SLR April 2021 edition.

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More than meets the eye!

B awarrand eness Our delicious snowballs and teacakes have been family favourites for 90 years. Following 2019's TV campaign, awareness is at its highest level ever, with 76% of Scots surveyed saying they liked Lees Snowballs and 44% buying Lees products every month.

There’s never been a better time to stock up.

Scotland loves Lees

76%

**

of Scots like Lees Snowballs

01236 441 600

sales@leesofscotland.co.uk *Source: JLral. Post TV Campaign Evaluation- Sept 2019 **Refers to Scots who viewed the 2019 TV ad

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JOHN LEE

SGF discusses the ‘20 minute neighbourhood’

DAVID JINKS APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 216

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Is ‘consumer-tomanufacturer’ another threat?

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SGF MANIFESTO

SGF unveils election wish list

RECYCLED BRU

Irn-Bru to go 100% recycled

HEATED DEBATE

IT’S TIME TO DO RAJ PROUD

Heated tobacco grows 270%

Retailers encouraged to redouble community efforts this month in honour of retailing legend Raj Aggarwal.

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April 2021

Contents

Contents ISSUE 216

NEWS p6 p7 p8 p10 p11 p12

p18 p20

Deposit Return Scheme Circularity Scotland confirmed as the scheme’s administrator.

National Lottery Local retailers dismayed as Aldi announces a UK-wide National Lottery roll-out/ Charity Industry throws its weight behind last month’s GroceryAid Day awareness-raising event.

Charity Scotmid donates £10,000 to the Scottish Association for Mental Health.

Sustainability Four-week refit and new chillers sees SPAR Coylton cut carbon emissions by 22%.

News Extra Post Office Elections get underway to find two Postmasters to sit on the PO’s Board as NonExecutive Directors.

Product News Walkers unveils a fun new look and Rustlers reveals tailored food-to-go solutions.

Off-Trade News Absolut taps into the watermelon trend while Havana Club spices up the rum market.

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INSIDE BUSINESS p22 Charity #DoAsRajWouldDo English Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore will launch a UK-wide charity fundraising week this month in memory of industry legend Raj Aggarwal. p24 Politics Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections, SGF spells out five key retail problems for the next Scottish Government to solve. p29 Consumer to manufacturer purchasing Are new apps that let shoppers club together to buy direct from manufacturers at reduced prices a threat to retailers? p31 Confectionery Perfetti Van Melle Bringing confectionery to life in-store. p32 Hotlines The latest new products that suppliers want to see on your shelves. p62 Under The Counter The pick of this year’s April Fools gags keep the auld boy underwhelmed.

FEATURES p34 Fascia Guide Your guide to choosing the right partner for a changed world. p44 Summer Drinks New trends like larger formats and health and wellbeing set to shape summer sales. p50 Tobacco Unlocking growth in a resilient category. p56 Crisps & Snacks Big and value drive the agenda.

ON THE COVER p16 Do the right thing this month by joining in a nationwide community initiative in memory of Raj Aggarwal.

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News DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME Administrator confirmed

Unitas gets appy on delivery Unitas Wholesale has announced a new partnership with home delivery and click & collect platform APPY SHOP. This will provide Unitas Wholesale members and retailers the ability to link up with the APPY SHOP platform, with the first stores offering these services already live.

New PVM MD Confectionery giant Perfetti Van Melle has welcomed Jonny Briscoe as its new UK MD, heading up the British arm of the business from this month.

Briscoe joins from Mondelez where he was MD for Northern Europe and will oversee the company’s plans to accelerate growth across its portfolio with

Circularity Scotland appointed DRS scheme administrator Circularity Scotland has been confirmed as the administrator that will oversee operation of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) when it launches in July 2022.

The not-for-profit body represents a combination of over 20 drinks producers, trade associations and retailers; it will work with companies throughout the supply chain – from producers through to hospitality, wholesalers and retailers – to deliver a system that is expected to collect at least 90% of drinks containers across Scotland.

The DRS will require consumers to pay a 20p deposit when they buy a glass bottle, can or PET plastic container.

The money is then reimbursed when the empty containers are returned, contributing to a circular economy.

Both the Scottish Grocers Federation and the Scottish Wholesale Association are members of Circularity Scotland.

SGF boss Pete Cheema said: “Convenience stores in Scotland are absolutely central to the successful

operation of the scheme. Their participation will ensure an efficient and truly Scotland-wide DRS. We look forward to working collaboratively with all our colleagues at Circularity Scotland.”

Colin Smith, SWA Chief Executive, added: “Where, as wholesalers help to restock, restart and rebuild our hospitality and retail customers on the high streets and city centres, we do so knowing this huge commitment has been made towards a greener recovery and that complements our industry’s own decarbonisation plans.”

insight-led NPD and a £4m marketing spend throughout the year.

News freezes Direct Delivery Charge News UK has frozen its Direct Delivery Charge review until December 2021 to support retailers in the fall out from the global pandemic. News UK had frozen the charge until May but has now decided to extend that to a 12 month freeze.

Mail margin bonus for retailers Retailers welcomed the recent 10p increase on weekday editions of the Daily Mail which sees margins maintained at 22.3%. This means that when the cover price rose to 80p on Monday (March 29), stockists started earning 17.85p per copy sold – an extra 2p.

Deliveroo fails to deliver on Stock Exchange Deliveroo shares plunged 30% on its stock market debut after major investors were concerned over its ‘gig economy’ worker model. Shares were offered at £3.90 each, but dived in early trading to £2.75p.

TRADING Could supermarkets be forced to shut on 1 January?

Usdaw secures Ne’er Day trading consultation Retail trade union Usdaw has secured a commitment from the Scottish Government to consult on large stores closing on New Year’s Day. The union submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament and spent a year providing evidence to convince the Public Petitions Committee to press Ministers to make progress on a consultation.

Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn MSP has now confirmed that the Scottish Government will conduct the necessary consultation, as set out in the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007.

However, no timetable has yet been set for the consultation.

The 2007 Act prohibits Christmas Day trading in most large stores and gave the Scottish Government the power to stop the same shops opening on New Year’s Day as well. However, Ne’er Day closing has never been enforced.

Stewart Forrest, Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer commented: “Confirmation that a consultation on large stores closing on New Year’s Day will now take place, after an unnecessary 14 year delay, is a step forward in our campaign to get a proper break for shopworkers over the festive period. We are disappointed that the Minister has not set out a timetable for the consultation and we will continue to press for further progress.”

Forrest urged the Scottish Government to open the consultation as soon as possible, so that legislation was in place for 1 January.

TECH

Jisp teams up with Bestway and unveils brand ambassadors Bestway is officially making Jisp’s technology available to all its retail partners and corporate stores following a successful trial.

Dawood Pervez, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, said: “We are delighted with the results of the pilot scheme, which forms part of our commitment to our customers through supporting our retailers with service and innovation that is relevant and drives value into their business.”

The shopping and payment app has also launched a Brand Ambassador initiative to increase sales for convenience stores that use the platform and further boost engagement with customers.

Selected individuals who share their Jisp referral codes on social media will get a £2.50 reward for every person signing up and placing an order through the app.

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News LOTTERY ‘Stab in the back’ for local retailers

Dismay as Aldi plans Lottery rollout

WooHaa fails Craft brewer Wooha Brewing Company has been placed

News that Aldi is set to roll the National Lottery out into all its stores has been met with dismay and concern by local retailers.

Following a successful trial in a small number of stores in the north of England, the discounter will introduce National Lottery units at checkouts by the end of June.

Customers will have access to the full suite of draw-based games including Lotto, EuroMillions, Lotto HotPicks, EuroMillions HotPicks, Set For Life and Thunderball.

Jenny Blogg, Retail Director at Camelot, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to now be working with Aldi. Making The National Lottery available in its stores has been a priority for us as we continue to make playing The National Lottery as

convenient and easy as possible for people.”

The independent retailing sector, however, has been left stunned by the decision. NFRN National President Stuart Reddish said: “This move will dilute sales across the whole retail estate. The more products available in the multiple outlets, the less likely National Lottery players will visit their local independent retailer to pick up their tickets or scratchcards.”

Edinburgh Premier retailer Dennis Williams described the move as “a stab in the back” for independent retailers who have done so much for communities across the UK in the last 12 months.

Dennis said: “We’ve worked ourselves to the bone and risked our lives to serve our local communities

into administration, caused by “unsustainable cash flow problems”. Twelve staff have been made redundant.

BFF goes online The British Frozen Food Federation has announced that its annual Business Conference on 19-23 April will take place

– and this is the thank you we get?

“I also don’t understand why Aldi would want to stock anything that only offers 4% margins and I don’t think they realise how much time it’s going to take to process all those Lottery transactions in-store. Aldi is all about speed of service and having a Lottery terminal at every checkout is going to cause bedlam, I reckon.”

online, due to Covid. The Business Conference has been broken down into five 2-3 hour sessions, each covering a different theme.

Boots down 18% Like for like retail sales at Boots fell by 17.9% year-on-year as Covid-19 restrictions impacted footfall at stores in the UK. Oline sales rose by 105% in the three

CORONAVIRUS £100k available for struggling retailers

WHOLESALERS

NFRN Hardship Fund: help is still at hand

months to 28 February, however,

Sugro unveils Sample Boxes

as the retailer continued to

Sugro has launched a new Sample Box initiative, to help its members make purchasing decisions and let suppliers get feedback on NPD. The move, in collaboration with Sugro member Approved Food, is also intended to drive core ranges and utilise gap fill opportunities.

The Sample Box will allow wholesalers to touch, smell and taste newly-launched products as well as maximise sales. They will be supplied, prepared, packed securely and despatched for next day delivery by Approved Food.

Andy Needham of Approved Food said: “I’m sure members and suppliers alike will appreciate the fantastic new products that will be delivered on a regular basis going forward.”

3.2% in the period.

Independent news and convenience retailers are reminded that the NFRN Covid-19 Hardship Fund is still available for those who are experiencing financial difficulties caused by the pandemic.

The fund was set up last year shortly after the first lockdown was announced.

Thanks to generous donations from branches and districts, as well as partner organisations, the fund reached a fantastic total of £250,000.

So far, £150,000 in grants has been paid to 120 members who have struggled financially through no fault of their own – which means £100,000 is still available.

