 39 people to the Procurator Fiscal for 172 crimes in West Lothian as part of an initiative funded by Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce.

The initiative was launched on 26 May to address the ongoing rise in shoplifting and other crimes taking place in West Lothian stores. Since then, officers have been conducting high-visibility patrols in town centres that crime figures suggest are most adversely affected by retail crime, as well as engaging with retailers to improve security measures.

Between 26 May and 2 July, enforcement action was carried out in Livingston, Bathgate, Blackburn, Whitburn, Pumpherston and Armadale following a series of offences that took place at convenience stores in these areas.

Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce has streamlined its process when retailers report shoplifting via its ‘Contact Us’ online reporting form. The minimum information now required is: Q Time, date and location of incident; Q What was stolen and its value; Q The name of the member of staff; involved, their availability and a direct contact telephone number; Q Advise if the incident has been captured on CCTV; Q Provide a suspect description (if known); Q What has happened.

according to the 2025 ACS Community Barometer. The report asked UK consumers to

No further police action will be taken until all of the above information is received.

rank 16 different local services on a range of criteria.

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SLR | AUGUST 2025

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News COUNTERFEIT GOODS ‘Lafufus’ pose safety risks

Experience

Discover.

Engage.

Experience.

Join us at the SPAR Scotland Tradeshow this September.

We’ve a limited number of fully funded places available for our 2025 Tradeshow in Aviemore, for retailers interested in joining SPAR.

To find out more, call 01382 512000 or email discover@sparscotland.co.uk www.sparscotland.co.uk

Fake Labubu dolls flood Scotland Counterfeit versions of the pointy-toothed Labubu monster dolls, known as Lafufus, are being sold across Scotland.

The money-making potential of the popular Pop Mart toys has seen a high number of counterfeit products enter the country, with hundreds seized across East Lothian, West Lothian, Fife, North Ayrshire, Angus and Aberdeen.

Angus Trading Standards recovered around 250 products in just one town last month, noting that the goods were all of poor quality and did not have the safety and/ o r trademark labelling that’s required by law in the UK and EU. Meanwhile, in Irvine, two stores alone had over 370 fake Labubu products confiscated.

North Ayrshire Trading Standards said it would carry out further checks over the coming weeks, warning that there were

serious safety issues with the counterfeits as they hadn’t passed the UK Toy Safety regulations and had small parts that could be a choking hazard.

Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Islands, said: “These counterfeits need to be stopped and we are delighted with the work being carried out by the Trading Standards team. We would urge any retailer selling any of these items to think again as we will be stepping up our efforts over the coming days.”

Some of the signs of a fake include overly vibrant colours and an incorrect teeth count, with authentic Labubus having exactly nine.

The counterfeit problem is worldwide and Pop Mart has taken 7-Eleven and eight of its franchisees to court in the US over it.

Retailers with concerns should contact their local Trading Standards.

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

ACS pans Welsh DRS plans The Welsh Government has announced plans to accelerate the implementation of its deposit return scheme (DRS) ready for launch in October 2027 when the rest of the UK goes live. But the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has criticised Wales’ “unrealistic” plan to include glass within the scope of its scheme on a ‘reuse’ basis where bottles are returned to be refilled rather than recycled.

The rest of the UK is set to introduce a DRS for plastic, aluminium and steel drinks containers in October 2027.

Surveys by Keep Wales Tidy in 2023-24 show drinks-related litter was present on 43.6% of Welsh streets, with the presence of glass bottles more than doubling in four years. However, ACS quoted figures that showed around 75% of all glass is being recycled.

ACS accused the Welsh government of creating friction in UKwide supply chains by apparently requiring drinks sold in glass to be produced in Welsh and non-Welsh versions.

COMMUNITY Donation “gives something back”

Spar Scotland gives £2.5k to Aviemore charity Spar Scotland has celebrated its return to Aviemore for its annual Tradeshow, Conference and Awards with a £2,500 donation to local charity Badenoch and Strathspey Community ConnXions.

The cheque presentation in June came ahead of the Tradeshow on 25 September.

Paula Middleton, Head of Marketing at Spar Scotland, said: “Supporting local communities is at the heart of what we do, and we want to give something back to Aviemore and the wider area, which has welcomed us so warmly for the last four years.”

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10

SLR | AUGUST 2025

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News CRIME Illicit traders busted

Tens of thousands of illegal cigs seized Trading Standards teams in West Lothian and Midlothian have seized over 24,000 cigarettes from just three retailers.

A total of 11,560 cigarettes and 14 pouches of rolling tobacco were removed from sale at two premises in Broxburn and Bathgate, West Lothian, on Monday 30 June.

The seized goods were not for sale in the UK market and UK duty had not been paid on them. They also failed to display the mandatory health warnings required by law.

Meanwhile, a Dalkeith retailer has been caught red handed with illicit tobacco for a third time.

The Dalkeith store has had over 13,000 illegal cigarettes seized across three separate visits from Midlothian Council’s Trading Standards team, aided by Police Scotland and Consumer Protection Dogs UK. The latest visit took place this summer and saw 3,620 illegal cigarettes and 800g of tobacco seized. The stash was found after dismantling cupboards in the back area, which had a magnetic operation.

CAMPAIGN

JTI seeks to stub out illicit tobacco JTI has launched a national campaign calling on the Government to take more action on illicit tobacco traders, backed by a new study showing that 81% of consumers believe there is not enough enforcement to stop illegal sales.

The ‘It costs more than you think’ campaign has a dedicated website (costsmorethanyouthink.co.uk), which highlights that illicit tobacco in Scotland equates to an estimated £300m annual tax loss.

In the coming months, the campaign will seek to raise awareness of the negative impact of illicit tobacco sales and push for policy change at a national level.

The website has a dedicated retailer page with information on how to report stores selling illicit goods.

Retailers can also download a letter template to share with their local MP to raise awareness of illicit tobacco in their area.

www.slrmag.co.uk

This followed two earlier visits on 26 November and 13 December where 9,580 illegal cigarettes were seized with the help of detector dog Boo, after a complaint by a member of the public.

The business could now face heavy fines from HM Revenue and Customs.

Commenting on the action, Kelly Parry, Midlothian Council Leader, said: “This seizure sends a clear message that this type of activity will not be tolerated.”

Experience

The Tradeshow in Aviemore is one of the best ways to experience what SPAR Scotland and CJ Lang & Son have to offer. For independent retailers, it’s a chance to explore how SPAR Scotland can help grow your business; from tasting new products that drive sales to seeing the latest store formats, refrigeration, and design trends that can set you apart.

You’ll meet key suppliers face-to-face, gain valuable market insights, and connect with like-minded retailers.

Plus, the evening social is a fantastic opportunity to build relationships and feel part of a supportive, forwardthinking network.

SMOKING ALTERNATIVES Pouches feel the heat

Oral nicotine being sold to school kids

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has warned the public about the rising popularity of nicotine pouches among schoolage children and the fact that there is no law in place to stop them being sold to kids.

The group is calling for The Tobacco and Vapes Bill to be moved up the Parliamentary timetable to ensure a swift implementation and to ensure nicotine pouches are included.

CTSI stated that pouches were being promoted more prominently in shops and posed “a worrying child appeal” with their flavours and eye-catching packaging.

The group said it wanted to ensure business owners didn’t “exploit this loophole”.

Chris McCallum.

SPAR Retailer for over 21 years

We’ve a limited number of fully funded places available for our 2025 Tradeshow in Aviemore, for retailers interested in joining SPAR.

To find out more, call 01382 512000 or email discover@sparscotland.co.uk www.sparscotland.co.uk

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

11

News Extra

NewsExtra SUMMON UP SPOOK-TACULAR SALES THIS HALLOWEEN – P38

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF With the Scottish Parliament election due next May, political parties are starting to jostle for a bigger slice of the cake.

Ironically, cake is a luxury the current Scottish Government would like hidden on the back shelf. Along with other less healthy products such as alcohol, treats & crisps and vapes & tobacco.

SGF’s guiding principle is ‘responsible community retailing,’ giving access to essential goods and services, promoting healthy options and encouraging public education/awareness – while also protecting products which keep small stores viable.

Reflecting on the past four years of this government, the cycle of policy development can be summed up thus: unrealistic and ever tighter restrictions are announced by Ministers; SGF and the wider Food & Drink sector robustly raise concerns; Ministers either back down or quietly shelve the issue.

It’s a small crumb of comfort that the government can listen and will roll back when it has gone too far, although the uncertainty can damage business and consumer confidence. Policy on public health is particularly challenging just now, when deep down Ministers know they need to prioritise growth and business investment rather than tighter controls for speculative benefits.

This recently played out with both the single-use cup charge and the promotion restrictions on foods High in Fat, Sugar or Salt. In the case of the latter, after several years of consultation and development, the policy will be virtually identical to regulations in place down south. Overall, a good result, meaning less divergence and a far cry from some of the more damaging restrictions initially proposed.

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SLR | AUGUST 2025

Report calls for urgent action on Post Office Horizon scandal Sir Wyn Williams’ report highlights the plight of two Scottish Horizon victims as he demands full and fair redress.

Chair of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, Sir Wyn Williams, has published the first volume of his final report, in which he described the human impact of the scandal as “profoundly disturbing” and called for urgent action to ensure full and fair compensation is delivered.

He cited how postmasters and their families had had their lives torn apart, with the scandal linked to bankruptcies, wrecked marriages, lost homes and at least 13 suicides.

Laid before Parliament on Monday, Williams made 19 urgent recommendations to resolve issues that are hindering full and fair redress, including that: Q The Government and the Post Office should agree on a definition of ‘full and fair’ compensation, and this should be followed when deciding the level of compensation to offer.

Q Horizon Shortfall Scheme claimants should receive legal advice, funded by the Government.

Q Close family members of people affected by the Horizon scandal should receive compensation.

Q The Government should create a standing public body which will create, administer, and deliver schemes for giving financial redress to people who have been wronged by public bodies.

Q Fujitsu, Post Office and the Government should publish a report by 31 October 2025, outlining a programme for restorative justice (or the actions they’ve taken so far to produce this programme).

Q Williams expects the Government (and where appropriate Post Office and Fujitsu) to provide a written response to his recommendations by 10 October 2025.

The 162-page report featured 17 case studies of Horizon victims, illustrating the devastating ways in which their lives had been impacted. These included Susan Sinclair, who was a postmistress in Stuartfield, Aberdeenshire. Shortfalls occurred in her branch accounts and in February 2003, the branch was audited and an apparent shortfall of £10,700 was discovered.

Susan was prosecuted for embezzlement and sentenced to 180 hours community service, which she undertook during and after pregnancy.

Following her suspension, the report said Susan had been the subject of much local hostility and significant adverse publicity and that, upon her conviction, she was the subject of further adverse publicity.

In September 2023, Susan became the first person in Scotland to have her conviction quashed following a trial in which data from Horizon formed part of the prosecution case.

Robert Thomson, who was the postmaster at a convenience store and post office in Cambus, near Alloa, Clackmannanshire also featured in the report after a shortfall of around £7,000 led to him being charged with embezzlement.

Following his conviction, there was significant adverse publicity in the local media and he was “branded a thief ”. His children were teased and bullied at school and his mother became reclusive and depressed because she was “so embarrassed and ashamed”. When she later died, Robert felt that the events surrounding his conviction had contributed to her ill health. Robert and his family were put under increasing financial pressure and he suffered from depression and developed suicidal thoughts. On one occasion, he walked to a local bridge with the intention of jumping to his death.

On 24 January 2024, Robert’s conviction was quashed unopposed, on appeal by the High Court of Justiciary.

Williams explained that he had chosen to publish the report in two volumes in order to expedite the delivery of his recommendations.

He said: “No purpose would be served by HM Government or the Department delaying consideration of my recommendations until the remainder of my report is delivered.

“The whole reason for delivering this volume of my report in advance of the remaining volume is that appropriate action in relation to the schemes for redress can be taken as soon as reasonably possible.” www.slrmag.co.uk

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Comment

WORKING FROM HOME… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT When you’ve been writing about the Scottish local retailing sector for a quarter of a century, it gets to the point where it feels like you’ve seen and heard it all before. But every so often you hear something that makes you go, “wait… what??”

I had one of those moments during a conversation with Girish Jeeva, one of the leading young lights of local retailing in Scotland.

Now, Girish has often openly and sincerely told me that it’s not actually him that runs his pristine and multi award-winning Premier store in Barmulloch in Glasgow, it’s his colleague Snehal.

So when he told me that Snehal was returning to her native India to get married, I naturally asked him if he was gutted. All I got in return was a blank expression and a flat “no”. I asked him if he had a replacement lined up and his response baffled me: “No, she’s going to keep running the store.”

From India? How the hell does that work? I’ve heard of working from home – I do it myself – but running a store from home? And from 4,000 miles away? Seriously?

Girish just did his characteristic little chuckle and reassured me that “it’s all fine”. Try as I might, however, I couldn’t work out how it could possibly all be fine. With his eye for a bit of press coverage, he suggested that this would make a great story for SLR – and, when you read this issue’s cover story, I hope you agree with me that he was right.

It’s an utterly bizarre and bonkers and unlikely story, but what’s most incredible is that it clearly works. The store is hitting its numbers and looks as perfect as ever. Snehal sits at her desk in India and runs every part of a store on the other side of the planet, and I mean every part.