One member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It has helped us enormously by enabling us to pay outstanding bills. It has provided us with some breathing

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space during this difficult time, which is very much appreciated. Once again, thank you for your help.”

NFRN National President Stuart Reddish said: “While some members have actually flourished during the Covid pandemic, others have seen their businesses decimated by having to close their doors for months or have had their footfall drastically reduced because of their location.

“I understand that our members are proud business people and may be reluctant to ask for help, but we all need help sometimes. The NFRN is a community, and we exist to help each other. If your business has suffered as a result of these unprecedented times, I urge you not to wait until it’s too late and apply for a grant now.”

Visit thefedonline.com to apply.

gain market share in the beauty category. Boots like for like pharmacy sales increased by

More Unitas Category Guides Unitas Wholesale has launched the two latest additions to its Plan for Profit category guides for 2021, focusing on the core range for the key Impulse and Grocery, Non-Food, Chilled & Frozen categories. Printed versions are available in selected Unitas Wholesale member depots or digital versions can be found at www.planforprofit.co.uk and via the Plan for Profit app which is available to download on Google Play or the App Store.

Minimum wage up Increases to the the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage are now in effect. The National Living Wage increased by 2.2% increase to £8.91 with 23 and 24-year-olds eligible for the first time. In addition the National Minimum Wage rose across all age bands.

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News CHARITY Over 200 companies get involved

John Lewis closures John Lewis will not reopen eight of its stores once lockdown eases, putting some 1,465 jobs at risk. The retailer said some locations could not sustain a large store. The closures include four At Home shops in Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Basingstoke and Chester. Department stores in Aberdeen, Peterborough, Sheffield and York are also closing.

Spar online conference Spar UK will be hosting a Virtual Suppliers Conference on 27 May with the theme of People, Purpose & Passion. The event will be held on YouTube and will be an afternoon event.

Low risk appointment JTI has appointed Gemma

Industry gets behind GroceryAid Day Over 200 companies took part in GroceryAid Day on 2 March with the ‘We’re Here’ 2021 campaign reaching 6.25 million people.

This year GroceryAid adapted activity and assets ensuring that the industry could still reach colleagues whether they were working onsite or remotely. GroceryAid’s printed materials were featured in over 500 depots, factories and stores, and the digital assets created a great impact across the trade.

Supporters all played their part – from bake-offs, head shaves, motivational speakers & GroceryAid Day backgrounds for virtual team meetings – to share the support that is available to them through the charity.

GroceryAid has seen a steady increase in applications and calls

to its Helpline since the start of the year, from numbers that had already increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is important that as many grocery colleagues as possible know about the support that is available to them 24/7 365 days a year. The GroceryAid Helpline, website and live chat is available for colleagues in the form of emotional, practical and financial support. Please keep raising awareness for your industry charity throughout the year, this will mean colleagues in need can get the support who may have otherwise been missed.

Steve Barnes, GroceryAid Chief Executive, paid tribute to the organisations and individuals who took part. He said: “Thanks to the industry’s efforts our welfare team

is already seeing the impact with potential beneficiaries making contact who had not heard about GroceryAid and the support available before. We knew this year was going to be a challenging year for people to take part so notwithstanding that, what was achieved was simply incredible.” The GroceryAid Helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year on 08088 021 122.

Bateson to the position of Head of Reduced Risk Products.

Bateson has been with JTI since 2010 having previously held positions as Director for JTI Worldwide Duty Free’s Middle

SUSTAINABILITY Wholesaler cuts carbon footprint with new tech

CJ Lang charges towards sustainability goals

East, Africa and UK sectors, before moving to her most recent role as Corporate Affairs and Communications Director for Worldwide Duty Free.

Britvic Kickstart Britvic is creating 50 new workplace placements for young people, as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme.

Britvic will provide a six-month experience, designed to invest in the potential of young people who have faced difficulties because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Water achievement Nisa retailers have raised more than half a million pounds for a charity that helps to fund clean water projects. On World Water Day, it was revealed that since 2018, partners have raised a total of £514,000 for The One Foundation, contributing to the global initiative investing in clean water, sanitation and hygiene around the world. For every litre of own brand water sold, 3p goes

CJ Lang has further reduced its carbon footprint by upgrading its battery charging infrastructure to a more energy efficient solution.

The new hardware provided by Austrian company Fronius extends the service life of batteries and reduce energy consumption – resulting in lower operating costs and more sustainable in-warehouse logistics.

The SPAR Scotland wholesaler uses batteries to power the forklifts, picking trucks, pallet trucks and loading trucks that operate in its Dundee distribution centre.

The move aligns with CJ Lang’s established sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and follows the recent replacement of its mechanical handling equipment (MHE) fleet.

The company, which recently won a Scottish Green Apple Environment Award for Environmental Best Practice in 2021, now expects to reduce its CO2 emissions by 265,000 kg and reduce its energy costs and associatedbattery top up costs by around £100,000 over the next five years.

Colin Chapman, Distribution Director at CJ Lang said: “I like how Fronius’ charging concept aligned to our MHE replacement strategy and CSR programme. The energy efficiency and emissions reductions benefits were the main reasons for choosing the product alongside the quality of manufacturing and design.”

SHOPPER TRENDS

Brits ‘prefer c-stores to pubs and banks’ New research from PayPoint has found that a convenience store is one of top three most desirable local amenities, ahead of both a pub and bank branch.

The most desirable local amenity, according to a survey conducted on PayPoint’s behalf

by One Poll, is a Post Office.

The survey also revealed that two in three Brits think their convenience store has become more important to them over the past 12 months and 22% relied on it to supply essentials unavailable elsewhere (e.g. supermarkets) during lockdown.

More than a quarter of respondents (27%) said they will do more local shopping after lockdown has ended and Gen Z ranked the c-store as the most valuable local institution, higher even than pharmacies. Almost one-third (31%) met new people in the neighbourhood through a chat at the local shop and 17% are now on first name terms with store staff.

to the One Foundation.

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AND UNIMPROVED

BAC K F O R G OOD

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News CHARITY Vital information service gets boost

Jisp joins Collective C-Store Collective has announced all-in-one shopping app Jisp as its latest partner.

C-Store Collective works with

Scotmid gives £10k to support mental health charity

independent retailers to maximise their store and team performance through tailored business coaching and consulting, and will be recommending Jisp’s solutions, such as home delivery, click & collect and scan & go, to its retail partners.

Nisa meal deal returns Nisa’s Meal for Tonight promotion is back to help independent retailers serve up a great deal over the next few weeks. Nisa shoppers can buy a Co-op Stuffed Crust Cheese Feast or Double Pepperoni pizza, one side dish – Co-op Garlic Doughballs 12pk or British Spicy Chicken Poppers – and the choice of Cookies and Cream or Red Velvet flavour Gu Dessert Pots, all for

Scotmid has donated £10,000 to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to help support its mental health information service.

The service, which provides a phone and email signposting service for people seeking mental health information and support in Scotland, has become even more vital during

the coronavirus outbreak. Since the pandemic began, the charity has experienced an increased demand for information, one-to-one supportive conversation on anxiety, and mental health online resources.

The donation will help SAMH meet this growing demand by enabling it to expand its existing call and online service provisions. This will ensure more people who are feeling isolated, anxious and experiencing the negative impact of the pandemic have the necessary support, advice and contact they need.

Andy Simm, Director at Scotmid, said: “With more people calling mental health support lines than ever before, it’s vital that we do what we can to provide support to services such as SAMH. It is our hope that more people will be able to access

and receive the information and support they need.”

The SAMH Information Service is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays).

Call 0344 800 0550, visit the SAMH website or email info@samh.org.uk.

The convenience retailer is also currently processing applications from Scottish charities and community groups for its Community Connect funding. Nine successful groups across Scotland will receive a share of £75,000.

The funding is made possible through sales of single-use carrier bags in Scotmid stores. Money from each bag sale contributes to a pot which is then distributed through the Community Connect award scheme, with Scotmid Members voting on how the funding is distributed.

just £6. The promotion is running in stores until Tuesday 20 April and is supported by POS.

PayPoint pals with NFRN PayPoint has vowed to “reinvigorate” its relationship with NFRN following a positive meeting between PayPoint Chief Executive Nick Wiles and NFRN National President Stuart Reddish. Reddish described the meeting as “positive and constructive.” He added that PayPoint and the NFRN would work together on ways to help members make and save money.

Spar gets Snappier Spar Scotland is extending its partnership with home delivery app Snappy Shopper. Spar stores in Abronhill, Halbeath, Stonehouse and Glamis Centre in Glenrothes now offer customers in their local area a home delivery service with Snappy Shopper.

Spar Scotland CEO Colin McLean said: “A number of our stores have been successfully operating with Snappy Shopper and the service has being going from strength to strength. Snappy Shopper will make our stores

CHARITY Coins keep coming, despite rise of contactless

WHOLESALERS

Nisa retailers raise £100k with MADL charity collecting tins

UWG turns to PODFather for logistics solution

Nisa retailers have raised a milestone amount of over £100,000 for local causes to date with Making a Difference Locally collecting tins sited in their stores.

Funds were raised via more than 1,000 tins in stores across the UK and Ireland, for retailers to donate to a local good cause of their choice through Nisa’s charity.

Making a Difference Locally collecting tins allow Nisa partners to accumulate additional money into their MADL fund, and as a result provide further support to their local communities through charitable donations. Across all income streams, the charity has raised a total of more than £12.5m for good causes to date, with over 13,000 donations made over the last 13 years.

Kate Carroll, Nisa’s Head of Charity, said: “Despite customers generally moving towards using contactless payments for their shopping during the pandemic, income from collecting tins has

United Wholesale Grocers has installed PODFather logistics software to help plan routes, track deliveries, provide customer ETA notifications and capture electronic Proof of Delivery in real time.

The move has led to improvements in customer experience and delivery performance.

“Offering exceptional customer experience sits at the heart of everything we do,” said Tom Slaven, Retail Director at United Wholesale Grocers.

“With PODFather we knew we’d found the right solution to help us meet our needs, in terms of delivery planning, customer notifications and vehicle tracking, all packaged up in one system.”

Having moved from a paper-based planning process, the UWG team is seeing big benefits.

remained the same as shoppers look to donate any spare change while doing their bit for a good cause during difficult times.

“We’re thrilled that our partners and their customers have raised such a significant amount for local charities and community groups in this way, and it’s a brilliant example of how even small donations all add up and can make a huge difference to local communities.”

even more convenient.”

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News SUSTAINABILITY New fridges cut emissions by one-fifth

Everything’s cool in Coylton Independent retailer Chris McCallum has given his Spar store in Coylton a makeover. A four-week refit has seen the 2,300sq ft store benefit from new refrigeration to support a substantial range of soft drinks, chilled foods and produce as well as a growing number of chilled beers, ciders and wines.

Chris said: “We aim to keep the store up to date with the everchanging shopping habits of our customer base. Feedback so far is that it appears brighter and so much bigger, and the enhancement of the range has been really well received.

“The new fridges have allowed us to increase our fresh range, providing both a quick on-the-go snack and a complete evening meal solution.

“And more importantly working with Zero Waste Scotland and Energy Savings Trust the new refrigeration will reduce the store’s carbon emissions by 22%. Plus, we’ve installed new electric doors which will improve accessibility to all our customers.”

Customers can also now look forward to picking up new food-togo options in-store such as Costa Coffee, Tango Ice Blast, F’real frozen

milkshakes, Browning’s bakery products and Rollover hot dogs.

Mike Leonard, Sales Director for Spar Scotland, said: “The significant investment in this Spar Scotland store once again reflects the passion and dedication of our independent retailers. SPAR Coylton has been a key part of the community for 17 years and the investment in the store re-fit ensures that it reflects the needs of our customers.

“The new food-to-go services coupled with the excellent ranges will make sure that Spar Coylton is the place to shop. At Spar Scotland this futuristic approach very much embraces our ongoing commitment to redevelop our business through supporting both our independent retailers and by investing in our store estate. Chris is an excellent example of where we want our stores of the future to be – forever evolving.”

HEALTH Event spotlights pressures retail staff face

retailTRUST to champion shopworkers’ health and wellbeing Mental health advocate and former political aide Alastair Campbell is to headline a virtual event being run by retail industry charity retailTRUST to champion the health and wellbeing of retail workers. retailTRUST has brought together top industry leaders to speak at the ‘Championing the health of retail’ event on 10 and 11 May, including Morrison’s boss David Potts, ASOS’s CEO Nick Beighton and British Retail Consortium’s Chief Executive Helen Dickinson.

They will speak about the mental health pressures facing the UK’s more than four million retail workers following record demand for retailTRUST’s wellbeing and financial services over the last year, and the measures that can be taken to build hope, health and happiness for everyone working in the sector.

Registrations are now open for the free two-day event which will also feature Seasalt’s CEO Paul Hayes, John Lewis Partnership’s People Director Jo Walmsley and Brewdog’s President and CEO David McDowell among its speakers.

A range of panel sessions over the two days will look at the role of retailers in creating wellbeing. These will focus on areas such as coping with uncertainty, managing money worries and providing social purpose, with Alastair Campbell stressing why employers need to drive openness around mental health.

Visit retailtrust.org.uk/forthefour to register for the free event.

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To get regular updates on the project, follow SBF GB&I on Twitter at @suntorybf_gbi

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News Extra

Post Office Board Elections

NewsExtra DAN BROWN RELEASES HIS FIRST ALBUM... P62 POST OFFICE Two Postmasters to join Post Office Board

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF Thankfully, Scotland is gradually emerging from lockdown. However, it remains to be seen to what extent we will ever go back to business as usual. There are already moves afoot to re-engineer our towns, cities, and the retail landscape itself. Work is already underway on the Scottish government’s Retail Strategy and several other concepts and initiatives are gaining support from policy and decision makers.

One of these concepts is something called the 20-Minute Neighbourhood.

This is deliberately aimed at bringing about a ‘shift from business as usual’ by encouraging localism and ensuring that key services (and jobs) are within easy reach of people in communities – ideally these services should be accessible within a 20-minute walk.

The idea is given a prominent place in the current program for government, spurred on by the need to respond to the impact of the pandemic. It seems that significant funding – perhaps up to £55m – will be made available in 2021/22 to make things happen.

It’s clear that local convenience stores would have a central role to play in this. Let’s be honest: there have been gains for the convenience sector – achieved by a massive effort – with a big move towards local shopping.

This new idea of the 20-Minute neighbourhood potentially offers a way of building on this. There are always problems with getting involved in these governmentdriven initiatives, but the reality is that once these ideas move into policy, we simply cannot afford not to get involved. We need to shape them for the benefit of retailers.

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Elections for postmasters to sit on PO board underway As the nation reveals its love for the Post Office, six Postmasters are battling it out for two Non-Executive Director seats on the company’s Board and the opportunity to have their say on how the company is run.

Six serving Postmasters are contesting the first-ever election to become Non-Executive Directors on the Post Office Board.

Voting ran until 9.30am on 12 April. The electorate, made up of around 8,000 serving Postmasters as well as multiple partners, were able to select up to two candidates.

The appointments are part of the PO’s fence-mending in the wake of the Horizon IT scandal, as it bids to put Postmasters at the front and centre of the business.

It may be working hard to capture the hearts and minds of Postmasters, but it seems the Post Office has already won over the public. New research from PayPoint has revealed that a Post Office is the most desirable local amenity, ahead of a pharmacy.

Convenience stores came third in the poll, which must be great news for shops that have a Post Office in-store.

Contesting the election for two seats on the Board are: Q Lee Dearn, Postmaster for Sydenham, Belfast Q Mukhtar Goraya, operates two Post Offices in London and Kent Q Saf Ismail, operates six Post Offices in the north-east of England Q Elliot Jacobs, operates seven Post Offices in London and Hertfordshire Q Jasbir Parmar, Postmaster for Kempston, Bedfordshire Q Sarabjeet Soar, Postmaster for Styvechale, Warwickshire.

Key to the success of these appointments is the governance put in place to ensure a transparent and independent selection process.

Initial applications were scrutinised by independent recruitment specialists Green Park. Twelve candidates were put forward for interview to an independent panel comprising leading industry figures James Lowman, CEO, Association of Convenience Stores; Shirine Khoury-Haq, CFO at the Co-op Group; and Jean Church MBE, Council Member at the Institute of Directors. The panel shortlisted the final six candidates.

Nick Read, Chief Executive of the Post Office, said: “Having two serving Postmasters on our Board sends the clearest signal yet of our determination to ensure Postmasters really are at the heart of our business. I am encouraged by the calibre of the six highly qualified candidates and look forward to an open and robust campaign over the threeweek election period.

“To sit on the Board of any company carries great responsibility, a responsibility I know our Postmasters will be well placed to fulfil. I have been encouraged by the interest from Postmasters in applying and look forward to working with our two

new Non-Executive Directors.”

The election is being overseen

by Civica Elections Services who will count the number of valid votes cast for each candidate.

Voting is by means of a dedicated microsite to which serving Postmasters who are eligible to vote have been sent a unique link.

The site features video messages from the six candidates setting out why they should be elected.

The two candidates with the most votes will be put forward for approval by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy following confirmation that the nominations committee of the Board are also satisfied with the candidates.

The Post Office will announce the two successful Postmaster Non-Executive Directors at the earliest opportunity following that approval.

In keeping with the responsibilities Non-Executive Directors have in any business, the role requires balancing the interests of all customers and stakeholders (Postmasters), the business (Post Office Ltd) and the shareholder (UK Government) in promoting the interests of the company as a whole. The Postmasters appointed to the role will receive an extensive induction and training programme, covering the corporate and legal aspects of fulfilling the duties of a Non-Executive Director.

The successful Postmaster NEDs will formally join the Board following approval by the Secretary of State and their induction process. www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:41:15

Gin from Italy No.1 Super Premium Flavoured gin range*

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SLR April 2021_converted_AB_2_converted.indd 13

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09/04/2021 18:41:15

Comment

LET’S DO RAJ PROUD After what seems like an eternity, it finally feels as if we’re seeing some light at the end of the Covid tunnel. As restrictions gradually ease and we hold our breaths on the infection rates continuing to move in the right direction, it seems entirely fitting that local retailers across the UK this month have the chance to do a little something special to commemorate and celebrate one of their own who succumbed to coronavirus.

Raj Aggarwal will be known to many retailers in Scotland thanks to his larger than life personality, his infectious enthusiasm for life and his love of meeting other retailers, swapping stories and chewing the fat about all things local retailing. Raj also made a fair few visits to Scotland including, I’m delighted to say, for SLR as he judged the SLR Awards on more than one occasion. His experience of the sector together with his positive outlook on life made him a fantastic judge - and everybody that worked with him on those sessions came away with a smile on their face. Raj just had that effect on people.

So to lose him so prematurely, aged just 51, to coronavirus was traumatic for many. I also think that Raj’s sudden passing served as a real wake up call to our entire industry that this is a high risk sector to be involved in. Local retailers have literally risked their lives to keep communities across the country functioning, and that’s not a fact that gets enough recognition. And that’s precisely the point Raj’s wife Sunita made to me when we spoke recently.

She had just launched a new campaign encouraging all retailers to commemorate her late husband by redoubling their community efforts this month - but she was very clear that, for her, the real point of the campaign was “for retailers to give themselves a pat on the back”. She didn’t believe that the local retailing sector has had nearly enough recognition for its unbelievable efforts over the last year. And she told me that she hopes the #DoAsRajWouldDo campaign will help retailers think for a moment about their own efforts for a change and not just about the communities they’ve served so selflessly.

The campaign, of course, is typically Raj: do something special between 19 and 26 April for your local community. And we would enthusiastically encourage you to do just that. And do it in Raj’s name. But we would also ask you to honour Sunita’s wish - and take a little quiet moment that week that “give yourself a pat on the back” and find a way to say thank you to your team.

We can’t bring Raj back, much as we would love to, but we can all take part in this little commemorative project and try to keep some of the love going long into the future.

EDITORIAL Publishing Director & Editor Antony Begley 0141 222 5380 | abegley@55north.com Web Editor Findlay Stein 0141 222 5389 | fstein@55north.com Editorial Contributor Karen Peattie

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Robert Aitken 0141 222 5302 | raitken@55north.com

DESIGN Design & Digital Manager Richard Chaudhry 0141 222 5388 | rchaudhry@55north.com

EVENTS Events & Operations Manager Kirsty McDowall 0141 222 5383 | kmcdowall@55north.com

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Circulation Manager Cara Begley 0141 222 5381 | cbegley@55north.com Scottish Local Retailer is distributed free to qualifying readers. For a registration card, call 0141 222 5381. 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. 2021 ISSN 1740-2409.