Ordering, 24-hour home delivery, stock control, date checking, ranging and merchandising, rotas, payroll, staff training, the lot.

It’s an inspiring and uplifting story and it shows what happens when you ignore what everyone’s telling you and how things “are meant to be done,” and just do it your own way anyway. It’s also a classic example of learning the rules and conventions inside out and back to front before you proceed to break most of them.

EDITORIAL Publishing Director & Editor Antony Begley abegley@55north.com Deputy Editor Sarah Britton sbritton@55north.com Features Editor Gaelle Walker gwalker@55north.com Web Editor Findlay Stein fstein@55north.com

ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing Director Helen Lyons 07575 959 915 | hlyons@55north.com Advertising Manager Garry Cole 07846 872 738 | gcole@55north.com

DESIGN Design & Digital Manager Richard Chaudhry rchaudhry@55north.com

EVENTS & OPERATIONS Events & Circulation Manager Cara Begley cbegley@55north.com Scottish Local Retailer is distributed free to qualifying readers. For a registration card, call 0141 22 22 100. Other readers can obtain copies by annual subscription at £50 (UK), £62 (Europe airmail), £99 (Worldwide airmail).

55 North Ltd, Waterloo Chambers, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6AY Tel: 0141 22 22 100 Fax: 0141 22 22 177 Website: www.55north.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/slrmag DISCLAIMER The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of 55 North Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher.

All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endevoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.

This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

© 55 North Ltd. 2024 ISSN 1740-2409.

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Cover Story

Snehal Magadum, Girish’s @ Barmulloch

WORKING FROM

HOME...

IN INDIA Lots of people work from home these days, but how many people do you know that run a cutting-edge store in Scotland from 4,000 miles away in India? Meet Snehal Magadum...

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Snehal Magadum, Girish’s @ Barmulloch

I

n the post-Covid years, working from home has become standard practice for lots of people – but it’s not something you come across much in local retailing, for obvious reasons. How could you possibly run a store from home? Especially if your home happens to be more than 4,000 miles away from the store you run?

That’s a question that Snehal Magadum gets asked all the time because she is the operational driving force behind the multi award-winning Girish’s @ Barmulloch Premier store in Glasgow – and she lives halfway around the world in India.

“If you’re working from home, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re half an hour’s walk away or a 14-hour flight away from the store,” she points out, matter of factly. It’s a fair point, but it still just seems, well, slightly bizarre.

UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH To be fair to her boss, Girish Jeeva, he’s a man with a bit of previous when it comes to ignoring convention and rewriting the local retailing rulebook. Just because no one else is doing it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It was only a few www.slrmag.co.uk

months ago, for example, that he became the first local retailer in the UK to launch a 24-hour delivery service – since replicated by several others. He was also a very early adopter of a range of solutions and technologies like beer caves, self-scan tills, AI-powered crime retail management systems, digital SELs and more.

So it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise that he and Snehal have forged ahead, ignored the doubters, and developed a working-fromhome model that sees Snehal sit at her desk in India and control virtually everything that happens in the store in Barmulloch. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it still does.

What’s perhaps even more surprising is that it works. In fact, it works perfectly. “I think we were all a little concerned when we first started working this way about it affecting store performance and sales and profits,” explains Snehal. “I know that I personally was a little nervous about it but I was also totally confident it would work. The reality a few months down the line is that it definitely hasn’t been a problem and store sales are where we expect them to be and, on lots of occasions, they’re actually up on where we were budgeting. I know a lot of

Cover Story

factors can affect sales like weather and sporting events and whatever, so it’s difficult to isolate the specific effect of running the store this way, but all of the indicators tell us it’s working just as we’d planned.”

IN WITH THE BRICKS It helps, of course, that nobody knows the store better than Snehal. “I’ve been here from day one,” she explains. “When Girish bought the store I came for an interview and he didn’t even have the keys yet, so he actually interviewed me in his car sitting outside the shop! That was in November 2020, about a month after I arrived in the UK from India to do a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management at Glasgow Caledonian University.

“I got a job in McDonald’s, but I heard about the job with Girish through a friend and I was really excited because it was much more relevant to my degree. I got the job, fortunately, and was totally hooked from day one. I had zero experience in convenience retailing but I loved it from day one and I have a huge passion for running the store as efficiently and well as I possibly can.”

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

17

Cover Story

Snehal Magadum, Girish’s @ Barmulloch

Snehal’s passion and clear talent for getting to grips with every intricacy of running a modern convenience store didn’t go unnoticed by Girish and she rapidly rose through the ranks, learning about every nook and cranny of the business as she went. Girish has openly admitted for a long time that, “it’s Snehal who runs the store, not me!”

There’s a bit of self-deprecating modesty in that statement because Girish is as sharp and visionary as they come but there’s also a lot of truth in what he says. As far as everyday operations go, Snehal does indeed run the store. From ordering, staff training and ranging to merchandising and pricing, from home delivery, gap checking, stock control and rota management to date checking and waste control, Snehal is the one tracking the data and pulling the strings.

She had more than proven she was capable of running the store, then, but letting her run the store from India? That would probably have been a step too far for most store owners.

Fortunately for Snehal, Girish isn’t “most store owners”.

“I told Girish that I had to go back to India to get married, so we discussed various options, and we came up with this plan. Girish just said, ‘Let’s try it’,” she recalls. “A lot of what I do is done at a desk on a laptop anyway, so I knew I could do most of that work anywhere as long as I had internet access.

The other challenge was setting up systems that allow Snehal to communicate with every member of the in-store team in real-time, quickly and efficiently, to make sure that she could allocate them tasks and then check that they had been done correctly.

GROUP THINKING “We try to maintain very high standards right across the store,” she says. “So the new system had to allow me to keep our standards where we need them to be but without me being able to walk around the store to physically check.”

The solution? “A lot of WhatsApp groups,” laughs Snehal. And when she says, “a lot,” she means it. “We have groups for every task, for every team, for literally everything we do.

Everybody in the full team is a member of all the groups they need to be in and that lets me ensure everything gets done the way it needs to be done.”

And how does she check that everything has been done to her satisfaction? “Photos, a lot of them,” laughs Snehal again. “If we re-lay a bay, for example, I send the product list and the shelf placement. The team action it, then have to send me a photo of the bay once they’re done and I can make tweaks or approve.

“But that same system is used every day for every fixture. When we do gap checks and stock 18

SLR | AUGUST 2025

replenishment, the team send me photos of every fixture, every day.”

It sounds labour intensive, but Snehal insists it’s really very simple and efficient once you get used to it – and it also gives her a permanent record of every instruction and every task completed.

“In some ways, it’s even more efficient than physically walking around the store myself,” she says. It doesn’t take much time at all to check the entire store.”

It helps of course that Snehal can rely on her trusty supervisor Harshita on the ground back in Barmulloch. She explains: “Harshita has been an incredible support in-store, consistently making day-to-day operations smoother and more efficient. Like me, she started with us within a month of arriving in the UK and has shown remarkable dedication and adaptability from the start. Girish has a knack for spotting talent early and he said right from the beginning that she would be a valuable asset to the team.

His instincts were right: Harshita’s potential is now clearly demonstrated by the positive impact she continues to make.”

STRESS TESTING In preparation for leaving for India in January this year, Snehal spent months preparing her systems, running tests and effectively trying to break the model to find out where the problems or potential weaknesses lay.

“I even did a full stock take of every single product over the course of a week, working at night because it was too busy when the store was open,” she explains. “That way the stock levels on the system exactly matched what was on the shopfloor and in the stockroom. We use automatic ordering which saves us hours per order so it’s important the stock control system is very accurate.”

Stock control, it turns out, is a passion of Girish’s too, especially after a slight mishap during the first few days after Snehal joined the business. “When we took over the shop, one of the first things I did was date check all the stock that we had inherited,” she says. “Because I had no experience in retail and certainly no experience of how packaging is labelled in the UK, I threw out a mountain of stock that I thought was out of date because I checked the production date and not the expiry dates! Girish has never let me forget that one!”

Perhaps as a legacy of that little incident, Snehal’s real-time stock management system is now a priority. “When we started out, we were maybe getting 80% accuracy on stock control,” she says. “But over time we’ve improved it bit by bit and I’d say we’re now 99% accurate. If anything goes missing, it tends to be full cases – which is usually an error with the delivery or with signing stock in. But they’re easy to spot www.slrmag.co.uk

Snehal Magadum, Girish’s @ Barmulloch

Cover Story

And does she manage to stick to those hours?

“Yes, I do, actually!” she laughs. “If anything, I’m more effective because I don’t get as many distractions as I would sitting in the office above the shop. I know what I need to do every day, and I work through it and generally I’ve done everything I need to do by the time 6pm comes.

I do occasionally work later or at weekends if there’s something urgent or something has cropped up, but most of the time I don’t need to.

I spend a few minutes every weekend checking the auto-ordering but that’s about it.”

To help her work through those tasks each day, she carried a bank of tech and kit with her back to India including her laptop, mobile phone, scanners and a home delivery gun. “I have everything I need right there so I can deal with everything without leaving my desk,” she says.

An added bonus is that her UK salary goes a lot further in India, especially when the exchange rate is good, as it is at the moment.

BERLIN BOUND

and fix. And we also check the dates routinely.

Every product in the shop will be date-checked at least once a month.”

Snehal is also responsible for managing the 24-hour home delivery side of the business (including the Snappy Shopper app) and for creating all training documents for all parts of the business for all staff as well as also handling rotas and payroll. “I track the rota and any amends to it as we go and then send Girish the payroll information and he pays everything out,” she explains. “The team have to sign in and sign out of every shift which comes straight into my system so I can track everything accurately.

“On the training side, I’ve created a full bank of training assets that make it easier to train everyone, including new recruits, because they’re all getting exactly the same training using exactly the same training materials. It keeps everything consistent and clean.”

So how does it actually work in reality? “It’s pretty simple, really,” says Snehal. “I work a full shift at my desk. There’s about a four and a half hour time difference and I tend to just do the same shift in India as a did when I was actually in the store, which is 2pm until 10pm. That means I start in India around 10am then work through until 6pm.” www.slrmag.co.uk

To add another twist to the story, Snehal’s fiancé lives and works in Berlin. He too will be heading to India soon for the wedding but the plan after that is that the newly married couple move to Berlin. Not that it should affect Snehal’s work pattern much, as she explains: “As I said earlier, when I’m working from home, it doesn’t really matter where home is. But in Germany I’ll only be a two-hour flight away so I will be able to come back to Scotland more often as required.”

It seems like she has it all planned out, then, and it also undeniably seems like this most unlikely of working arrangements is actually working out just perfectly.

In the meantime, Snehal has just taken over the running of Girish’s first store, a smaller unit on London Road in the east end of Glasgow, and that’s going swimmingly too. “I know the system inside out now,” explains Snehal. “So implementing it in London Road has been pretty easy actually!”

And when Girish finally does get that third store he’s long been dreaming of, Snehal will take that one under her wing too without too much fuss. That third store is something that Girish badly needs because his only frequently voiced frustration with the Barmulloch store is that he’s “run out of things to improve”. A nice complaint to have, but frustrating nonetheless for a man with enormous ambition and hunger.

As for the short term, Snehal has a wedding in October to look forward to and another transcontinental move from India to Germany to plan. The only slight problem, she says, is that she doesn’t speak German yet. But that seems like a trivial challenge for a capable young woman who clearly doesn’t let much stand in her way.

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

19

News

Products

Nestlé’s Superman promo takes flight Nestlé Cereals has launcheda new on-pack promotion across its cereal brands that celebrates the new Superman movie. The promo gives shoppers the chance to win a family holiday to the Six Flags Over Texas theme park in the USA, alongside 1,000 cash prizes. It is supported by shopper marketing activities, including branded bays, digital till screens, pallet shippers and aisle-end displays.

XQS launches Ibiza giveaway Nicotine pouch brand XQS has launched a sampling campaign and is offering consumers the chance to win a weekend in Ibiza. Thousands of sampling sachets have a QR code leading to a prize draw for a trip and other prizes including Deliveroo gift cards and XQS merchandise.

Product News FUTUREPROOF YOUR FORECOURT WITH THE LATEST TECH – P44 COLD COFFEE DRINKS New look targets younger shoppers

Costa Coffee refreshes ready-to-drink line-up Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has relaunched its Costa Coffee RTD range, with a new pack design rolling out across 250ml sleek cans, 330ml rPET bottles, and multipacks.

The new look features updated Costa branding, flavour callouts, and an aesthetic designed to attract younger coffee drinkers who are influenced by visual cues on packs.

The Costa Coffee RTD portfolio offers variants to cater to various consumer needs, including a

vitamin-enhanced Double Shot+, Lattes, and Frappés. The Latte variants now feature an updated coffee recipe, made using Costa Coffee’s Signature Blend.

Additions to the line-up include a Creamy Tiramisu Frappé, inspired by the classic dessert, and a Double Shot+ Caramel.

The relaunch takes place as the ready-to-drink coffee segment is forecast as the highest growth category in soft drinks, valued at over £323m.

The campaign also runs across social media where consumers can sign up for a free sample

SOFT DRINKS

sachet and enter the draw.