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www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:41:17

Let’s create a great recycling experience.

ALLY EVERY B O MI GL

1M IL

E PURCHASE AR D ES

Get in touch to find out more: tcs.uk@tomra.com

TE U N

PLASTIC BOT TL ON LI

The deposit return scheme (DRS) is due to come to Scotland in July 2022.

Make it easy with TOMRA, the global leader in reverse vending technology.

Source: Global Packaging Trends Report by Euromonitor International (2017)

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Cover Story

#DoAsRajWouldDo

GO ON... DO AS RAJ WOULD DO THIS MONTH! English Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore is set to launch a fantastic UK-wide charity fundraising week this month in memory of late industry legend Raj Aggarwal.

“Please help keep Raj’s memory alive by supporting this campaign, supporting your community and making a difference to those who really need it.”

SUNITA AGGARWAL

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E

nglish Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore has unveiled plans for a fantastic week-long charity fundraising campaign in memory of the much-loved and greatly missed retailing legend Raj Aggarwal – and all Scottish local retailers are invited to play their part in their own communities.

A close friend of the team at Scottish Local Retailer and an all-round true gentleman, Raj sadly passed away from Covid-19 in April 2020 at the age of just 51.

Raj owned Spar stores in Wigston, Leicester, and Hackenthorpe, near Sheffield and his wholesaler is now set to honour his memory with a fundraising campaign between 19 and 26 April.

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Cover Story

#DoAsRajWouldDo

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“GIVE YOURSELVES A PAT ON THE BACK TOO!” - SUNITA AGGARWAL As well as offering support and help to those in your local community during the campaign, Raj’s wife Sunita is also encouraging all local retailers and their teams to give themselves a big pat on the back. She told SLR: “Yes, this a campaign to encourage retailers to support those in their local communities that need some help or assistance, but for me a huge part of the campaign is recognising the absolutely incredible role that retailers in Scotland and across the UK have already played in their communities over the last 12 months. What you have achieved is nothing short of unbelievable and you all deserve recognition and praise for that. Every community in the country owes you a massive ‘thank you’. So please give yourselves a huge pat on the back and know that you deserve every ‘thank you’ you get and your communities are so lucky to have you there for them.

“This campaign isn’t all about money. It’s about helping each other out when we need help. Yes, that might mean financial help but it could just as easily mean being there for someone who needs a shoulder to cry on or even just giving someone a big hug. I don’t think we ever truly appreciated the value of a hug until we couldn’t give or get one anymore.”

#DOASRAJWOULDDO

AF Blakemore is calling on convenience retailers in Scotland and across the UK to join its #SPARdoasRAJwoulddo and #doasRAJwoulddo campaign by donating to those most in need in their local communities.

Always at the heart of his stores’ communities, Raj was renowned for putting the needs of others first. His sense of charity was best demonstrated by his large charitable donations to the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester in March 2020. He was supporting his local NHS team at the beginning of the pandemic, when they needed it most.

Working with Raj’s wife, Sunita, the wholesaler aims to recognise and remember him for his commitment to helping others.

Sunita explained: “Raj was always doing things for other people, and he would love to know that he is still continuing to help others now. Please help keep his memory alive by supporting this campaign, supporting your community and making a difference to those who really need it.”

Retailers are being asked to ‘do as Raj would do’ by donating goods, supplies and products to the charities, organisations or individuals most in need within their communities.

Retailers will be invited to talk about what they are doing in Raj’s honour on social media, using the hashtags #SPARdoasRAJwoulddo or #doasRAJwoulddo to help inspire others.

A pioneer of the retail industry, Raj was a member of the Association of Convenience Stores’ Independent Retailer Board as well as AF Blakemore’s Meridian & Welsh Guild Board of retailers.

AF Blakemore’s charitable trust, the Blakemore Foundation, is also offering to match every charitable donation from independent Spar retailers across the Meridian & Welsh Guild up to the value of £200.

AF Blakemore Group Commercial Managing Director Jerry Marwood commented: “The feeling of sadness that has overwhelmed our team since hearing of Raj’s passing is testament to the role that he played in the life of our business.

“Please help continue Raj’s legacy by showing our neighbourhoods that convenience retailers truly do make a difference in the communities they serve.”

Q Donate goods, supplies and products to the charities, organisations or individuals most in need within your community.

Q Make a monetary donation at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ SomeoneSpecial/RajAggarwal1 Q Share what you are doing in Raj’s honour on social media using the hashtags #SPARdoasRAJwoulddo or #doasRAJwoulddo to help inspire others.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE CAMPAIGN IS AVAILABLE ON AF BLAKEMORE’S WEBSITE AT WWW.AFBLAKEMORE.COM/SPAR/DO-AS-RAJ-WOULD-DO

APRIL 2021 | SLR

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News

Products

Mackie’s rebrands Mackie’s of Scotland has undergone a major rebrand ias

ProductNews

it looks to scoop a larger share of the UK’s ice cream market.

The new simple, modern design, with a new curved logo set over a bigger dairymaid, celebrates the brand’s farm fresh real dairy credentials. The rebrand will be supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes on-pack promotions this summer and a new website.

Rollover Chicken Dogs launch in SPAR Scotland SPAR Scotland has got first dibs on Rollover’s new Chicken Hotdog, which is available exclusively in 100 stores around the country until 30 April. Served on a classic French baguette and with an RSP of £2.20, the new Rollover Chicken Hotdog is available from all CJ’s food-togo counters and a number of independent SPAR stores.

Batchelors Peas renews rugby league tie-in

IRN-BRU TO GO 100% RECYLCED PLASTIC NEXT YEAR P22 SNACKS Packaging refresh coincides with Comic Relief partnership

Walkers unveils fun new look Walkers is introducing a brandnew look across its core range of crisps, adding a splash of humour to tie in to its latest campaign, ‘When life gives you potatoes, make crisps’.

With clear signposting to Walkers’ use of British potatoes, new packs feature fun facts and history into the brand’s sustainable sourcing credentials, great taste promise and zero use of additives, artificial colours or preservatives. A QR code links through to the Walkers website, where people can find out more about Walkers’ environmental activities.

Fernando Kahane, Marketing

Director Walkers Snacks at PepsiCo, explained: “We harvest only the finest potatoes from over 80 farms around Britain and this is something we want to share with consumers. We understand that provenance and brand responsibility is very important to them.

“This fresh new look for Walkers forms part of our wider brand ambition to drive greater purpose. The launch of our new brand campaign is centred on inspiring the nation to turn everyday life adversities with a bite of levity and positivity.”

Batchelors Peas has renewed

BREAKFAST

its partnership with the Betfred

Scotland Women’s Team get their Weetabix

Super League for the sixth consecutive season. The partnership will see Batchelors continuing to drive category awareness through press competitions, money-can’t-buy prize draws and digital and social media activity. Fans will notice the brand featured across onpitch perimeter boards and on all official competition backdrops at more than 150 games.

Yoplait Kids and Team GB get Britain moving Yoplait Kids, from General Mills, is joining forces with Team GB ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, now being held in 2021.

A three-year partnership will see Yoplait Kids, with its Petits Filous, Frubes and Wildlife brands, become the official yogurt of Team GB. The seven figure campaign includes instore activations, on-pack promotions, social media activity with Team GB athletes, and a TV ad due to

Weetabix Food Company has become an Official Partner of the Scotland Women’s National Team and supporting activity will feature across all Weetabix-branded cereal products, including Oatibix.

From May, there will be a number of money-can’t-buy experiences available with the team, including attending open training sessions and winning signed shirts. These can be won as part of an on-pack promotion on the Weetabix range, along with tickets to international matches.

Gareth Turner, Head of Brand at Weetabix, said: “We’ll be working closely with our trade partners in Scotland to help them make the most of the opportunity. With unique and exciting experiences on offer for Scotland supporters as part of our on-pack campaign, we will be adding excitement in-store, driving footfall to the cereal aisle and raising awareness and visibility of the entire category.”

The brand has also teamed-up with Comic Relief in a long-term partnership to demonstrate the power that humour can have to positively influence mental wellbeing.

The collaboration launched with a ‘#WalkersTweetRelief ’ event last month, with Walkers donating £1 to Comic Relief for every positive tweet sent using the hashtag.

A new TV ad will follow alongside outof-home advertising and a social media campaign.

SNACKS

KP shrinks packs and names new sustainability boss KP Snacks has announced large-scale packaging reductions as it strives to meet its sustainability goals via the company’s Taste for Good responsible business programme.

Packaging for Hula Hoops has been cut by 23% – equal to 11 tonnes of plastic – whilst popchips and Tyrrells packaging are both down by 14%, or the equivalent of 23 and 43 tonnes respectively.

The reduction in packaging also has a knock-on effect for KP Snacks’ wider environmental impact; it allows the business to handle 33,000 fewer pallets per year and significantly reduce the number of journeys made by its lorries.

The company also recently appointed Nicola Robinson to the newly created role of Head of Sustainability, reporting to CEO Mark Thorpe.

hit screens in June.

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

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News

Products

Irn-Bru 1901 is back Barr Soft Drinks has made IrnBru 1901 a permanent addition to its core range. The full sugar, sweetener- and caffeine-free variant originally launched as

FOOD-TO-GO Kepak brand has something for everyone

Rustlers unwraps tailored food-to-go solutions

a limited edition in December

Micro-snacking brand Rustlers has launched four new food-to-go concepts that it says will provide “the perfect solution for every store”.

Working with micro market specialists Nebrak, the range includes four different options to help stores of all sizes take their food-to-go offer to a new level. Prices (which include delivery, set up and a POS kit) range from £250 to £450 + VAT for a branded microwave up to £1,790 + VAT for a 2.2m-wide multi-station that includes a branded microwave, mini fridge, sanitisation station, digital screen and bin area.

The microwaves are pre-programmed to cook the Rustlers SKUs and can be used to cook other hot food-to-go products for a cross-category solution.

recipe dating from 1901 that lay

“This launch is more than just equipment, we will be providing a full food-to-go solution,” said Ross Davison, Convenience Controller at Rustlers owner Kepak Consumer Foods. “We’ll work with each retailer on range recommendations and category advice.

“Rustlers’ in-store cooking solutions are proven to boost sales whilst removing any concerns over waste and the additional labour costs associated with food-togo counters. Shoppers simply select, purchase and heat the Rustlers product in store, meaning there is no risk of hot products going to waste.”

2019. The ‘old and unimproved’ Irn-Bru is made to a handwritten gathering dust in Barr’s archives for more than 100 years. It is available now in 750ml glass bottles.

Fieldfare freshens up Fieldfare has unveiled a new look that reflects the brand’s “bold new strategy to challenge the way consumers shop”.

The new look covers freezer livery, in-store sign posting and packaging. The rebrand is supported by intensive integrated marketing activity and a new website that highlights the brand’s heritage, expertise and

SUSTAINABILITY Egg-cellent news from Cadbury

FOOD-TO-GO Fresher for longer boxes debut

Mondelez waves goodbye Chicago to plastic windows Town unveils vegan NPD and new kit

benefits of using ‘scoop your own’ frozen products.

Biscuit category to hit £3bn, says pladis After a bumper year for biscuits, which demonstrated the strongest growth in more than five years, pladis predicts the category will touch £3bn by the end of the year. The forecast

Mondelez has removed over 6.4 million plastic windows from its chocolate eggs this Easter, taking 5.4 tonnes of plastic out of the environment while making empty packs easier for consumers to recycle.

The change means that the full Easter egg range, spanning Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Bournville, Fry’s, Green & Black’s, Maynard’s Bassets and Oreo is plastic window free.

The company also reviewed the cardboard cartons for its shell egg range and were able to remove a

further 108 tonnes of cardboard using 100% sustainably sourced cardboard. Mondelez has also continued its season-specific onpack recycling labelling, ‘Be A Good Egg’, across its entire Easter egg range to help people dispose of packaging correctly.

This move is part of the company’s ‘Pack Light and Pack Right’ strategy and its ongoing efforts to remove, reduce, replace and recycle packaging across its portfolio in support of its longterm vision of zero net waste packaging.

Chigaco Town has added a vegan Smokey Bac’n & Mushroom 10” takeaway stuffed crust pizza to its Pizza To Go range. It is topped with a smoked gouda alternative, crispy bacon style pieces, mushrooms and diced red onions.

The Dr Oetker brand has also developed a new counter-top solution that can hot hold up to 16 individual pizza quarters for three hours.

Self-serve packaging solutions have also been created including new whole pizza boxes which allow the pizza to stay fresh for up to three hours. The dedicated selfserve quarter slice holder has a perforated bag allowing the pizza to breathe while still retaining freshness and the cardboard sleeve protects the pizza.

came as the company launched its 2020 Annual Biscuit Review, which urges retailers to build on lessons learned during the pandemic to propel future growth. To request a copy, email csaba.babak@pladisglobal.com.

Salt & Vinegar Fish ‘N’ Chips sports new look Burton’s Biscuit Co. has given its Fish ‘N’ Chips Salt & Vinegar snack a packaging refresh to coincide with a busy sporting calendar over the next few months. Limited edition ‘Sport & Vinegar’ packs are available until September in a range of pack formats, including five-pack (5 x 25g), six-pack (6 x 25g) and 125g sharing bags. The launch is supported by wide-ranging social media activity, consumer promotions and in-store activity.

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News

Off-Trade

Lambrini rolls out RTDs Perry brand Lambrini has launched its first ever RTD

Off-TradeNews

cans, in four fruit flavours: Mango, Strawberry, Cherry and Rhubarb. All are ABV 4%, RSP at £1.50, have 99 calories and are available to order now. The latest additions to the Lambrini line-up

SUMMER DRINKS TRENDS IN FOCUS P44 FLAVOURED SPIRITS Pernod Ricard responds to surge in demand

Absolut taps into watermelon trend

have been created in response

With demand for watermelon-flavoured alcoholic drinks growing at a staggering 63% in the last year, Pernod Ricard has rolled out new Absolut Watermelon.

The launch is supported by consumer PR, content partnerships and influencer activity to engage with Absolut’s core audience of 18 to 34-year-old drinkers and demonstrate the versatility of the liquid through creative serve suggestions. Point of sale material is also available to retailers.

to growing consumer demand for convenience, whilst also tapping into trends for low calorie, low ABV ‘spritz’ drinks.

Speciality Brands adds Canadian craft spirits Speciality Brands has bagged exclusive UK distribution rights for Corby Spirit and Wine’s Lot No. 40 Canadian rye whisky, Pike Creek Canadian whisky and Ungava gin. The additions bolster Speciality’s existing portfolio of premium world

The new variant is fresh and fruity, with natural sweetness and no artificial flavouring.

It has a slightly reduced ABV of 38% for an enhanced flavour profile and offers less than 99 calories per 45ml serving.

Commenting on the new variant Chris Shead, Off-Trade Channel Director for Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Bursting with the refreshing taste of watermelon that creates the most delicious cocktails, Absolut Watermelon is primed to become this summer’s must-have drink.”

Absolut Watermelon is available now in a 70cl format from major wholesalers, with an RSP of £20.

whiskies and gins that already includes Nikka from Japan,

BEER ‘Buy one, get one tree’

Michter’s from Kentucky, Kavalan

GIN

from Taiwan and Canaïma gin

Beefeater captures the spirit of London

from Venezuela.

Two new Brothers as Cloudy Lemon returns Brothers Cider has expanded its range with the addition of new Pink Grapefruit and Honeycomb flavours. Pink Grapefruit delivers “a sweet citrus edge with a zesty burst of flavour”, and Honeycomb provides “a tantalising mix of unique honey flavours with a delicious mix of subtle sweetness”. The company is also bringing its Cloudy Lemon variant back, due to popular demand. All three are gluten free, vegan friendly and 4% ABV.

Citrus gin? They’ve only gone and Dunnet!

Dunnet Bay Distillers has released a citrus variant of its award-winning Rock Rose gin.

Rock Rose Citrus Coastal Edition (RSP £37.50) is described as “flavourful and fresh, zesty and with a bracing sea air finish”. The 41.5% ABV gin was originally created for Craft Gin Club members and was so well received the company is now

To coincide with the launch of a new bottle design, Beefeater gin is appearing on TV screens for the first time.

A multi-million-pound campaign launches on 19 April and runs through to the end of August.

Spearheaded by TV, video-on-demand and online video, the ‘Spirit of London’ campaign also includes digital, e-commerce, in-store and in-bar support.

Laura Stephen, Brand Director for Beefeater at Pernod Ricard UK, commented: “This is a significant investment for Beefeater and the start of a blockbuster few months. The new pack is a real step-change and has already enabled us to secure new off-trade listings for Beefeater London Dry, ensuring that more bottles are on shelf when our brand new TV advert and wider marketing campaign launches in April.”

The new Beefeater packaging rolls out from 15 March across the brand’s full range, including price-marked-packs but excluding Beefeater 24: Beefeater London Dry, Beefeater Pink Strawberry, Beefeater Blood Orange and Beefeater Peach & Raspberry.

Brewdog puts planet first BrewDog hopes to nudge consumers into making more environmentally friendly purchases with the launch of carbon-neutral Lost Lager (ABV 4.5%) into the convenience channel.

The German-style pilsner will be available in 660ml glass bottles (RSP £2.20), 4 x 440ml cans (RSP £5) and 10 x 440ml can multipacks (RSP £12) from wholesalers from mid-April.

Supported by an overall £6m investment, the launch will benefit from a £2.5m marketing campaign kicking off this month, comprising of online, social and out-of-home activity, as well as product giveaways.

The brand has also launched a 12,000+ hectare ‘Lost Forest’ where it will plant a tree for every multipack of Lost it sells, as part of a ‘Buy one, get one tree’ initiative.

offering it to a wider audience.

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

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News

Off-Trade

Haig Club launches new Mediterranean Orange Diageo’s Scotch brand, Haig Club has launched a new spirit drink, Haig Club Mediterranean Orange (ABV 35%, 70cl,

RUM New laucnh offers “unique proposition”

Havana Club spices up rum market

RSP £25). Available now in

Havana Club is introducing its first spiced variant – Cuban Spiced – exclusively to the UK. It blends the brand’s doubleaged rum with exotic flavours, balancing the taste of sweet vanilla and aromatic spices with hints of guava, toasted coconut and fresh pineapple.

Cuban Spiced is aimed at attracting millennial and legalaged Gen Z drinkers into the Rum category. The UK is one of the fastest-growing Spiced Rum markets, and the sub-category is the second fastest growing in the off-trade (+50.6%).

The launch is supported by point of sale, e-commerce

David Beckham to appeal to

banners and digital media, as well as PR and influencer activity that will reach over 80% of 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK. Chris Shead, Off-Trade Channel Director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “We’re confident that Havana Club Cuban Spiced will offer a unique proposition that sets it apart from the competitive set of nauticalinspired Spiced Rums. Set to recruit new consumers into the category with a gender-neutral design and the perfect balance of fresh, sweet and tropical flavours, we believe Havana Club Cuban Spiced will prove to be a great addition to the brand portfolio.”

Havana Club Cuban Spiced (35% ABV) is available in 70cl bottles at an RSP of £22 to Nisa retailers and from select wholesalers.

wholesale, it has been created in collaboration with brand partner the growing early evening and ‘Aperitivo’ occasion, researching well with both whisky and nonwhisky drinkers.

Rum do as Dead Man’s Fingers turn yellow Dead Man’s Fingers has made its pre-Christmas limited-edition Banana Rum (70cl, ABV 37.5%) a permanent addition to its line-up following a “hugely positive” response from shoppers. The rum boasts sweet vanilla and banana aromas, with a touch of caramel and honey – all packaged up in striking yellow bottle with distinctive Dead Man’s Fingers branding.

BEER Scotland’s favourite lager teams up with SFA

Tennent’s saves Scotland keeper’s gloves

Molson Coors trials lowcarbon glass beer bottles

The gloves Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall wore against Serbia are to go on display at the Tennent’s visitor centre in Glasgow to mark a new multiyear partnership between the lager brand and the Scottish FA. Marshall’s penalty save was the culmination of a dramatic Euro 2020 qualifier that sent Scotland on the way to its first major men’s tournament in 23 years.

His gloves will form part of a display at the Tennent’s Story, tracking the history of the brand and its partnerships.