CCEP runs Special Olympics GB campaign with Co-op

Retailers can win Pepsi Max sports bundles Pepsi Max has launched a competition to celebrate the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 that gives retailers the chance to win five sports bundles. To enter, retailers simply need to submit their details via the entry form on atyourconvenience.com, Carlsberg Britivic’s retailer support platform. You’ll need to get your skates on though – the competition closes at 23:59 on 5 August 2025.

Triple triumph for PureOaty

Alex Rae, who works in Co-op Rosehill Drive, Aberdeen, is a double silver medallist in table tennis (Picture: Chris Watt Photography)

Co-op has launched a campaign in collaboration with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, to raise funds for Special Olympics GB’s (SOGB’s) sports programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.

The initiative invites customers to support SOGB through a meal deal consisting of two Coop pizzas and 4x330ml Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Diet Coke cans. Every sale sees 25p donated to help fund SOGB’s year-round sporting opportunities.

The campaign is promoted by five SOGB athlete ambassadors, including Alex Rae, who has been a Co-op colleague in Aberdeen for almost 25 years.The athletes share their personal stories to highlight the campaign’s core message: everyone wins when you choose to include.

Glebe Farm Foods has won two Gold Awards at the 2025 Free From Food Awards. PureOaty Porridge Oats won a Gold Award in the Breakfast & Morning Goods category while the newly launched Tea-rrific Oat Drink also struck gold in the Milk Alternatives category. Glebe Farm also won the Sustainability Award, in recognition of the family-run brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

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SNACKS Refreshed range will be supported by a Scottish marketing push from August until November

Golden Wonder’s new look packs more punch Tayto’s Golden Wonder brand has unveiled its first major packaging refresh in a decade.

The new design brings to life the brand’s ‘More Punch Per Crunch’ message, with eye-catching packs that focus on the simplified Golden Wonder logo supported by bright, engaging colours and crisp photography.

The new look rolls out across impulse, multipacks, and £1 pricemarked packs.

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SLRMAG

www.slrmag.co.uk

Products

News

Premier Foods launches new price-marked packs Premier Foods has launched new price-marked packs across its Ambrosia and FUEL10K ranges, catering to

WATER Convenience roll out is accompanied by a major marketing campaign

Highland Spring launches Flavours range in c-stores

both at-home and on-the-go

Highland Spring has expanded the availability of its still flavoured water range with the launch of three flavours – Strawberry, Apple & Blackcurrant, and Lemon & Lime – into the independent retail, convenience and wholesale channels.

The three variants are all sugar free, combining fruity, natural flavours with Highland Spring water drawn from the Ochil Hills.

The nationwide rollout will be supported a major new marketing

and Super Berry (PMP £2.99) are

campaign, ‘Make Your Day Fruitier’. This will see the Highland Spring Flavours Van deliver 250,000 samples to shoppers in a 96-day tour across the UK. The campaign will also feature dedicated point-of-sale materials, promotions, social media, and field sales support across the wholesale and impulse channels.

The range has delivered £7.9m in retail sales and added £3.4m in incremental value to Still Flavoured Water since its 2024 launch.

occasions. This marks the first time that FUEL10K is available in price-marked formats. Ambrosia Porridge Apple and Blueberry & Golden Syrup (PMP £1.19) and FUEL10K Granola Chocolate available from Bestway, Unitas and Sugro.

Win brunch in New York, courtesy of Philadelphia Philadelphia has launched a new on-pack promotion, giving consumers the chance to win brunch for two in New York. The trip to the Big Apple is valued at £1,000 and 10 luxury brunchthemed hampers worth £275 are also up for grabs. Entry to the prize draw is via an on-pack

JUICE DRINKS

Tropicana reveals consumer and retailer competitions Tropicana, is giving retailers the chance to win a share of a £5,000 prize pot, as well as running a Peel a Deal on-pack promotion for consumers.

Retailers can enter the competition by buying any Tropicana, Naked or Copella single-serve packs until 10 August. They then need to upload their invoice to the free Shopt app.

In addition, shoppers can be in with a chance to win prizes by buying any Tropicana, Naked or Copella single-serve pack.

HOUSEHOLD Match brand teams up with celebrity chef

Bryant & May finds its perfect match Bryant & May is set to reignite sales with a brand refresh and a new onpack partnership, rolling out from September.

The brand’s full range will feature a new logo and pack design, with updated colours and messaging.

Coinciding with the redesign, Bryant & May has announced chef Chris Mackett as its new on-pack brand ambassador. The partnership includes 12 exclusive on-pack recipes and supporting social and other media activities.

BREAKFAST CEREALS

Weetos World launches on Roblox Weetabix brand, Weetos, has leapt from the breakfast table into the online world with the launch of a new game on the popular Roblox platform.

Weetos World offers puzzles, creative challenges and interactive zones.

More than one million limited-edition packs featuring a fresh, eye-catching design and a QR code linking directly to a bespoke Weetos hub on the Fandom.com online community platform.

QR code. The competition is supported by in-store visuals, out-of-home advertising and social media activity.

Fruit Shoot empowers visually impaired shoppers Robinsons Fruit Shoot has become the latest brand to add NaviLens technology to its packaging. When scanned with a mobile phone, a Navilens code allows partially sighted shoppers to more easily see ingredients and nutritional information listed on packaging. Codes are on Fruit Shoot multipacks now, and will also appear on Apple & Blackcurrant 275ml single packs and 275ml single PMPs.

Frylight rebrands Frylight has unveiled a complete rebrand and packaging refresh across its range to reflect current consumer approaches to healthy cooking. The new packaging has been modernised to enhance visibility on shelf. Illustrations on the front of each product show usage, helping shoppers choose the right variant and to inspire new ways of cooking.

www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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News

Off-Trade

Off-Trade News SMOKING ALTERNATIVES: WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT – P50 CIDER Brand targets wine drinkers and the cocktail crowd

Aspall’s campaign is far from ordinary Aspall Cyder has launched a new campaign designed to position the brand as “the drink of choice for elevated social occasions for a new generation of cider drinkers”.

The new campaign, titled ‘Y Do Ordinary,’ emphasises the spelling of Aspall Cyder with the letter ‘y’.

It showcases Aspall as a sophisticated alternative to prosecco, wine, cocktails and aperitifs by using visuals of the cider being

poured into elegant cocktail glassware to challenge traditional perceptions and elevate the drinking experience.

The campaign runs across out-of-home advertising in key cities and is set to reach 22.9 million adults over the summer.

Social media ads will also aim to redefine conventional cider moments and serves among consumers in their early 20s to mid-30s, who make up 46% of super premium cider drinkers.

SPIRITS

Richard Hammond launches spirits range Television personality and motoring enthusiast, Richard Hammond, has unveiled a premium gin and whisky collection in collaboration with Berkshire-based Hawkridge Distillers.

The collection initially includes Ratio London Dry Gin and Iron Ridge English Single Malt Whisky.

A full-scale global release is planned for next month.

“Creating these spirits has been a real passion project,” said Hammond.

BEER Salty new lager launched

Kingfisher nets Sagres Sol & Mar Kingfisher Drinks has launched Sagres Sol & Mar, a new beer that adds a savoury twist to Sagres lager.

It is available to convenience retailers now in packs of 6 x 250ml NRBs, with an RSP of £6.

Sagres Sol & Mar is light, crisp, and brewed with a subtle touch of sea salt. Kingfisher describes it as “fresh and zesty,” noting that “the salt brings out its smooth, easy drinking character, which refines and balances the flavours of beer, while the lower 4% ABV makes it ideal for warm-weather occasions”.

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Off-Trade

News

WINE Echo Falls teams up with popular influencer

GK Barry blends berries Echo Falls has partnered with social media star GK Barry to launch a limited-edition Summer Berries Fruit Fusion bottle – a juicy, fruit-packed blend full of vibrant berry flavours.

Available now from Booker with an RSP of £5.50, the collaboration seeks to boost relevance among younger shoppers and inject energy into the fruit wine category.

Designed in close collaboration with GK Barry, the limited-edition bottle captures the influencer’s signature style with bold visuals and playful on-pack messaging.

Backed by a digital-first campaign, including exclusive GK Barry content and influencer support, as well as multi-channel shopper marketing – both in-store and online – the launch is designed to drive visibility and shopper engagement at every touchpoint.

BEER

BrewDog debuts PMPs

Craft beer brand BrewDog has introduced its first pricemarked packs (PMPs) to help manage fluctuating prices and deliver value to both retailers and shoppers.

Punk IPA and Hazy Jane 4 x 330ml-can multipacks are available now.

PMPs are growing ahead of beer at +28% in value sales, vs +4% for total beer, and are now worth 27% of total beer in convenience, increasing to 52% of the 4-pack category.

BrewDog says this shows that stocking PMPs of bestselling beers presents a huge opportunity for retailers to drive category sales.

www.slrmag.co.uk

CIDER Brand refresh is backed by marketing campaign

Westons unveils new look for Stowford Press Westons Cider has released a new look for its Stowford Press cider, designed to strengthen the brand’s premium positioning, recruit new consumers to the category, and support its off-trade retail partners.

The revitalised identity is rolling out now across 440ml cans, four-packs and 10-packs.

The new design includes a message that 100% of its apples are locally sourced and retains the brand’s familiar press design.

The brand refresh is supported by an outof-home media campaign to raise awareness of the new packaging. A raft of other activities also targets grocery and convenience retail customers, digitally and in-store. These include social media competitions, e-commerce banners, in-aisle POS, off-shelf feature displays, targeted loyalty card offers, a social campaign, and consumer and trade PR.

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

23

Inside Business

2 Minutes Of Your Time | Andy Ferguson, Red Star Brands

ANDY FERGUSON Andy Ferguson tells us why RTDs are big business and what makes Four Loko a must-stock.

WHY SHOULD SCOTTISH LOCAL RETAILERS BE EXCITED ABOUT ALCOHOLIC RTDS?

FACTFILE Trained chef and former Red Bull distributor, Andy became Business Development Manager for Scotland at Red Star Brands in January 2021.

He works closely with Scottish route to market customers to ensure availability and sales success for the Four Loko RTD, as well as developing ideas for trade-facing brand assets and making sure they secure the planned impact and touchpoints.

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The RTD category in Scotland continues to grow, with significant year-on-year gains driven by changing consumer preferences, particularly in single-serve formats. In fact, RTDs are driving growth in the wider BWS convenience space.

Along with Low and No Alcohol, RTDs are one of the only groups not in the red. Retailers must stay focused on the cash profit delivered from everything they offer their customers (especially from the chiller) and the correct, growing range of RTDs offers high rates of sale and cash.

HOW IS FOUR LOKO PERFORMING IN THE SCOTTISH CONVENIENCE CHANNEL? Smashing it! Four Loko has been at the forefront of recent significant growth within the Scottish convenience channel, becoming the No.1 RTD brand in Scotland within just four years of launch and outpacing established players like Dragon Soop and the widely distributed AU Vodka RTDs. This reflects both consumer appetite for mid-strength, convenient drinks and the shift away from traditional beer and cider multipacks.

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING AND HOW IS FOUR LOKO ADAPTING? Flavour is the number one purchase driver. Consumers want bold, fruity flavours that deliver on taste. Trends are moving toward tropical profiles, hybrids (e.g. candy-inspired), and nostalgia-based flavours. Four Loko’s recent launches, including Dark Berry Burst, the limited-edition Four Loko Black, Camo Mango flavour and the new Hawaii, speak directly to this demand.

TELL US MORE ABOUT FOUR LOKO’S NEW HAWAII FLAVOUR Four Loko’s latest new flavour, ‘Hawaii’, is sunshine in a can – a fresh and punchy mix of pineapple and raspberry, combined with Four Loko’s signature 8.4% ABV vodka-based, caffeinefree recipe. It delivers a perfectly balanced tropical twist with the all-important dry hint coming from the vodka at the end. It also brings something fresh to the market while staying true to Four Loko fans who want flavour-forward, bar-strength drinks in a single serve.

HOW CAN LOCAL RETAILERS CAPITALISE ON NEW ALCOHOLIC RTD LAUNCHES? RTDs are under-spaced in many Scottish convenience stores.

Outdated shelf plans often allocate too much space to slowmoving wines or multipack beers. Retailers should: Q stock disruptive, flavour-forward brands like Four Loko which create word-of-mouth buzz and boost footfall organically; Q expand RTD space with clearer segmentation by ABV and flavour; Q position their offer around key calendar days or local events with limited-time offers and themed displays, which – with fridge-fresh options – all drive loyalty; Q rotate seasonal NPDs and promote trial packs.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR ALCOHOLIC RTDS WITHIN THE SCOTTISH CONVENIENCE CHANNEL? One thing’s for sure, the opportunity for accelerating growth is significant. Retailers need to cut slow-moving, low-cash brands that just don’t deliver and rethink the space share between categories within BWS. There will be truly unique RTD brand launches in the future, creating new and exciting sub-categories to explore. Watch this space! www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

Checkout Scotland 2025 | GroceryAid Scotland

TIME RUNNING OUT TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR CHECKOUT 2025!

Time is fast running out if you’d like to come along to Checkout Scotland 2025 for an amazing night out while also helping industry colleagues who need a little support.

T

ime is rapidly running out for anyone who wants to come along to this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival in Glasgow on 28 August, an event that’s set to be a highlight of the industry calendar.