The new partnership will see Tennent’s support the Scotland Men’s and Women’s National Teams, with the immediate

low-carbon glass beer bottle

prospect of hosting matches at Hampden during Euro 2020.

The brand will activate football throughout the summer in both the on and off-trade, while Tennent’s will continue to enjoy rights to pour Tennent Caledonian brands at Hampden Park.

David Marshall said: “The gloves I wore that night will always be a reminder of that final penalty – and let’s not forget the VAR check afterwards – and I’m excited that I’m able to share that with the fans through the installation at the Tennent’s visitor centre.”

Molson Coors has launched a following a recent trial that reduced the carbon impact of its bottle production by up to 90%.

The trial produced two million glass bottles for its Staropramen brand, which are now available across the UK. The bottles are manufactured using up to 100% cullet – recycled or waste glass – up from 75% previously used in its green glass bottles.

Charity single malt takes turn for the verse A commemorative charity bottling of Scotch, complete with a poem specially written for International Women’s Day, sold out within hours of going on sale. The Makar’s Malt single cask single malt Scotch marked

UNDERAGE DRINKING

Pernod Ricard rolls out underage labels Pernod Ricard is adding age-restriction labelling to every bottle produced by its brands.

The new labels, which the company announced in January 2020 with its follow producers in the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking, were originally scheduled to be introduced in 2024.

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However, Pernod Ricard has decided to bring the rollout forward by three years.

The move is one of more than 150 initiatives currently being developed by the business, either alone or with other partners, to promote responsible drinking.

the end of Scottish poet Jackie Kay’s tenure as The Scots Makar, or national poet. Released at midnight on International Women’s Day (8 March), all 327 bottles of the limited edition were soon snapped up online.

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Inside Business

AG Barr | Sustainability

IRN-BRU TO GO 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC

BY SPRING 2022 AG Barr has unveiled plans to be carbon neutral by 2040 and with Irn-Bru and Rubicon moving to 100% recycled plastic by spring next year.

I

rn-Bru maker AG Barr has launched a new environmental sustainability programme that confirms its plans to be carbon net zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK’s proposed 2050 deadline.

Under its ‘No Time To Waste’ initiative, Irn-Bru and Rubicon will be in 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles by Spring 2022 with all other AG Barr brands following suit by 2023.

Bringing together multiple energy, packaging and waste initiatives under one collective banner, No Time To Waste publicly reinforces the company’s aim to increase sustainability and ultimately reduce environmental impact.

To date AG Barr has already made great strides through : Q 100% recyclable soft drinks packaging Q clear on-pack recycling messages on all containers Q 20% less plastic in bottles over the past decade Q removal of difficult to recycle plastic sleeves from 14 million bottles Q 50% rPET across Strathmore and Rubicon brands Q 100% renewable electricity at all its sites Q a 41% reduction in greenhouse gases since 2015 and Q all non-hazardous waste diverted from landfill 22

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Under No Time To Waste in 2021 it will also: Q significantly reduce the use of virgin plastic through 100% recycled film on all consumer multipacks Q introduce paper straws on small juice packs Q be among the first in the UK to introduce only plant-based plastics in its 1ltr cartons As a founder member of Circularity Scotland, the new not-for-profit administrator of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, AG Barr is also committed to creating a truly circular system for drinks containers.

Roger White, AG Barr Chief Executive said: “As a responsible business this is a hugely important programme for us. But today’s announcement is only the start. Under our No Time To Waste programme we are openly committing to be carbon net zero by 2040, if not sooner, and plan to involve all our staff, suppliers and customers in achieving our long-term vision”.

TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT: WWW.AGBARR.CO.UK/RESPONSIBILITY/ www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:41:24

NEW LOWER PRICE

30g INCLUDESTERS L I F & S R E P A P

30g & 50g

85 £12.85

30G

£11

.95 RRP*

£21.00

£19

.60 RRP*

*RRP as of 09/04/2021. You are, of course, at all times free to sell JTI’s products at whatever price you choose.

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09/04/2021 18:41:26

Inside Business

Scottish Elections | SGF Manifesto

SGF UNVEILS ITS MANIFESTO Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 6 May, SGF has published its manifesto detailing proposed solutions to key challenges facing the local retailing sector.

Scottish Grocers Federation is the national trade body for the independent convenience store sector. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, local convenience stores stayed open, they provided essential grocery products and services to communities including post offices and access to cash, supported vulnerable customers, and boosted the local economy. Ensuring a vibrant and successful convenience store sector is vital to our communities and to our local economies. The next Scottish government (and the Scottish Parliament) have a crucial role to play.

THE CHALLENGE: THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS – BUSINESS RATES The cost of doing business is the most crucial challenge facing small retailers.

Business Rates are always amongst the top three costs faced by our members.

THE SOLUTION Q Continue with the Small Business Bonus Scheme for the lifetime of the next parliament.

Q There should be no conditionality attached to receiving the Small Business Bonus. The eligibility threshold should be raised to a single threshold of £50,000 (for both individual and combined premises).

THE CHALLENGE: COVID RECOVERY – SUPPORT RETAILERS Policy and legislation from government – however well intentioned – always has a disproportionate impact on smaller retailers. They do not have large scale back office functions which can reduce the impact of compliance, they do not have the financial strength to cope with the sudden increases in cashflow and they cannot pass costs onto customers as efficiently as larger retailers.

THE SOLUTION Q To support the convenience sector as it recovers from the pandemic there should be a 12-month moratorium (August 2021-August 2022) on any new legislation which would materially impact on the convenience store sector.

Q Any legislation to restrict food promotions must include meaningful exemptions for local convenience shops that would be disproportionately impacted by restrictions on the location of products in stores.

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www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:41:27

SGF Manifesto | Scottish Elections

Inside Business

THE CHALLENGE: SUPPORTING LOCAL The capacity of local convenience stores to support Scottish suppliers and manufacturers should be enhanced. This is vital to enable the food and drink sector in Scotland to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

THE SOLUTION Q The next Scottish government should commit to developing a funding stream for convenience stores to connect with local manufacturers and boost the local, Scottish offering in convenience stores.

Q The next Scottish government should commit to taking forward a Retail Strategy built around the local economy.

THE CHALLENGE: RETAIL CRIME Coping with impact of retail crime is a major issue for local shops. Remarkably neither the Scottish government nor Police Scotland collect data on retail crime. There is no accurate picture of the prevalence of crime, no year-on-year comparisons are available, and the impact of retail crime is not accurately understood.

THE SOLUTION Q The next Scottish government should commit to collecting and analysing all instances of retail crime.

Q The next Scottish government must work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to implement robust, appropriate sentencing and recording for retail crime, particularly shoplifting.

THE CHALLENGE: TRAFFIC AND ROAD MANAGEMENT – DO NOT DAMAGE BUSINESSES Convenience stores are part of a complex supply chain. In the modern convenience stores, stock control is based on a just in time system. Any change to road layout, parking spaces and street usage can severely impact on speedy and effective stock delivery.

THE SOLUTION Q The next Scottish government should ensure that local authorities have a statutory requirement to conduct robust businesses impact assessments when developing Traffic Redirection Orders or extending bus lanes, cycle path, on-street parking restrictions and parking charges. The cumulative impact of these interventions restricts customer access to vital local shops.

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09/04/2021 18:41:27

£1.25M

sales generated by our top retailer in 12 months 1

£17.6K

av. weekly delivered sales from top 10 stores 2

£27.46

average basket spend v. £7.60 industry average 3

Fully supported onboarding, sales ramp up and dedicated Account Manager to help you succeed Call: 0333 900 1250 Email: contact@snappyshopper.co.uk web: retailers.snappyshopper.co.uk

(1) 2 Months to 31st January 2021 (2) Av. sales Jan & Feb 2021 (3) Sources: Lumina UK Convenience Market Report 2020 | Sales as of February 2021

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09/04/2021 18:41:43

NEW AWARDS FOR A NEW NORMAL ENTRIES OPEN SOON

Event: November 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EVENTS@55NORTH.COM

WWW.SLRAWARDS.COM

SLR AprilSoon.indd 2021_converted_AB_2_converted.indd 28 Coming 1

@SLRMAG

09/04/2021 31/03/2021 18:41:47 14:19:05

Consumer-to-Manufacturer Purchasing

Inside Business

IS ‘CONSUMER-TOMANUFACTURER’ THE NEXT BIG THING?

New apps are giving shoppers the power to group together to buy direct from manufacturers and secure reduced pricing. So, is C2M coming to the UK?

WHAT’S THE TREND? C2M

WHICH MEANS...?

Consumer-to-manufacturer.

NOT MANUFACTURER TO CONSUMER? Nope. The general idea is that new apps are giving shoppers the power to group together to secure reduced pricing when the buy direct from manufacturers.



Trend Watch

IS IT ALREADY A THING? Not in the UK. But C2M is already set to be a £4.33bn market globally by the end of next year, according to delivery firm ParcelHero.

HOW DOES IT WORK? New apps such as Pinduoduo and Biyao are giving consumers the power to buy direct from the manufacturer and drive down prices. Users have the option to buy an item for its RSP immediately or to team up with others to get a significantly discounted price.

IS IT COMING TO THE UK? ParcelHero seems to think so. It says C2M apps “will take Brits by storm. The company’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks, says C2M originated in China where it is growing at over 24% a year.

SO RETAILERS WOULD BE CUT OUT OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN?

“Users have the option to buy an item for its RSP immediately or to team up with others to get a significantly discounted price.”

In a word, yes. Jinks is worried that it’s another major challenge for retail. While C2M is a win-win for manufacturers and shoppers, it’s another problem that retailers could do without. Big data from C2M sites also gives manufacturers a clearer idea about the demand for their products. For consumers, the option to shop as a team slashes prices.

IS IT A GENUINE THREAT? Well, Pinduoduo is the fastest-growing app in China and ParcelHero believes that a similar app would have equal success here in the UK.

HOW MUCH CAN CONSUMERS SAVE?

WOULD UK CONSUMERS TAKE TO IT?

China’s Pinduoduo app enables them to secure savings from a typical 20% reduction up to 50% off or more. The shopper either starts a new team by inviting friends and family via social networks or joins an already existing group purchase. A team needs to be formed within 24 hours to have the order confirmed. Once a team is formed, the purchase is approved and the product is shipped within 48 hours.