Organised by the Scottish Committee of industry charity GroceryAid, this year’s Checkout will feature top-class acts including Calum Beattie, Peter Andre, George Bowie, Cassi Gillespie, DJ Naeem and Babyccino.

Checkout will feature live music, fantastic DJs, great company and a fine selection of drinks and food, all in the iconic setting of Barrowlands Art & Design which merges covered outdoor spaces with the atmospheric main indoor stage area.

Well over half of the tickets to this year’s Checkout Scotland are already sold, so if you want to be there for this unique event, get in touch now to book your tickets.

GroceryAid Scotland Chairman Matthew Howie commented: “We’re very confident that Checkout Scotland 2025 will be a truly memorable event for everyone that comes along. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a few hours away from the shop or the business to have fun with industry colleagues, make some friends and enjoy a few drinks and some top notch entertainment, while also helping raise awareness of GroceryAid and raise much-needed funds to support industry colleagues in Scotland who need some financial, practical or emotional support.”

All ticket enquiries should be directed to Checkout Scotland 2025 Chair Antony Begley (abegley@55north.com).

THE LINE UP… Q Callum Beattie Q Peter Andre Q George Bowie Q Cassi Gillespie Q DJ Naeem Q Babyccino Q Sub Club Q DJ Harps Q 101 Club

TO BOOK TICKETS, EMAIL ABEGLEY@55NORTH.COM OR SCAN THE QR CODE ON THE RIGHT www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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Inside Business

SLR Awards 2025 | Special Recognition Award

40 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG… Special Re c o g n i t i on W I N N ER

The Sadiq family picked up a highly deserved Special Recognition trophy at the recent SLR Awards for four decades at the cutting edge of local retailing in Scotland.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Special Recognition Award | SLR Awards 2025

Inside Business

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hey say that retailing gets into your blood and there’s no doubt that’s the case with the hugely popular and hugely successful Sadiq family in Glasgow. For more than 40 years, the Sadiqs have been highly active in Scotland’s local retailing community, consistently remaining at its leading edge.

No mean feat, and that’s why Saleem and family collected a richly deserved Special Recognition Award at this year’s SLR Awards and received a rapturous round of applause from the entire room.

Even before Saleem first arrived in the UK with his father and his big brother Khalid way back in 1967, the family was already steeped in retail, as he explains: “My grandmother was involved in retail back in Pakistan and we were known as the ‘Huttie Wallahs,’ the shopkeepers.

And, as they say, once a Huttie Wallah, always a Huttie Wallah!”

At the time Saleem was just 10 years old and couldn’t speak a word of English. “Aged 11 they put me into primary one!” he laughs. “But within a few years I was in high school and I did alright.”

Saleem’s dad had been given permission by his own father to try his luck in Scotland for five years with the promise that he’d return to Pakistan. “True to his word, my dad went back after five years,” explains Saleem, “but then he asked my grandfather for another five years!”

His dad had been in the army but was discharged to come to the UK and got a job as a bus conductor, then became a driver and an inspector. In 1968, Saleem and Khalid were joined in Scotland by brothers Iqbal and Ashy and sister Shamim. Umjit was the only member of the family to actually be born in Scotland.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT Before long, the retail bug bit and Saleem’s dad bought a small newsagents on Maxwell Road in Glasgow’s south side. At the time the family lived in Ibrox so Khalid and Saleem, aged 15 and 12, would cycle there every weekend to open the shop and give their dad a long lie.

Then Saleem’s uncle arrived in Scotland and the business really began to grow, acquiring four newsagents before selling the lot to have a go at the restaurant business. By the time Saleem was old enough to get properly involved, the family owned three restaurants. As a dyed-in-the-wool family of Huttie Wallahs, however, they then decided to sell the restaurants to get back into retail.

The family bought their first store in Duntocher in December 1984, a Spar store.

“My main recollection is that people asked us why we were planning to stay with Spar because the perception at that time was that Spar was www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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Inside Business

SLR Awards 2025 | Special Recognition Award

expensive,” says Saleem. “But what we saw in Spar was professionalism and discipline. We felt it was the right way to run a business. We didn’t want to be touring round cash and carries chasing deals. We wanted to run the shop well and efficiently and professionally.”

Next up was another Spar store in Bonhill which was promptly fully refitted, doubling sales. They kept that store for five years before selling it on before buying another store in Knightswood which they promptly brought into Spar.

A year or so later, Saleem was invited to have a look at a store in Renfrew owned by the Co-op.

Nothing doing at that point but around a year later, he was invited back for another look and a fresh deal – and this time the family decided to go for it.

They gutted it, rebuilt it more or less from the ground up and re-opened on 22 March 1994. The result? “Sales doubled in the first week again,” laughs Saleem. Last year, the family celebrated 30 years in the store, a remarkable achievement.

Last year also marked the family’s 40th year in the retailing trade, an equally remarkable milestone.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Special Recognition Award | SLR Awards 2025

ENERGY AND STANDARDS What is so striking about Spar Renfrew and, indeed, all of the family’s stores is the unrelenting passion, enthusiasm, energy and vision that Saleem and his family have been able to bring to their stores consistently and unfailingly for decades. Renfrew in particular has always been near the cutting edge of local retailing – and the wall of countless industry awards behind the till tells its own story.

“Our guiding principle has always been to just do things right,” explains Saleem. “That’s what has made us successful in this store for 30 years and successful as a business for 40. We learned very early on that nobody wants to come to a messy, dirty store. Just like everybody wants a nice house, everybody wants a nice store. It’s not complicated.”

Well, running a successful convenience retailing business for 30 years can be complicated, but Saleem and family make it look easy.

“I think it comes down to passion and drive and a work ethic,” ponders Saleem. “We’re

www.slrmag.co.uk

natural born Huttie Wallahs and I get a buzz from retail in a way I don’t get from other sectors. I don’t know where the years have gone, but I would happily do it all over again.”

KEEP ON GOING Despite 40 years in the trade, the family has no plans to slow down any time soon. There’s too much to be done, believes Saleem.

The family sold the Duntocher store to their Postmaster, although they retained an interest in it. The Co-op took back the Knightswood store after the 21-year lease expired but the Sadiq family still have stores on Kilbowie Road and at St George’s Cross, and they’re doing well.

The home delivery side of the business continues to flourish and there are some major refits in the pipeline.

“We’ve got some big plans and we’re considering some quite unusual ideas,” says Saleem. “It’s exciting.”

Interestingly, considering the family now has “15 or 16 kids,” only one of them is actively

Inside Business

involved in the business, Saleem’s son Waseem.

The rest are doctors and lawyers and dentists and opticians and teachers and engineers and architects.

“Waseem trained in accountancy, so that’s prepared him well for the business,” Saleem says.

“We never asked him to join, he just wanted to, but we’ll be looking for him to take the business forward for the next 30 years.”

And it’s not just among fellow retailers that the Sadiq family are popular: customers seem to love them to. A TikTok post showing the family holding their special 30th birthday cake outside the store received over 30,000 hits.

We’ll be looking out for 40,000 hits when the store celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2034, then.

In the meantime, Saleem and family look set to continue leading from the front, playing in active role with the entire sector and, of course, running some of the finest local retailing businesses in Scotland.

A Special Achievement indeed.

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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Inside Business

Profile | Costcutter Barassie and Coylton

SMART SAVINGS

Supplier switches, clever investments and financial support have saved Ross Macpherson thousands.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Costcutter Barassie and Coylton | Profile

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ith costs mounting, Ross Macpherson decided to bite the bullet and refit his two Costcutter stores in Barassie and Coylton, South Ayrshire, with a view to making long-term savings.

“Both stores had older refrigeration, and we had no chiller doors, so the efficiency in the business wasn’t good enough and we knew that the Scottish government had an SME interestfree energy efficiency loan on things like refrigeration, LED lighting and solar panels.”

He had already put LED lighting into the stores and installed movement sensors so that lights automatically switched off in the storerooms if they were empty for longer than five minutes.

“The next step was for us to put fridges in and at the same time we thought we’d do a small refit as well – changing the counters, changing the backgrounds behind the counters and changing the bulkhead inside.

Barassie, which measures 1,100sq ft, was the first store to be redeveloped back in January, while the larger 1,300sq ft Coylton store was upgraded in April.

Applying for funding took longer than Ross anticipated. “It was 12 months going back and forth to get the paperwork over the line. It was quite extensive, but we got the answer we were looking for, which was funding granted.”

He took out business energy loans for each store – £47,000 for Coylton and £34,000 for Barrassie. “Because our carbon footprint was getting reduced by over 30%, we managed to secure a £20,000 grant for each shop as well,” he adds.

“The government funded the refrigeration, but not the aesthetics of the wood counters, shelving etc – that came out of my pocket.”

In total, the work at Barassie cost £80,000 plus VAT, while the bill for Coylton topped out at £100,000 plus VAT. Both stores converted all their refrigeration over to new, doored chillers with external compressors. In addition, Ross put a timer on his alcohol chiller, so that it was no longer running through the night. “Everything’s just more efficient, the energy savings are monstrous,” he says. “It essentially covers the loan.”

An issue with his meter reading means he hasn’t yet had an energy bill that reflects his cost savings at Coylton, but Ross witnessed an instant improvement at Barassie.

“Our electricity was previously £3,000 a month for Barassie, sometimes £3,500, but our bill for February was £1,200.”

He has also switched energy suppliers to make even more savings. “We’ve moved from Scottish www.slrmag.co.uk

Power to a new supplier and that’s brought both bills down by £400, so about £9,000 savings between the two shops.

“Including the electricity saved in both fridges, we’ve saved around £42,000 a year.”

The changes reduced his water usage too.

“The old fridges were water fridges [using a water-cooled condenser system] so the water rates were £250-300 a month. That’s gone down to £100 a month, so that’s another £200 saving on water.”

And he hasn’t stopped there. “While I was on a roll, I also contacted my card merchants and changed from Payment Sense to World Pay and that saved us £9,000 a year, so that’s a pretty big saving as well.”

Ross also applied for funding via a Scottish Grocers’ Federation Go Local Programme grant.

“I’ve been working with [Project Director] Jamie [Buchanan] and because of the amount of local produce we sell, we qualify very easily, that’s another £5,500 [per store]. So that’s £25,500 we’ve had in grants per store, which I’m happy about because it brings my monthly payment down quite a lot.”

Inside Business

Ross Macpherson

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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Inside Business

Profile | Costcutter Barassie and Coylton

LOCAL SOURCING The store uses around 15 local suppliers. “We have about three bakeries, a company called Back Street Kitchen that produces gastro meals, Hosprep Chinese food, Fuel Fit and Lockerbie Butchery fitness products. We’ve seen a lot of growth in the business from these products that are cooked fresh, they’re coming to us the day they’re cooked, so you’ll get five- or six-days’ date on it.” His extra chiller space means he has room to grow this side of the business even further.

“We added 2.5m onto our Barassie chilled food range (that’s eight linear metres) to try and boost the sales, plus the Aulds fridge and an extra 1.25m of alcohol fridge. Refrigeration now totals about 23.5m and we have 4.5m of freezers.

“We doubled the chilled food in Coylton from 5m to 9m (18-20 linear metres extra), so there’s space there for us to really go to town on it, and we added two double-door freezers. Total refrigeration now stands at 23m and we’ve got 6.5m of freezers.”

A freezer at the front of the store is now dedicated to meal deals, to give them more visibility.

Ross explains that increasing turnover is crucial to making the business viable in the face

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of rising staff costs. “We need an extra £10,000£15,000 at each shop a year for the wage rise, so we need to take an extra £40,000-£50,000 a year on our turnover. When you break that down weekly, that’s about £1,000 a week extra.”

He has just forked out for top-notch ice cream machines from Taylor, costing £7-8,000 each.

“We had Porrelli soft scoop at the front of the shop, then moved it to the back and we do a lot of ice cream sundaes, frappes, and ice cream milkshakes. But we’re going to get a whippy machine. It’s cleaner and quicker and will make a lot more profit.

“Taylor equipment is very expensive because they’re the best in the market for ice cream, but it tastes fantastic and the quality is good. It’s very small and can do 200 ice creams every 12 hours and it’s self-pasteurising, so it only needs a full clean every month.”

There are new drinks to go on offer too. “We’ve got slush machines coming in from Snow Shock.

They’re £10,000 between the two of them.”

TANGO TROUBLE These have replaced Tango Ice Blast machines, which proved to be far more trouble than they were worth.

“We had Tango Ice Blasts before, and you’ll probably find anyone with a brain takes them out after their contract’s up. They’re a loss leader 100%, you need to sell eight a day to break even.

“Barassie’s was broken [on and off ] for three years and they refused to replace it – they just kept coming back and fixing it, but there were months when we didn’t have it. It looks fantastic when you put it in the shop, but unless you’re doing £70-80,000 a week plus, it can’t work. We sold a lot on home delivery on a Sunday, but when it’s minus two degrees in January nobody wants it and it’s not making any money. It’s a 24-volt socket, like putting your kettle on every hour, so it’s not efficient. Even the syrups are £150, plus VAT. They used to be £67 four years ago.”

Barassie has kept its existing Costa machine, but Ross has added a shelving unit next to it now with protein bars to generate extra sales. In Coylton, he is weighing up his options between a Pret machine and a Costa.

Food to go was another area for improvement, with a branded bakery display, housing sweet and savoury lines, helping to boost profits.

“We brought in a cake counter for Barassie in partnership with Aulds the Bakers,” he explains.

“It’s been very successful, every week it’s getting better and better. Our weekly bill to Aulds the Baker is £700-800.”

While sales are strong, he remains hungry for more growth. “Auld’s was looking for over £300 www.slrmag.co.uk

Costcutter Barassie and Coylton | Profile

a week consistently, so what we’re doing now is above average, so they’re happy with that, but obviously there’s still room to perform better.

Coylton’s bakery display has also been upgraded. “We already had a cake counter at Coylton using another bakery, which did quite well, so we decided to change to a more modern counter at Coylton with a Cossiga fridge.”

‘OVER THE MOON’ While he concedes that Barassie and Coylton aren’t showstoppers, he is nonetheless delighted with the results. “Neither store is brand new, so you’re never going to get the wow factor unless you’re ripping it down and starting again.

But as far as what we’ve added to the business – especially as we don’t own the property in Barassie – we don’t mind speculating to accumulate.”

The improvements have left Ross smiling.

“I’m over the moon,” he beams. “Customers love it. It seems to have made the floor space a lot cleaner. I don’t know how it’s done that, but there’s a lot of lighting coming off the fridges.

We didn’t have enough fridge space before, so we had our fruit and veg in green crates running along the bottom of both Coylton and Barassie’s chillers, so about 15-20 crates sitting against the fridge. So your potatoes, carrots, onions, bananas, apples, all the way across. That’s now off the floor and in the fridge, so there aren’t trip hazards and there’s more floor space.”

Being disciplined and constantly monitoring margins is another way Ross keeps the business on track. “Our margins are really good, we’re 30% gross profit, which is where we want to be.”

He also analyses his staffing levels closely to ensure maximum efficiency. “We look at our hourly rate of sales. We don’t have four staff on when there’s a quiet gap in the day. Between half four and half six seems to be the busiest spot in Barassie, so we have three staff at that time.” www.slrmag.co.uk

His next big focus is boosting the home delivery side of the business.

In Coylton, the store carries out 50-60 deliveries a day. These sales equate to about 35% of turnover (£11,000 a week). “There’s other shops doing a lot more volume than us, but we don’t have a school near us or a college and we’re not on a main road. We’re relying on our social media and on our Snappy Shopper platform.”

Until recently, Barassie home delivery amassed £8,500 in sales with 40-45 deliveries completed daily, accounting for about 20% of turnover. “It wasn’t as high as we would like; I’d like Barassie to be doing up to about £11,000 a week,” says Ross To help with this, he adopted a new promotional strategy to increase sales. “Between 10 and half-two our sales are not very good so we’re doing a lot of offers during that time.” This has enabled average weekly home delivery sales to climb to £9,300 so far.

In September, Ross plans to invest in a new shop front and shutters for Coylton. He’s also eyeing up electronic shelf edge labelling. “Digital labelling is in the pipeline, but I know it would cost at least £20,000,” he sighs.

However, the investments are paying off, with Barassie’s weekly sales up 10% and Coylton’s turnover increasing by “probably at least £2,000 a week,” according to Ross. “In hot weather, we were up £5,000 because we have a bigger chilled range with salad, cold meats and strawberries.”

He says that investing in your store can be tough, but it’s the only way forward. “It’s worrying to think about the amount of money [I’ve spent], but then again, it’s a Catch-22. You refit the shops, so your efficiency is better. The reduction in the electricity will then at least cover the loans. And then if you’re refitting the shop and making it better, you should be able to get your basket spend up. It’s a double hit: one with more savings, and two with sales.”

Inside Business

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR GREEN UPGRADES You can apply for a loan of up to £100,000 to help pay for energy- and carbon-saving store upgrades.

Cashback grants of up to £20,000 are also available for a range of energy efficiency measures.

SME loans and cashback grants can be used to fund the installation of various energy efficient equipment, such as: Q Commercial fridge and freezer units Q LED lighting Q Heating, ventilation and aircon upgrades Q Measuring, monitoring and control equipment Q Multi-glazed refrigeration doors/covers To apply for funding from the SME Loan Scheme, you need to get a report from Business Energy Scotland that recommends the energy efficient systems, equipment and/or building fabric improvements that you would like to use the funding to install.

Business Energy Scotland’s reports are free and impartial. Once you request support, it typically takes between two to six weeks to prepare your report, depending on the complexity of your requirements.

The cashback element will be paid to you (along with the loan) after the measure(s) have been installed and evidence has been provided/a site inspection by a qualified advisor has been undertaken.

Visit businessenergyscotland.org/ smeloan for more information.

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Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

McVitie’s Club Layers Orange pladis The bar consists of thick milk chocolate with an orange-flavoured cream filling and multiple layers of crisp wafer. Its launch takes McVitie’s Club into confectionery for the first time. With an RSP of 89p, the 39g countline is available now. Pladis hopes to recruit a more youthful demographic to the McVitie’s Club brand with the move into on-the-go confectionery, a category that traditionally overtrades among younger shoppers.

PepsiCo seeks to crack flavoured nuts market

Sterling Dual Capsule Xtra Yellow JTI Billed as the UK’s first lemonflavoured cigarillo, Sterling Dual Capsule Xtra Yellow features a capsule in the filter that can be clicked to release a lemon flavour, in addition to a peppermint capsule.

It is available in a 10-stick pack size with an RSP of £6.95. The launch comes with ontrend lemon the third-most-popular flavour in the Flavoured Vapes category.

Noomz Langtins There are eight flavours available in this new range of freeze-dried sweets, including Fruit Bites, Fruit Bears, Lemon Bites, Mini Rocks, Drift Rocks, Jelly Rings, Rain Burst and Sour Bites. Priced from £2.49, all products in the range are halal certified and packaged in resealable pouches to keep the sweets crispy.

Freeze-drying removes moisture from the sweets and is said to heighten their original taste and flavour.

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PepsiCo has launched a new range of coated peanuts, ‘That’s Nuts,’ inspired by its snack brands.

The line-up is available now, featuring flavours such as Walkers Salt & Vinegar and Smoky Bacon, Doritos Chilli Heatwave and Flamin’ Hot, Wotsits Really Cheesy, and Walkers Max Paprika.

The range comes in 160g packs (RSP £2.75), designed for sharing occasions. Smaller 40g packs (RSP £1) of Salt & Vinegar and Smoky Bacon target on-the-go, lunchtime, and on-trade sales.

The nuts segment has seen strong growth in recent years, and PepsiCo aims to drive further expansion by appealing to a broader consumer range, including crisp buyers and existing nuts purchasers.

Walkers Quavers Red Leicester PepsiCo Quavers Red Leicester is available now in various formats – a 34g grab bag at £1.10 RSP, a 54g price-marked pack at £1.35 RSP, a 6x16g multipack at £2.25 RSP and a 116g sharing bag at £1.50 RSP. The launch comes with cheeseflavoured snacks continuing to be a major driver of growth in the savoury snacks category.

The launch will be supported by in-store activations across the grocery channel and is set for PepsiCo’s 2025 festive period, when nuts account for around one-third of growth in the crisps, snacks, and nuts segment.

Ed Orr-Ewing, Marketing Strategy & Operations Senior Manager at PepsiCo, commented: “Flavoured nuts are predicted to be worth over £200m in retail by 2030, and we have seen shoppers increasingly on the hunt for bold and exciting new flavours across the savoury snacks categories. ‘That’s Nuts’ brings these two trends together in one delicious range that we believe will help retailers drive further incremental sales.”

Lindahls Protein Dairy Lactalis UK & Ireland

Biona Greek Olives Windmill Organics

The range of cheese and flavoured milks is designed to appeal to affluent and urban shoppers aged 45+, who exercise regularly and are seeking out protein for weight loss and maintenance, as well as muscle recovery.

It will be supported by an investment of £2.5m in multichannel advertising throughout 2025. It includes Cottage Cheese, Gouda Slices, Greek Cheese, Protein Milk and Protein Milk with Collagen.

This new range of organic Greek olives, hand-stuffed and naturally brined, consists of three different variants of Greek Queen Olives of the Halkidiki variety, each stuffed with either garlic, pepper or jalapenos, along with Kalamata olives. All four products are certified organic, with no artificial preservatives or additives, and have an RSP of £3.69 per jar.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Product News & Media Watch Cheetos Original Cheese PepsiCo

Cheez-It Sharing PMPs Kellanova

Cheetos Original Cheese is available now in various formats, including 125g sharing bags (RSP £2), 90g PMP (RSP £1.49), and 30g PMP (RSP 49p). The launch coincides with a wider consumer marketing campaign for the brand, including fashion partnerships with influencers and artists targeting younger Gen Z consumers.

Cheetos is now worth £30.5m in value, up +43.6%.

Following its UK relaunch earlier this year, Cheez-It is rolling out its 120g PMP sharing format into symbols and indies. Two flavours are available: Double Cheese, which has delivered nearly £10m in sales to date, and Cheese & Chilli. Backed by a £200,000 marketing spend, the launch is timed for the peak summer snacking occasion. CheezIt is on track to become a £20m brand in the UK.

Chupa Chups Pinkis Perfetti Van Melle

McVitie’s Signature Dark Chocolate Caramel Rounds pladis

Chupa Chups has extended its jellies range with the launch of Pinkis, a new pink, soft, mallowy jelly that combines a fluffy texture with a vibrant strawberry flavour. It is available in 90g hanging bags that are price-marked at £1.25.

The launch comes with total jellies growing by +9% yearon-year and Chupa Chups Jellies up an impressive +111%.

McVitie’s Signature Dark Chocolate Caramel Rounds (RSP £2) feature caramel on a biscuit covered in dark chocolate. The product extends the McVitie’s ‘Signature’ range, designed to help retailers capitalise on the afternoon and evening snacking occasions. The launch looks to build on the success of Signature Milk Chocolate Caramel Rounds, which has a purchase repeat rate of 34%.

Hotlines

 ‘No taste like home’ This new £7m ad campaign is built around findings that the taste of Ribena evokes powerful childhood memories and feelings of family connection. The campaign is fronted by two films showing a pair of siblings sharing a glass of Ribena that takes them back to their childhood. It runs until September on TV, VOD, and YouTube, supported by instore activity.

Flamenco chancers Madrí Excepcional has launched a multimillion-pound seven-week marketing campaign celebrating ‘El Alma de Madrid’ or ‘The Soul of Madrid’. The campaign is sprearheaded by a 30-second TV ad featuring Spanish DJ duo Mestiza, known for their fusion of traditional Flamenco music with contemporary electronic beats.

Corner shop props Mentos has brought back its award-winning Corner Shop Drop media campaign for a three month stint this summer. Estimated to reach 6.9 million people through radio and digital, the campaign shines a spotlight on convenience stores as pillars of the community, and is designed to engage directly with a Gen Z audience.

Ketchup TV Jacob’s x Frank’s RedHot pladis Jacob’s has joined forces with hot sauce brand, Frank’s RedHot, to give Mini Cheddars, Crinklys and Bites a spicy makeover. Both Mini Cheddars x Frank’s RedHot and Crinklys x Frank’s RedHot are available in 150g sharing bags (RSP £2) before launching in a 90g PMP (£1.25) for independent retailers, while Bites x Frank’s RedHot come in a 125g sharing box (RSP £2).

Red Bull Big Can Multipack Price-marked Packs Red Bull Red Bull has launched two new price-marked multipacks – Red Bull Energy Drink 4 x 355ml (£6.75) and 4 x 473ml (£8.75). With many of its consumers loyal to can size, and one in four of the brand’s shoppers only buying 355ml or 473ml cans, Red Bull says the new packs give big can consumers the chance to trade-up into the multipack format with their preferred can size.

Heinz has unveiled ‘Lost in Love,’ a new multi-channel campaign that highlights the emotional connection consumers have with food. The campaign is built around a short ad featuring a tennis fan who is more interested in covering a hot dog in ketchup than the match he’s watching. ‘Lost in Love’ runs across TV, social media and out-of-home advertising.

Cawston Press premiere Soft drinks brand Cawston Press has launched its first TV advert, highlighting its Sparkling Can range and reinforcing a commitment to only using simple, real ingredients. Running across live TV and video on demand until 17 August, the new ad had its first airing during Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off: The Professionals.

for all the latest product news, head to www.slrmag.co.uk/category/product-news/ www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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Feature

Halloween

DEVILISH DRINKS

MONSTER SUCCESS Plan ahead with Halloween and you can really get your claws into this lucrative occasion.

BY SARAH BRITTON

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ike a werewolf under the pale moonlight, Halloween has transformed into a hulking beast in recent years, with hordes of trick or treaters hitting the streets. But this isn’t just a one-night event – there’s a whole season’s worth of sales to be had as shoppers get ready for the frightfest.

During Halloween 2024, impulse sales reached £33m [Nielsen Value Sales, WE 07/09/24 – WE 30/11/24], cementing the occasion as the biggest autumn event in the convenience calendar. There are opportunities aplenty for beastly beverages, terrifying treats and spine-chilling snacks as both young and old join in the freakishly fun festivities.