Brits are well-accustomed to the concept of group buying. Many already use Groupon, KGB Deals and Wowcher. The attraction of C2M sites, however, is that they put the shopper in the driving seat. Individuals can kick off a team purchase on whatever item they want from an app, without waiting for special offers.

IS IT MAINLY NON-FOOD THEN?

C2M sites are particularly aimed at young consumers who think of shopping as a social activity, so there are also games, free products and social activities on the Pinduoduo app. Pinduoduo already has an English language site... and it has declared its ambition to become the world’s largest grocer.

In China, a huge range of items, including cosmetics, car accessories, tech and clothes is available – but consumers also use the apps for groceries and takeaways.

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WHO’S USING THEM IN CHINA?

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Media Assets.pdf 5 26/02/2021 11:29:58

C

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CMY

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EVERY DAY ACROSS THE UK THERE ARE MORE THAN 400 INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE TOWARDS RETAILERS. THE COST OF CRIME TO RETAILERS IS MORE THAN £2 BILLION. IN 2021 SCOTLAND WILL HAVE NEW LEGISLATION TO PROTECT RETAIL WORKERS. FOR THE LEGISLATION TO BE EFFECTIVE RETAILERS MUST REPORT RETAIL CRIME.

#dontputupwithit

Call Police Scotland: 999 or 101 or Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 Go to: www.dontputupwithit.scot

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09/04/2021 18:41:48

InAction+ | Perfette van Melle

Inside Business

Bringing confectionery to life in-store In the first of a new series of special InAction+ features where we work with major suppliers and leading local retailers, we team up with confectionery giant Perfetti van Melle to offer a step-by-step guide to growing footfall, sales and profits.

MEET THE RETAILERS… Taking part in our very first InAction+ in-store project are Londis retailer Natalie Lightfoot and Day Today retailer Ferhan Ashiq.

NATALIE LIGHTFOOT

FERHAN ASHIQ

Together with her husband Martin, Natalie runs the multi-award winning Londis Solo Convenience Store in Baillieston in Glasgow.

Natalie and Martin are the reigning SLR Confectionery Retailers of the Year so are the perfect partners for a project aiming to boost sales in this vital category.

The pair have been retailers for over 13 years and despite the store’s small size at under 600sq ft, they manage to maintain a strong range of products with a particular focus on confectionery.

Another seasoned retailer, Ferhan owns and runs a highly successful Day Today store in Prestonpans that offers a great range of products and services, including a significant food to go business.

Ferhan is a very active, engaged retailer and is the current Scottish President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN).

He also has a very strong confectionery offering and relies heavily on his EPoS system to ensure his range is optimised and reviewed regularly.

I

n today’s highly unusual world, it seems clear that shoppers are increasingly looking for affordable, enjoyable treats that can add a little sparkle to their day – and for many, that means sugar confectionery.

That’s great news for retailers and it’s an opportunity that The Week In Retail intends to explore with the help of international confectionery giant Perfetti van Melle (PVM) – and with the support of a couple of Scotland’s leading local retailers.

The total Sugar Confectionery market is worth around £1.22bn and within this, PVM’s share is worth over £55m [IRI, Jan 2021]. These sales are driven primarily by the Mentos brand – worth £20m – and the Fruittella brand, worth £18m.

As part of this first ever InAction+ project, we’ll be working with PVM and leading retailers Natalie and Martin Lightfoot of Londis Solo Convenience in Baillieston in Glasgow and Ferhan Ashiq of Day Today Prestonpans.

SCOTLAND FOCUS The project is being driven as part of an upweighted focus on the Scottish market by PVM and at its heart is centred around the impulse occasion and the opportunity to grow unplanned sales and increase www.slrmag.co.uk SLR April 2021_converted_AB_2_converted.indd 31

basket spends.

Confectionery remains one of the top purchases in local retailing and in this project, we aim to work with our partners to help unlock more opportunities to grow sales and profits.

HOW WILL IT WORK? We will be tackling this challenge together, working with PVM and our retailer partners to demonstrate how small changes can make a big difference in-store.

A new range of products and POS will be installed in both test stores and sited in high traffic areas to help drive impulse sales.

Additionally, we will be supporting Natalie, Martin and Ferhan with a range of professionally designed social media collateral to help them advertise their new products to their customers on Facebook and Instagram.

Part of the project will also focus on the recently refreshed packaging and design for the entire Fruittella product range, across all 30 SKUs. The aim of the refresh was to grow the appeal of the brand to young adults.

Fruittella’s carbon footprint was reduced through the use of thinner and more lightweight packaging that will save over five

PVM TOP 5 MUST-STOCK PRODUCTS WITHIN SUGAR CONFECTIONERY Q Q Q Q Q

Mentos Pure Fresh Rolls Fruittella Juicy Chews £1 PMP Mentos Mint £1 PMP bag Smint 8g Chupa Chups Wheel

tonnes of plastic annually.

So there is plenty of material for us to share with our retailer partners and with their customers.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Product and POS are currently being provided to our retailer partners and all instore installations will be complete in the very near future.

In the next issue of The Week In Retail we will bring you an update of how those installations went along with some initial feedback on how the ranges are performing in the two stores.

We will also share exactly what we did in-store so that other retailers can make use of those learnings and experiences.

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Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

Red Bull Summer Edition Red Bull Red Bull has revealed the latest in its seasonal Editions series with the launch of the Red Bull Summer Edition in a cactus fruit flavour. The launch is supported with in-store marketing activity. Last year’s Summer Edition proved so popular that it became a permanent SKU known as the Red Edition. Red Bull Summer Edition is available from this month in 250ml plain and £1.35 price-marked cans.

Lucozade Energy Raspberry Ripple Suntory B&F GB&I Lucozade looks to add a splash of summer to soft drinks shelves with the launch of new Lucozade Energy Raspberry Ripple. The new flavour is available now in 380ml plain and price-marked packs (RSP £1.25). The launch is backed by social media activity as well as other brand campaigns during 2020.

Lucozade hopes it will emulate the success of its Citrus Chill variant, which added £1.73m in category sales.

Lambert & Butler Rolling Tobacco Imperial Tobacco Lambert & Butler’s two new formats and limited-edition design mark one year in the market for its RYO range.

Exclusive to independents, packs are available in 30g and 50g formats with RSPs of £12.80 and £21 respectively. Both have an improved freshness seal. The 30g pack also includes 60 filter tips and 60 papers, while the 50g includes 100 papers.

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Wall’s gets set for summer with trio of new products Unilever has unveiled a hat trick of new Wall’s ice creams and ice lollies in time for summer including a soft-serve Cornetto featuring 50% recycled plastic lids, a brand-new flavour and shape from Twister to join Unilever’s Responsibly Made for Kids range and an ice cream sandwich, Cornetto GO. New Wall’s Cornetto Soft stays soft even when in the freezer and has packaging lids created using 50% recycled plastic. A Chocolatey variant is available exclusively in the impulse channel, which is topped with chocolate sauce and served in a wafer cone, complete with the chocolate flavour tip. It RSPs at £1.60 for a 140ml single stick.

Multipacks of 4 x 140ml sticks are also available in two flavours, Strawberry and Salted Caramel, with an RSP of £3.

Twister is adding a new flavour and shape to its line-up – Twister Peek-A-Blue. Made with fruit, Twister Peek-A-Blue contains a mix of melon, strawberry-lemon and apple-blueberry. It joins Unilever’s Responsibly Made for Kids range and contains no more than 110 calories and a maximum of 12g of sugar per portion. It RSPs at £1.10 (70ml stick) and £2.79 (5 x 70ml stick multipack).

Ginsters Smoky Steak & Guinness Slice Samworth Brothers Savoury pastry brand Ginsters and Irish brewer Guinness have joined forces to launch new Ginsters Smoky Steak & Guinness Slice.

Available now with an RSP of £1.80, the steak and stout slice taps into the rise in at-home meal occasions and fast-growing consumer demand for premium flavour experiences. The recipe was created

by Cornish-born, award-winning chef Chris Eden.

Finally, and also exclusive to the impulse channel, Cornetto Go is an ice cream sandwich which can be consumed on-the-go. It is covered with cocoa biscuit filled with vanilla ice cream and pieces of cocoa cookie. RSP is £1.40.

The new products are also included on Wall’s POS material, which runs from outdoor signage to branded parasols and flags. In line with Unilever’s sustainability plans, all POS is made from recycled material or produced as recyclable.

Jennifer Dyne, Ice-cream Brand Experience Director for Unilever UK&I said: “With our new launches this year, ice cream lovers are going to be delighted with the choice that is on offer.”

Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Peace Pop Unilever Ben & Jerry’s has turned its bestselling flavour into a Fairtrade certified lolly that consists of dairy vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and a peace symbol-shaped, cookie dough-based centre – all dipped in a thick chocolatey coating. Each Peace Pop comes on a wooden stick. RSP is £2.20 for a single and £3.99 for three stick multipacks.

x Yazoo Choc-Orange x FrieslandCampina Yazoo’s new Choc-Orange x limitededition flavour is available now in plain (RSP £1.15) and £1 pricemarked packs of 400ml. The launch is supported by a fully integrated marketing campaign which includes video-on-demand, print and digital advertising, social media support, nationwide sampling and shopper marketing. An on-pack promotion will also give shoppers the chance to win two-for-one tickets to Thorpe Park and Alton Towers.

www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:41:54

Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch Weetabix On The Go Caffé Latte Weetabix Food Company

Galaxy Smooth Orange Mars Wrigley

This new limited-edition Caffé Latte variant contains 37.5mg/100ml of caffeine and is available now in £1 price-marked packs. The launch will be supported by digital, social media and shopper activity in the months ahead. To bolster the roll-out further, the brand will continue its ‘Strikethrough’ programme that aims to get retailers to restock the On The Go range and build distribution.

Embassy Signature New Crush Imperial Tobacco

Mars Wrigley has added to the growing number of new products that combine chocolate and orange with the launch of Galaxy Smooth Orange. Available now in both large block (RSP £1.39) and single bar (RSP 66p) formats, it “radiates the same indulgence of Galaxy chocolate that has been loved by the nation for over 60 years but with a citrus infusion of intense orange”.



Year of Jaffa Cakes A new McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes TV ad that encourages consumers to ‘be what they want to be’. In the ad, a retailer realises his dream of becoming the ‘king of the roller palace’ after biting into a Jaffa Cake. The campaign also includes social media, PR and influencer content. It forms part of a wider £4.7m initiative to make 2021 the ‘Year of Jaffa Cakes’.