Of course, sweet sales soar in spooky season, providing the perfect fodder for guising and parties. “Halloween 2024 delivered another strong performance in the convenience channel, with confectionery remaining one of the key sales drivers,” says Clare Newton, Trade and Shopper Marketing Manager at Swizzels.

“According to Kantar, Halloween-related sales across the UK grew by 6.3% year-on-year, with Scotland playing a significant role in that uplift [Kantar data over the 12 weeks to 3 November 2024]. In Scottish convenience stores specifically, impulse-led purchasing was a major contributor, especially in the final week of October, when shoppers turned to local stores for last-minute top-ups.”

Stocking up for Halloween was in full swing last September, with sweet and chocolate confectionery up 7.1% and 3.2%, respectively, in value compared to the same period in 2023, 38

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according to Kantar [Take home grocery sales, 12 weeks to 29 September 2024].

Confectionery dominated as the number one Halloween category in 2024, driven by a rise in themed product availability and increased footfall in local shops, states Newton. “We saw notable demand for our Halloween-themed Squashies Squeletons, Sweet Shop Favourite tubs, cartons and pouches and our popular vegan variety bags (Scrumptious Sweets, Luscious Lollies, Curious Chews).

“Retailers who lean into seasonal campaigns with early visibility and strong in-store theatre will be best positioned to capture demand.”

She advises c-stores to get off to an early start.

“We recommend that convenience retailers begin introducing Halloween displays by midSeptember. This allows for a gradual build-up of awareness, while still leaving space for impulse and repeat purchases throughout October.

“Early visibility also gives retailers the chance to cater to organised shoppers looking to get ahead of the rush. To capitalise, c-stores should stock a wide range of price points and formats, from pocket money-friendly treats such as our popular Refreshers (RSP 20p) to larger tubs for families. Positioning these items prominently near the till or entrance, especially in the final two weeks of October, helps drive impulse purchases. Offering multibuy promotions or bundling products with other party essentials can also help maximise basket spend.”

One retailer who makes a killing when it comes to Halloween sweet sales is Imran Ali of Bourtreehill Supermarket in North Ayrshire.

With the focus largely on kids, it can be easy to overlook the huge opportunity to cash in on adults who want to get their ghoul on this season.

“Halloween is a fantastic event for retailers to get involved in and have fun with, as adults up and down the country will be looking to celebrate by attending parties and hosting gatherings,” says Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director at Heineken UK. “A standout brand within the Heineken UK portfolio during the lead-up to Halloween is Strongbow Dark Fruit, which performs way above usuals sales in this time, making it a must-stock for retailers, and a high priority SKU for wholesalers to carry.”

Another drink synonymous with Halloween is Brothers Cider’s Toffee Apple flavour, which was notably absent when the brand relaunched last year.

Luckily for fans of the sweet cider, Brothers reincarnated the Toffee Apple variant in April. The consumer favourite has been reformulated and comes in a 500ml can with a 3.4% ABV, aligning with the brand strategy of offering sessionable, easy-drinking flavoured ciders.

Emma Vanderplank, Marketing Controller, Brothers Drinks Company, says: “Toffee Apple was a great year-round seller, which really came into its own in the autumn/Halloween period. ‘Back by popular demand’ is an oftoverused term in marketing circles but, in the case of Toffee Apple, it is wholly apt: it has been impossible to ignore the volume of consumer enquiries about this muchloved variant.

“It’s great to say ‘welcome back’ to Toffee Apple with a new livery and an enhanced formulation. It was a tricky decision not to include it in last year’s relaunch but we’re really pleased to have now found a way to align the product to the rest of the range, using only real, natural flavours.”

www.slrmag.co.uk

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Feature

Halloween

“My local suppliers are really good,” says Imran. “I use Sweet Treats By Kayleigh. For seasonal occasions like Halloween, she does themed sweets and stands. What I really like is she’ll offer a whole selection of sweeties from zip bags to sweet cones. She’ll offer up a £1 choice, a £2 option, a £5 choice, all the way up to £12 or £15, so there’s something for everyone.”

In previous years, bags of gummies took on Halloween appeal with mummy stickers, while a large gifting “bouquet” of chocolate bars, chocolate lollies and Millions was decorated in orange paper with a black bow and topped with fake cobwebs and spiders.

On top of this, the shop also had bays packed with themed confectionery, including Swizzels Trick or Treat Lolly Mix, Mummy Mix, and Squashies Squeletons; Maynards Spooky Gums and Liquorice Mix; Barratt’s Wham Scary Chews and Haribo Sour Skeletons, Monsters Zing and Trick or Treat mini bags. Last year, Iman took advantage of garish orange and slime green coloured shelf-ready packaging, brand blocking a gondola end to create an eye-catching display.

The store was packed out with evil clowns, wicked witches and horror movie villains when it hosted a huge community event last Halloween, with local residents invited to party with the team, enter a costume competition and take part in dooking for apples (with a fork). The store also organised Halloween-themed events in the run up to the day itself. “We have an under-fives soft play, it’s like a wee community hall and we’ve started running workshops and arts and crafts for Halloween, like make your own slime classes,” explains Imran.

Swizzels has been blown away by the ideas local retailers have come up with to celebrate the fright fest. “We’ve seen some fantastic creativity from independent retailers when it comes to Halloween in-store theatre,” says Newton. “From staff in costume and trick-or-treat trails for kids 40

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AVOIDING DEAD STOCK

to spooky-themed windows and music, these touches help create an engaging and memorable experience that boosts dwell time and spend.

“Some stores have gone further with social media-led competitions and in-store selfie stations, encouraging shoppers to share their Halloween experience online. These low-cost ideas not only drive footfall but also position the store as a key community hub, something that’s especially impactful in areas like Scotland where local shopping is so valued.”

She has high hopes for this season, with the timing lending itself to weekend fun. “We expect Halloween 2025 to be even more commercially significant for the convenience sector, particularly in Scotland where local retailers play a central role in community celebrations,” she says. “Consumer appetite for seasonal fun continues to grow, and with Halloween falling on a Friday this year, there’s an even greater opportunity for weekend-driven sales across both treats and party supplies.”

Pladis is convinced that indulgent treats will scare up sales. “As the economic pressure continues, seasonal celebrations like Halloween have become a big part of life for millions of us,” says Jessica Woolfrey, Marketing Manager,

Most retailers have horror stories about leftover seasonal stock, but Heineken says this is largely avoidable. “When it comes to the brands people are purchasing, this is overall very similar to the rest of the year, so retailers don’t necessarily have to worry about stocking limited-editions lines and dead stock after the event has passed, but instead focus on how they display beer and cider in store and having full availability of bestsellers, such as Cruzcampo and Birra Moretti Sale di Mare,” says says Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director at Heineken UK. “It is also worth thinking about how to facilitate trade up – for example, giving brands like Old Mout and Cruzcampo, which caters to those watching their spend but still wanting something special, top shelf space.”

The key to avoiding surplus stock lies in phased merchandising and flexible stock control, states Swizzels. “Retailers should front-load the display of core bestsellers – such as Swizzels’ variety bags, Squashies Squeletons, and tubs – early in the season, then scale back toward the final week of October to reduce risk,” says Clare Newton, Trade & Shopper Marketing Manager at Swizzels. “Using EPoS data and reviewing previous year sales can help guide stock levels more precisely.

“Post-Halloween, consider repurposing any remaining stock through value-led promotions or ‘party sweet’ positioning.

Many Halloween products, especially those not overtly themed, remain suitable for general snacking or children’s parties well into November. Swizzels products, for example, are often packaged in a way that extends their shelf appeal beyond 31 October – as they’re all-year-round favourites, for example our variety bags and tubs.”

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Halloween

EERIE ICED DELIGHTS Empire Bespoke Foods has launched a Halloween-themed range of hand-crafted gingerbread figures, featuring a bleeding mummy, a skeleton, a white pumpkin and aliens.

Made to a secret recipe by the familyowned German bakery Pertzborn, and iced by hand, these soft gingerbreads are set to add a bewitching touch to seasonal displays.

pladis UK&I. “Consumers are replacing going out with gatherings at home, and trading up to special treats. As a result, there’s increased demand for more premium offerings that deliver indulgence and exciting flavours.

“Halloween is all about parties,” she adds.

“Three categories that see a seasonal spike are

premium biscuits, savoury biscuits and snacks, and sweet and savoury snacking, and retailers should stock up with products that hit the spot.”

With their tangy orange filling and orange packaging, McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes are naturally a good fit for Halloween and pladis expects its new Hot Honey variant to be popular for parties.

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Another product that regularly features in the freakish festivities is Fanta. “During the Halloween season, shoppers will be on the lookout for soft drinks to enhance gatherings at home, whether it’s hosting Halloween parties or enjoying scary movie nights with family and friends,” says Kate Abbotson – Senior External Communications Manager at CocaCola Europacific Partners. “This is why retailers should prioritise stocking top brands that are synonymous with the spooky season. Fanta is a popular choice to accompany the scary season thanks to its longstanding association with Halloween.”

The drink’s success last year was driven by engaging campaigns and on-pack activity such as its Beetlejuice-themed Fanta Zero Afterlife variant, which was marked by limited-edition packs across the range last year, featuring characters from the Beetlejuice movie.

Numerous retailers, including Martin Lightfoot of Londis Solo Convenience of Baillieston, Glasgow, got behind the new product with social media posts, giveaways and even dressing up as the creepy character.

Fanta took 23.8% of flavoured carbonates value sales over the Halloween period in 2024 [Nielsen Total GB 4 weeks to 04/11/24].

Abbotson concludes: “For the 2025 spooky season, retailers should be mindful of refreshed campaigns and new product launches to tap into the great potential for boosting sales that the season offers. www.slrmag.co.uk

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Feature

Forecourts

RIDING HIGH Forecourts are investing in technology to futureproof their businesses.

A

s the market evolves, forecourts are transforming into multi-purpose retail destinations, no longer defined solely by fuel sales, according to The Lumina Intelligence UK Forecourt Market Report 2025.

One group that has made the retail side of its business a priority is our Forecourt Convenience Retailer of the Year, Highland Fuels’ Balfron Filling Station. The store was operated by the previous owner for over 20 years, predominantly as a Ford car dealership, workshop and filling station with a 100sq ft kiosk-style shop.

Having taken over the site in 2022, Highland Fuels embarked on an incredible transformation in December 2024, investing the best part of £2m and opening a brand-new 2,800sq ft Morrisons Daily store at the end of January this year. The store features a comprehensive foodto-go offer with Rollover hot dogs, a Skwishee machine, Pret coffee, Aulds hot and cold baked goods, plus freshly baked Morrisons products.

“What we tried to do with Balfron was to make it a one-stop destination for people,” says Store Manager Duncan McMillan. “It wasn’t

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a case of coming in for juice and a packet of sweets, you could get a full shop there. We’ve tried to reflect that with range and pricing. With a lot of sites that have the Morrisons logo, they have a set pattern to follow, but with Balfron, they gave me the planograms and then it was about me finding out what the community was really after.”

Duncan set about tailoring the offer to their needs. “We introduced a fresh range of 326 lines of the core Morrisons’ range for what we thought would sell in a shop of that size,” he says.

“After talking to the community about what they were looking for, in the first couple of months we opened it up to 570 lines by introducing new shelving and new ranges. There was also high demand for free from, so we introduced a freefrom range and it’s done really well. We also have our own Facebook page and use social media to connect with the community.”

Highland Fuels was also careful to ensure that the site fitted in well with its surroundings, featuring an open roof and exposed beams to create a farm shop ambience. But don’t be fooled by its traditional appearance; the whole site

is cutting edge. It has just had InPost Lockers installed and boasts high-spec Electrajet jet wash units.

“As a forecourt, technology is important,” says Duncan. “We’ve got a fancy, high-tech car wash, which has all sorts of settings they’ve never seen before in this area. You can spend £2 and give your car a quick spray, or you can spend up to £16 and there’s a ceramic wax coating and reverse-osmosis streak-free rinse system.

I was a wee bit apprehensive as to whether it would work in the local area – would it be too complicated or not accepted pricing wise – but it was really welcomed, and staff are trained to help if anyone has problems.”

Highland Fuels is reaping the benefits of investing in both the retail and fuel sides of the business. “When we opened the site, it was running at £24-26,000 a week,” says Duncan.

“Then we added the fuel in May, and it ran at £33-37,000. In terms of fuel, the last site used to do a maximum of 20,000 litres a week. We do an average of 30-35,000 litres a week. Our weekly sales, including petrol, are anything from £8090,000 a week, so it brings in a lot of money.” www.slrmag.co.uk

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Forecourts

EPOS EFFICIENCIES Investing in technology is also helping to make forecourt stores run more efficiently. Over in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Spar Maheramason was eager to streamline its core retail functions – including fuel cards, PayPoint, and till operations – into a single integrated platform. The hope was that this would in turn improve transaction speed, enhance stock control and price management, and resolve long-standing issues with poor technical support from their previous provider.

The company turned to Henderson Technology’s EDGEPoS system, which uses training videos and responsive local support, to help staff get to grips with the technology as quickly as possible.

Slow card payments are now a thing of the past, which is of huge benefit to the store, which has a high volume of passing traffic. “EDGEPoS has completely transformed how we run the store. Everything is now integrated – fuel cards, PayPoint, tills – which makes life easier for both staff and customers,” says store owner John Allen. “The support from Henderson Technology has been second to none, and we’re already seeing the benefits in faster transactions and better control of the business.”

As is natural with any kind of new technology introduction, a number of staff were a little unsure of the change, but the company reports that even those who were hesitant about switching systems adapted quickly thanks to the straightforward interface and helpful training resources. Day-to-day tasks like processing sales, applying discounts, or handling returns have become easier to manage, while promotions and label updates now follow a clearer structure, making it less time-consuming than before.

The most immediate impact following the installation was a vast improvement in the checkout process, which has meant speedier transactions and far less frustrations caused by queuing.

With the forecourt’s previous EPoS provider, problems often had to be logged with overseas call centres, where language barriers and scripted troubleshooting led to long delays and unresolved problems. In contrast, John and his team have found that support from Henderson Technology has been a game changer, with pump-related issues often resolved within minutes.

The EDGEPoS reduction planner was another winner for Spar Magheramason with reductions scanned directly at the till, allowing the team to track what products are being discounted and how it impacts margins. This added transparency has enabled better stock decisions and more precise margin control, which is an especially important factor for a forecourt site with fast-moving goods.

John adds: “EDGEPoS has just made everything easier – it’s all in one system now.

Transactions are faster, the support is brilliant, and we’ve got much better control over things

Deborah Hubery, Retail Customer Service Assistant, at Certas Energy, feels safer at works thanks to new body worn cameras.

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Forecourts

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT JET customers are set to be treated to more fun and games this summer as the firm’s feel-good Wheel Spins game returns for another year.

Fronted by live sports broadcaster and content creator, Laura Barraclough, the game will be rolling out to service stations UK-wide.

Every spin guarantees a prize, with even more chances to win money off fuel. In fact, a whopping £1,200 worth of fuel was given away in just two days last April in Kent.

“Following the incredible reception to last year’s Wheel Spins, we knew we had to bring it back for a second run,” says Áine Corkery, Manager, Brand, UK Marketing, Phillips 66 Limited. “As a driverfirst business, we’re always looking for new ways to celebrate JET customers – and what better way than with random acts of joy through initiatives like this.”

Next up, Wheel Spins is heading to four sites in north Wales – marking the game’s first-ever visit to the country – giving drivers the chance to win prizes including dashcams, branded merchandise, rubber ducks, up to £50 off fuel and more.

Since launching in summer 2023, Wheel Spins has visited 32 JET sites – handing out thousands of pounds worth of prizes and generating millions of views across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Wheel Spins is part of JET’s Forecourt Entertainment programme, which also features Car Boot Jackpot – a ball-pit treasure hunt.

like reporting and wastage. It’s been a really positive change for us.”

STEPPING UP SECURITY Technology investments are also having an incredible impact on safety and security within forecourts.

Independent fuel and lubricants distributor, Certas Energy, which operates a national network of Gulf forecourts, has put staff safety at the forefront by investing more than £47,000 in almost 100 body-worn cameras for workers at its manned sites.

The kit has proved highly successful in deescalating tense situations, with almost threequarters of staff (73%) reporting that customers are less aggressive since the cameras had been in use.

The bodycams were introduced after the firm conducted a staff survey, which raised a number of concerns around antisocial behaviour. A 48

SLR | AUGUST 2025

shocking 55% of respondents strongly agreed that a daily portion of their time was spent dealing with abusive behaviour, with the same amount claiming that they encountered one or more instances of physical or verbal threats per week.

The introduction of the devices resulted in a vast improvement, with employees unanimously agreeing that they felt more reassured wearing the devices.

Mark Harrington, Certas Energy Area Manager for the North East, says: “We want our staff to feel safe and be treated with respect.

Abuse should not be part of their working day.

We’ve found that simply the presence of the cameras – clipped to staff ’s polo shirts or jackets – has been a huge deterrent against antisocial behaviour and has gone a long way toward making staff feel safer.

“The cameras have helped my teams feel they aren’t powerless against antisocial behaviour and that there are steps they can safely take to help tackle it.”

The investment in the cameras and associated software was made following a successful three-month trial. The body cameras record in 15-minute intervals and only when switched on

by staff when an incident is occurring or about to occur. Since the introduction of the body cameras across Certas’s company-owned estate there has been an immediate drop in safety incidents and a significant boost in staff comfort levels when on shift.

Almost three-quarters (73%) of staff also agreed that the cameras provided them with reassurance of the ability to provide evidence of incidents and allegations.

The body cameras are also helping staff to tackle shoplifting head on. An anonymous staff member who took part in the trial says: “During the period with the body cams, the way people talk and interact with me and my colleagues has improved and customers are more polite.

I believe that it also helps to reduce violence against us and makes thieves think twice.”

Gareth Payne, Head of HSE and Engineering at Certas Energy, said: “Introducing body cameras is a huge milestone in our ongoing health and safety journey at Certas. It’s something we invest heavily in for the benefit of our people and customers.

“On a more personal note, to see the difference in our staff, the improvement in their comfort level and confidence is priceless.” www.slrmag.co.uk

Feature

Smoking Alternatives

VAPE BAN WINNERS AND LOSERS Get the inside track on what’s hot and what’s not with our exclusive Talysis data.

W

hen legal sales of disposable vapes were stubbed out on 1 June, Scotland took a hard hit, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to prosper. Our exclusive data from Talysis highlights exactly how the Scottish convenience market has been impacted and where the opportunities lie going forwards.

Vapes accounted for 17.2% of total Tobacco value sales in Scotland during the year to date (YTD) period from January to May 2025, with sales down -10.4% versus the same period a year ago. This is in line with overall UK performance, where vapes made up 17.8% of value sales, with sales down -10.8%.

However, when the single-use ban came into place, Scotland took a deeper cut than down south. In the four weeks to 28 June 2025, vapes value share has fallen to 13.9% in Scotland, with sales plummeting -33% versus a year ago.

The impact of the ban has been lower in the UK as a whole, where value share has fallen to 15.2%, with a smaller sales decline of -26%, notes Talysis.

SCOTLAND VAPES VALUE SHARE – JAN-MAY 2025

SCOTLAND VAPES VALUE SHARE – 4 W/E 28/06/2025

POD KITS PERFORMANCE Ahead of the ban, disposable vapes accounted for a massive three-quarters of value sales in Scotland (YTD May 2025), though sales were already in significant decline (-27%), as manufacturers switched to alternative products. Big puff 12ml pod kits were the second biggest subcategory with a 10.9% value share.

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Smoking Alternatives

FLAVOUR FIX

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Powered

by Talysis

Drilling down to SKU level, the top 20 vape products after the disposables ban accounted for over a quarter of value sales in Scotland. SKE had four out of the top five products. Lemon & Lime is the top flavour, followed by Cherry. The top two flavours were the same YTD to May on disposables, observes Talysis.

“Fruit remains the most popular flavour profile among adult smokers and ex-smokers, as supported by a recent Elfbar study of over 6,000 UK adults (conducted by Opinium in December 2024) – with two-thirds (68%) of vapers saying that a wide flavour variety helps them reduce their smoking or stay off tobacco, and almost half (48%) using fruit or other sweet flavours,” says Angelo Yang, Associate General Manager, UK, Elfbar.

“Among the bestselling Elfbar flavours in Scotland are Watermelon, Blueberry, and Blue Razz Lemonade. For Lost Mary, top performers include Pineapple Ice, Strawberry Ice, and Blueberry Sour Raspberry.”

Recognising the importance of flavour options as a key purchasing factor for customers, Imperial Brands has recently launched a range of new flavours for the blu pod line.

These pods are compatible with its rechargeable blu devices. Packs of two blu replaceable pods offer customers up to 2,000 puffs of intense flavours – 15 in total – including 11 new additions, such as Strawberry Ice, Kiwi Passionfruit, Mint, Triple Melon and more.

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AUGUST 2025 | SLR

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Feature

Smoking Alternatives

Fast-forward four weeks and we’re looking at a dramatically different landscape where small puff 2ml pod kits are now the dominant subcategory with well over a third (38.4%) of the market (4 w/e 28 June 2025). In second place are big puff 12ml pod kits with a 25.4% share. Pods is the third largest subcategory with an 18.7% share, while big puff 4-in-1 pod kits account for 7.9%.

“With the ban only recently having taken effect, it’s still too early to be completely sure on the impact,” says Andrew Malm, UK Market Manager for Imperial Brands. “What we can say is that the existing growth in the purchase and use of pod-based vapes has gathered pace due to the similar levels of convenience and extensive flavour choices when compared with disposable products.”

Guna Sud, the owner of the Racetrack convenience chain, which includes SLR Vaping Retailer of the Year Racetrack Wishaw, believes many consumers are opting for smaller puffs because they are a similar concept to the disposable offer. “I think that a lot of customers are stuck in their ways in the sense that if they were using a Crystal Bar before, they want to keep using [the compliant version of] that because they just know how it works, they’re happy with the brand, happy with the flavour,” he says.

However, in the longer term, he expects the market to shift towards big puff. “I think the growth in new customers will come from the bigger puffs. The saving for the customer is just much, much better. You can spend a fiver for a 600 puff, 54

SLR | AUGUST 2025

whereas you could spend a tenner and get a 10,000 puff. It’s just really educating that to customers, explaining to them the cost and the saving if they make the switch. That’s where we’re trying to use brand activations to make it even cheaper for the customer to try it.”

Concerningly, in the first four weeks after the ban, disposable vapes still accounted for 6.3% of total vape sales.

“We believe some bad actors will retain a supply of disposable vapes for consumers and, for those consumers who are still not aware of the ban, how will they know the product is illegal just from looking at it?” says Malm.

“We’ve heard stories in parts of the UK where illicit sellers are telling consumers that only certain types of disposables are now illegal. These bad actors are putting a countercommunication out there to confuse and poach shoppers with illegal products they are led to believe are compliant, so it’s very important to ensure consumers are educated.”

Guna claims that you don’t have to look far to find retailers selling disposables. “I could literally walk 200 yards to any of the stores [round here] and I’ll find non-compliant products still for sale. The ban should have been paired with 100 more [Trading Standards] boots on the ground just in Glasgow to come out and clamp down on everyone selling illicit stock on 1 June, but we just didn’t see that happening.

“I’m not aware of anyone having been visited by Trading Standards in Glasgow yet. I think until they start doing that, retailers will keep selling it.” www.slrmag.co.uk

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Smoking Alternatives

VAPE BRAND BATTLES

THE POWER OF POUCHES SCOTLAND ORAL NICOTINE BRAND Oral Nicotine has seen VALUE SHARE – 4 W/E 28/06/2025 very high growth in Scottish convenience, both before and after the disposable vapes ban, observes Talysis. Oral nicotine had a small value share in Scotland YTD to May (1.1%), with very high growth (+58%). It has seen a small increase in value share to 1.3% post the disposable vapes ban, with continued strong growth (+51%).

Insert Scotland Oral Nicotine Brand Value Share 4wk post ban The top five nicotine pouch brands accounted for 97% of value sales in Scotland in the YTD period to May. All of the key brands have seen very high growth, with overall sales up 58%. Post the disposable vapes ban, value sales have risen by 51%.

Topping the brand value share list for the four weeks to 28/6/25 is Velo with a 39.5% value share, then Nordic on 34.1%, Pablo is third with 11.4%, while Killa is fourth on 11.1% and Zyn accounts for 1.9%.

“Pouches are still growing for us,” says Guna. “We had a couple of months when they were stagnant, so I reached out to some brands like Killa and Pablo and they were doing activations in store like buy two, get one free and giving out merchandise. That’s helped.

“I think because of the ban we’ve also seen a jump in sales on pouches between May and June. We’ve seen about at least a 10% increase in pouches. There are a lot of brands selling pouches, but we don’t really bring them in unless we get customer requests. For us, the main brands are Killa, Pablo and Velo.”

Prianka Jhingan, Head of Marketing at Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) UK, says: “Our latest data shows total UK nicotine pouch sales to be worth just under £158m and growing by 71% YOY in volume terms [IRI Marketplace, Value and Volume sales, Time Period: w/e 11 May 2025]. Although more sales currently take place in the grocery channel, they are actually growing fastest in the convenience channel.

“In fact, our latest data show pouch sales have very nearly doubled in the last twelve months in convenience stores, with our own XQS selling particularly well in this channel, where it is already the fifthbiggest-selling brand, with huge potential for further growth. And remember, nicotine pouches offer attractive profit margins in general, but I’m pleased to confirm that XQS in particular offers one of the highest margins of all pouch brands, which is yet another reason to ensure you are well-stocked.”

“We are confident the ban on single use vape products represents a really good opportunity for nicotine pouch brands like XQS, as many next gen nicotine users are now looking elsewhere for different next gen products, and pouches offer an extremely credible alternative. This is largely because, unlike vapes, nicotine pouch users can enjoy them on public transport, at work, at sporting events, concerts or anywhere they like.”

In January STG introduced two new XQS flavours, Black Cherry and Citrus Cooling, and more recently, it has added three more with the introduction of Raspberry Blackcurrant, Strawberry Kiwi and Berrynana Twist.

June was a whirlwind adventure for vape brands.

In the four weeks ending 28 June 2025, the top 10 brands accounted for 93% of value sales of vapes in Scotland. SKE and IVG are the key brands, driving half the value sales, highlights Talysis, however both have seen a significant decline in value sales, down -34.4% and -21.6% respectively. They are by no means the biggest fallers though, with Elfbar diving -57.5%, sister brand Lost Mary slipping -44.7%, and Gold Bar sinking -93.5%.

SCOTLAND VAPES BRAND VALUE SHARE – 4 W/E 28/06/2025

SCOTLAND VAPES VALUE BRAND GROWTH – 4 W/E 28/06/2025

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DELICIOUSLY SWEDISH

FLAVOUR. ALL IN.

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Smoking Alternatives

IBIZA GIVEAWAY FROM XQS Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) UK’s nicotine pouch brand, XQS, is running a summer sampling campaign and offering consumers the chance to win a weekend in Ibiza.

Throughout July and August, XQS sampling teams will be live across the nation, giving away thousands of sampling sachets to consumers, with the winner selected at random on the 1st of September. Each sachet has a QR code which directs to a landing page, where consumers can enter a prize draw to win a trip to Ibiza or other prizes including Deliveroo gift cards and XQS merchandise.

Consumers simply scan the QR code and enter their details for a chance to win. The activation will further be supported on social media where consumers can sign up for a free sample sachet and enter the competition for a chance to win.

STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan, said: “It’s just over a year since we launched XQS, but it’s off to a flying start and is already the fifth-biggest pouch brand in the convenience channel, with eight flavours already in the portfolio and more to follow. This exciting summer sampling campaign will help get even more cans into hands, with a motivating prize of a trip to Ibiza. Welcome to the summer of XQS!”

Elfbar and Lost Mary recently launched reusable versions of their most popular singleuse devices. The Elfbar 600 Prefilled Pod Kit has replaced the Elfbar 600 and the Lost Mary BM600 Prefilled Pod Kit succeeds the BM600.

Both are rechargeable and use prefilled pods.

The Lost Mary BM6000, a reusable device that the firm claims has quickly become a best-seller in the high puff count category, has also been updated to meet new regulations. “With Circana sales data showing demand for high puff count devices continues to grow, the refreshed version ensures retailers have continued access to one of the category’s strongest performers,” says Angelo Yang, Associate General Manager, UK, Elfbar.

While some big vape brands have been wounded by the single-use ban, a number of newer brands have shot through the ranks. Pixl, which only launched in June 2024, enjoyed off-the-chart growth to become the third-topselling vape brand with an impressive 13.5% share, while Higo rocketed 238% to fifth place with a 7.1% share.

ABOUT TALYSIS Talysis specialises in the analysis, interpretation and application of retail sales data within FMCG categories.

Currently working with some of the biggest names in retail and manufacturing across Ireland and the UK, Talysis helps brand owners, retailers and wholesalers to capitalise on their data and maximise their sales. Its bespoke application of data is what sets Talysis apart, providing clients with actionable insights to make strategic decisions & interventions.

TALYSIS.CO.UK

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VUSE Ultra | B.A.T

Advertising Feature

INTRODUCING THE NEW VUSE ULTRA After 11 years of being at the forefront of vaping innovation, Vuse has raised the bar once again with our most advanced vaping experience yet.

Vuse Ultra is aimed at the discerning vaper; The sort of people that follow their own path, and never the herd. They’re on a journey and they want to enjoy every step of it, their way. We call them ‘Best Life Explorers’, and by stocking the Vuse Ultra you’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the months to come.

Smart inside and out, the Vuse Ultra comes with a range of exciting new features that seamlessly blend the latest technologies and personalisation to deliver a truly elevated vaping experience.

Vuse Ultra has been thoughtfully designed to be compatible with existing Vuse Extra Intense Flavour pods and new Vuse pods, including the new Ultra Smart pods. Every Vuse Ultra Smart pod contains a smart chip, which helps to detect your flavour selection and accurately optimises your flavour settings.

ULTRA FLAVOUR Flavour AutoTune™ Introducing our breakthrough technology that recognises flavour selection and adjusts a device’s heat, power and intensity to deliver the perfect vaping experience every time.

FlavourBoost™ Yet another new feature, FlavourBoost can be activated with the touch of a button to unleash a more intense experience with more flavour satisfaction.

As you would expect, there is a range of brilliantly crafted flavours to choose from, some returning favourites, such as Chilled Mint, as well as some new flavours such as Mango Calamansi and Dragon Fruit Pomegranate, which are sure to get your customer’s taste buds buzzing. If some of these flavours are not available simply speak to your local BAT sales representative.

ULTRA PERSONAL CloudControl™ Customers can choose the flavour intensity they want, by switching between low, medium or high intensity modes on their device or by fine-tuning their preferred intensity.

ClearView™ is a display that gives customers intuitive control in the palm of their hand, to monitor vape performance, check e-liquid levels, monitor battery power and adjust flavour levels.

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MYVUSE APP With the MyVuse app customers can take their vaping experience to the next level by connecting their device to their smartphone to enjoy a range of features that give them greater control.

PUFFCONTROL™ Customers can now decide how much they want to vape by using PuffControl to set themselves a puff limit. Their Ultra device will then give them a gentle reminder when they reach it.

AUTOLOCK™ This feature allows customers to keep their vape out of the wrong hands and Ultra secure, giving them peace of mind.

The Vuse Ultra device comes with all the accessories needed to get going (except pods), including removable battery, USB-C charging cable and user Guide.

From 01/07/2025 stock the new Vuse Ultra and allow your customers to discover our most advanced vape yet whilst you discover greater footfall, sales and ROI. For more info please visit vapermarket. co.uk/vuse_ultra

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Feature

CERAMIC COIL INNOVATION Republic Technologies (UK) Ltd has released a ‘Smarter’ vape range incorporating new technology (patent pending).

The Smarter range comprises the compact Smarter Mini (RSP £9.99, 120g), which provides up to 800 puffs per replaceable pod. The Mini incorporates a replaceable, longer-lasting ceramic coil (as opposed to a mesh coil) which sits outside the pod.

Meanwhile, the long-lasting Smarter 6K (RSP £12.99, 103g) enables users to enjoy up to 6,000 puffs per refill, with a 2ml + 10ml rechargeable tank.

Smoking Alternatives

“SKE is our top seller, followed by IVG, then Pixl at number three,” says Guna, who has been working closely with several suppliers to create in-store activations where reps can educate consumers on alternatives to disposables.

“We’ve had Pixl reps in store before and after the ban doing activations, pushing the compliant product.

“Higo has seen phenomenal growth,” he adds.

“It’s flying out. For the last two weeks just one Higo SKU was outselling every other brand [at Racetrack]. The brands that have brought new devices out the soonest, they’re the ones that performed the best.

“For us, Lost Mary is probably sitting right down at the bottom. We’ve not done as much work with Lost Mary and Elfbar; the promo push has been on other brands.”

Hyola is one such brand. “Last week, we had Hyola in store and they were running their device at half price,” he explains. “If they sell the kit half price, then the following weeks after that we’re seeing massive growth in the pod for that kit, and that’s why they’re running it.”

Since the ban, Hyola has jumped up the top 10 brand list from number 10 to number seven with a 2.5% value share, highlights Talysis.

Gold Bar, which held a 5.8% share in the year to May, has slipped down to just 1.5% in the first month of the ban. “Gold Bar really lost its market here,” says Guna. “They had their 600 puff, which was already dwindling in sales before the ban, and they never replaced it with another [compliant] version.”

The last four weeks to June 28 have seen Blu climb into 10th place with a 1.2% value share of the vape market. “Before the ban, many retailers had already made the decision to prioritise stocking compliant alternatives, such as our blu bar kit,” says Malm. “With an impressive 1,000

puffs per pod, the blu bar kit provides customers with a rechargeable and reusable vape device which offers the same flavour experience and similar convenience that existing disposable vape customers prefer.”

The success of blu bar kit has also driven a further product launch with the introduction of the blu box kit (see box-out), which caters to the one in four disposable vape customers who prefer a box format vape device, claims Imperial Brands.

Even though many of his customers have already transitioned over from disposable vapes, activations have now become a core part of Racetrack’s smoking alternatives offer. “I don’t believe we lost any vape customers,” says Guna.

“We’ve probably grown a bit in customer base just because we were educating people and we’ve had these reps in talking to customers and doing the giveaways.

“People expect now coming in here that there’s going to be a deep promo. But that’s good because it brings them into the store every week.

They’re trying new items, but it means we’ve got to work harder with the brands to ensure we’re giving good promos as well.

“We need to keep that promo lineup going really well otherwise they might not come back.”

On the whole, Guna is relieved that the ban has come into action and that consumers are adapting to the new normal.

“Ignoring the sales jump we had in May for panic buying – we’re up 5% from April,” he says. “Now that the ban is in place, we’re much happier. We’ve got more compliant devices and the rest of the brands have caught up, so we’re feeling better now. We’re back to picking and choosing, analysing sales and seeing what’s not performing and what can we replace with what.

It’s back to business.”

IMPERIAL BRANDS TICKS THE BOX The blu box kit from Imperial Brands is a compact ‘box style’ rechargeable vape device with a durable, brushed metallic finish. The blu box kit also features liquid level visibility so customers can easily see when to visit their local store for more replacement blu pods. Like the blu bar kit, it offers 1,000 puffs of intense flavour per each individual prefilled, replaceable blu pod and a rechargeable 560mAh battery.

The new kits, which include a blu box rechargeable vaping device and 1 x blu pod, are available in three flavour options: Strawberry Ice, Lemon Lime and Mint. The kits carry an RSP of £5.99 each, providing a competitive vaping solution for today’s next generation nicotine market.

The blu box kit is also compatible with the entire range of blu pod flavours, helping customers as they transition to alternative products after the disposable vape ban. The blu pod packs include 2 x blu pods to deliver 2,000 puffs per pod pack, with an RSP of £5.99 per pack.

Imperial Brands anticipates it will be popular with adult vapers in the 20-30 age group, particularly female customers who prefer discreet devices which fit within the palm of their hand.

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UTC

SANDO-MONIUM

FLIGHT OF FANCY

Under The Counter was predictably underwhelmed by Marks & Spencer’s recent foray into fruit-based food to go.

Launching just in time for Wimbledon last month, the limited-edition Strawberry & Crème Sandwich (actually half a sandwich, as UTC was quick to point out) boasts sweetened bread, sliced strawberries, and a whipped cream cheese filling. Directly inspired by the ‘fruit sandos’ found in Japanese c-stores, it’s basically TikTok bait wrapped in a £2.80 price tag.

While the launch left many food-to-go retailers rolling their eyes so far back they could see into their stockrooms, others banged out their own versions.

Meanwhile, Spar Scotland ripped the proverbial out of the posh piece.

“We don’t do things by half sandwich round here. If a pie

Under The Counter has a hot travel tip for any retailers heading stateside this summer: your Costco membership card may bag you some mega packs of bog roll, but it won’t get you on a plane.

This may sound like common sense, but apparently – unlike the Auld Boy – it’s not common enough.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently had to issue a public reminder that a Costco card is not a valid form of identification under new REAL ID regulations.

Yes, REAL ID. As in, not imaginary. Not your gym pass. Not that Blockbuster Video card you found festering at the back of a drawer.

A REAL ID is a federally compliant, if somewhat shouty, form of identification that keeps Homeland Security happy. To make it easier for the hard of thinking to recognise, it’s got a wee star on it, not a barcode that gets you cut-price croissants.

The TSA, clearly at the end of its rope (and probably a long shift rooting through all manner of unsavoury suitcases), posted: “We love hot dogs and rotisserie chickens as much as the next person, but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not.”

So that’s that cleared up. But the real (not REAL) mystery remains: who started this wholesale-sized whopper in the first place?

Was it a rogue Makro employee? Or just some deluded soul who really, really wanted to board a flight with nothing but a 64-pack of muffins and nae passport?

Either way, the Auld Boy’s advice is simple: if your ID gets you free samples, it probably won’t get you through airport security.

can go on a roll, then strawberry tarts are fair game,” it gleefully declared, accompanied by a picture of a strawberry tart inside a morning roll that is strangely reminiscent of the Rolling Stones’ logo.

As discussed, the Auld Boy was having precisely none of the latest culinary craze.

“Fruit on a sandwich? That’s not innovation – that’s Tuesday in a 1970s lunchbox,” he scoffed.

“Anyone who’s ever mashed a banana between two slices of Mother’s Pride knows the script.

And this Strawberry & Crème stunt? It’s just a pimped-up piece on jam with a marketing degree.”

And if you seek the ne plus ultra of sweet sandwiches then look no further than a rare treat from UTC’s childhood – rationing restrictions permitting, that is – the piece on sugar.

STOATER OF A MAN CAVE Under The Counter loves his beer, but not as much as this boy.

Iain Mason, a youthful 55-year-old from East Kilbride, has just been named as Scotland’s biggest beer lover after a nationwide search conducted by Aldi.

He’s smiling not only because he’s just won a year’s supply of beer from the discounter, but also because he’s stood pictured – not in a pub – but in what used to be part of his garage.

Living miles from the nearest watering hole, Iain decided – as you do – to spend four months transforming the space where lawnmowers go to die into a cosy 13sq m bar named Stoaters.

And all made from recycled materials sourced for next to nothing.

The Auld Boy has but one question for Iain: when can he pop round to Stoaters for a quick – ahem – “interview”?

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