Welcome to Cheddar Town Flavoured Sparkling Water Highland Spring

Designed specifically for excrushball smokers looking for premium nicotine solutions at a competitive price, New Crush is available in Superkings with RSPs of £9.50 per pack of 20s and £47.50 per pack of 100s. It comprises a modern blend of Virginia tobaccos wrapped in premium paper with a cooling sensation filter. A UK-wide national ambassador programme will support the launch.

MEDIAwatch

Individual 330ml sleek cans (RSP £1.15) and multipacks of 4 x 330ml (RSP £3.25) are available in three flavours, all with fewer than 35 calories a can: Pear & Elderflower; Blackberry, Plum & Hibiscus; and Rhubarb & Ginger (single cans only).

The launch will be supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes national advertising, social media, PR, digital and in-store activity.

Jacob’s Mini Cheddars has launched ‘Welcome to Cheddar Town,’ a new £4.5m seven-week marketing campaign spearheaded by a new TV ad bolstered by social media activity. Mini Cheddars will also sponsor ‘Friday nights in on 4’ for six weeks, running a series of bespoke idents across Channel 4’s Friday night schedule.

Maltesers lightens up heavy stuff A new Maltesers campaign aims to make the ‘heavy stuff a little lighter’ by encouraging a more open dialogue around mums’ mental health. The campaign is spearheaded by two TV ads based on conversations with mums who shared their real-life experiences about the light and dark side of motherhood. The ads are supported by social media activity.

Schweppes returns to screens Weetabix Chocolate Melts Weetabix Food Company

Nintendo Pez Dispensers Pez Hancocks has added a raft of new licensed character dispensers to its Pez range. The Pez Best of Nintendo pack now includes Luigi, alongside Mario, Yoshi and Donkey Kong.They cost £10.99 for 12 packs, each of which contains one dispenser and two individually wrapped Pez refill sweets and has a £1.49 RSP. Marvel Avengers, Emoji, Masha and the Bear, and Disney Animal ranges are also available.

The soft-centred crunchy bites will be available from late March in both Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate variants in cases of 6 x 360g packs (RSP £2.99). The launch will be supported by a £2.5m investment over 12 months, including a new TV advert, social media, influencer, instore and online shopper activity.

Melts have no red traffic lights, are high in fibre, low in salt and are fortified with vitamins and iron.

The Schweppes ‘We’ve Got The Tonic, You’ve Got The Spirit’ TV campaign is back with two new adverts. The first has the unpredictable British weather at its heart, and depicts a family trying to en-joy a BBQ in the rain, while the other focuses on a couple dealing with amusing complications while trying to enjoy a picnic.

Sharwood’s taste adventure Sharwood’s is back on TV for the first time in five years with a new £1m campaign that showcases its Indian range and shows how “consumers can be taken on a taste adventure” inspired by India’s culture, traditions, flavours and colours. The ad airs for three months and is intended to bring younger shoppers into the Cooking Sauces category.

for all the latest product news, head to www.slrmag.co.uk/category/product-news/ www.slrmag.co.uk SLR April 2021_converted_AB_2_converted.indd 33

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Give your customers control EDGEPoS Self-Checkout gives retailers more choice to utilise space and staff throughout the store, enhancing the customer shopping experience.

Beat the queues No additional counter or floor space required Reduce overhead costs Satisfy customer demands Increase store productivity Now over 100,000 customer transactions via EDGEPoS Self-Checkout on a weekly basis across the UK

EDGEPoS Self-Checkout works seamlessly with:

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Keep your shelves talking with EDGEPoS ESELs The EDGEPoS Electronic Shelf Edge Label (ESEL) System is a tool used by retailers to display specific product pricing on shelves.

Electronic display modules are fixed to the front edge of the retail shelving.

Accurate pricing Shelf edge influence Enhance your shopper experience Increase margin instantly Utilise assistant hours in different areas of the store Reduce wrong pricing customer complaints Instant promotion changeovers and price changes

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09/04/2021 18:41:57

Fascia Focus

Feature

TIME FOR A FRESH START?

The last year has been the most tumultuous period in living memory in local retailing and for many retailers the time may be right to consider joining a fascia, symbol group or franchise for the first time, or to consider a new partner more in line with their new business strategy.

I

t’s been both a year to forget and a year to remember for the retailing sector. The pandemic has changed local retailing almost beyond recognition and with so much change going on in such a short space of time, it’s hardly surprising that many retailers are taking a fresh look at the fundamentals of their business.

For a lot of retailers, that means taking a clear-headed look at the options that are available to them in terms of working with a fascia, symbol or franchise partner. For some that will mean joining a group for the first time, for many more it will mean taking a close look at whether the partner they currently work with is still the best option available to them in the new world in which www.slrmag.co.uk

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they find themselves.

The benefits of joining a group are well known and well understood. Joining a group for the first time, or choosing a new group more appropriate to your current circumstances, is one of the few ways that retailers can improve their sales and margins overnight.

Yes, it’s largely been a fantastic year for local retailers – at least on the commercial front – but with restrictions likely to be eased significantly in the coming months, the world is set to be turned upside down once more.

Hospitality will re-open, non-essential retail will be back with a bang and the blurring of the boundaries between foodservice, retail and online will no doubt become even more

pronounced.

So is it time to consider a partner who is truly aligned with your strategy for 2021 and beyond?

All of the fascia, symbol and franchise groups have been working hard over the last 12 months, adapting to the new reality and evolving to better meet the needs of their members – so there’s plenty of work to be done to truly analyse which offer is best for you.

To help take some of the effort out of that analysis, we have compiled overviews of many of the leading UK groups which you can read over the next pages.

It’s an important decision and one that could have a huge impact on your business.

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Feature

Fascia Focus - Premier

PREMIER: NUMBER ONE FOR A REASON

CO NT

Premier is the UK’s number one symbol group and has seen 19 years of consecutive growth thanks for a commitment to delivering more profits for retailers.

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0808 1788 64 4

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P

remier is the UK’s number one symbol group with over 3,500 stores nationwide. The group is committed to delivering more profits for retailers and a better shopping experience for consumers. Premier has seen 19 years of consecutive growth.

Premier continues to advertise on TV. Premier is advertised every day which means its TV advert will be seen over 100 million times annually.

The ad features Premier’s famous Mega Deal promotions along with retailers to emphasise the local aspect of Premier store. As well as this, retailers also benefit from a full promotional programme covering all categories of fresh, frozen, grocery and impulse to ensure great value for shoppers to drive footfall into stores. This leading promotional package, along with own-label and price-marked packs, really drives the value message to help Premier retailers grow their business.

Premier works hard to ensure that retailers have the best choice of products to suit their individual store. This includes both Euro Shopper, Booker’s entry level exclusive own-brand and Happy Shopper, the mid-tier option. This is complimented by working closely with branded suppliers to ensure the best choice so shoppers can clearly see the great value available.

Backed by Booker, the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, Premier retailers can take advantage of delivery at cash & carry prices, as well as having the ease and convenience of shopping at any Booker branch. ‘Spend & Save,’ where retailers can save up to 5% on their non-tobacco purchases, is also popular with Premier members, as this delivers real savings and adds to their bottom line. Premier does not operate any membership or joining fees and installs the fascia and imagery free of charge. A wide range of additional services such as energy savings, free Epos and central billing are also available that have been specifically created to add value and keep operating costs low for Premier members.

The group continues to go from strength to strength and its relentless focus in increasing choice, lowering prices and improving service has helped Premier members deliver fantastic convenience stores.

www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:42:04

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09/04/2021 18:42:04 13/01/2021 10:01

Feature

Fascia Focus - Londis

LONDIS: DELIVERING EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR GROWTH

Londis operates a flexible, zero-cost fully delivered model that supports members with tailored support, award-winning ranges and a fantastic fresh offer – perfect for today’s retailers and shoppers.

L

ondis is part of Booker Group, the UK’s leading food and drink wholesaler.

With over 2,000 members, Londis work in partnership with its independent retailers to provide local communities with all they need in a convenience store.

Backed by Booker Group, Londis has delivered on a number of benefits and opportunities for our retailers such as improved pricing, channel exclusives, unique packs, and an improved specification to help retailers drive footfall and make more cash profit. The launch of Jacks, which is an exclusive range of products from Tesco, has demonstrated to be a huge success so far.

Customers will have access to over 140 new products offering a better solution through choice, price and service. We are continuously working on unlocking bigger and better benefits to support upcoming key seasons.

We have launched a number of new initiatives such as our Chilled Meal Deal scheme, designed to give retailers a perfect

‘eat at home’ solution. We also focus on the latest trends such as food-to-go (especially the eat now mission), meal solutions, health and habit forming foods, free from, premium spirits and American candy. Londis have also recently launched a Dessert Bar offer, creating a destination store experience for shoppers as well as helping retailers to make more cash profit. It is the focus on areas of growth that help Londis stand out from the competition in today’s rapidly expanding convenience market.

Londis operate a zero cost model and is a flexible symbol partner that has a fully delivered service and support package to suit all. Londis also support with award-winning ranges, a great fresh offer with over 2,000 lines and a fantastic promotional package offering minimum PORs of 20% on core deals.

With smart planning, local area knowledge, range optimisation and the symbol group’s Merchandising, Range, Store Development and Supply Chain teams we are committed

to helping our customers Make More and Save More to support them in growing their business.

The benefits of the Londis offer include: Q Free Membership Q Competitive cost of goods benefiting from group buying power Q Fantastic promotional package with strong retailer margins Q Free Promotion Leaflets and free store point of sale support Q Spend & Save discounts of up to 5%* Q Award-winning own brand ranges Q A best in class online web ordering system (Londis Webshop) Q Dedicated Merchandising and Store Development Teams Q Tri-temperature fleet delivering all your ambient, fresh and frozen together Q Free Membership of the ACS

*Terms and conditions apply.

TELEPHONE: 0808 1788644 I WEB SITE: WWW.JOINLONDIS.CO.UK

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Join Londis today and watch your profits grow

“

We have been with Londis for over 19 years and their support and expertise has been invaluable to us.

I would recommend them to anyone.

”

- 00% Cost Free model - Earn up to 5% discount* - Dedicated Forecourt Development Team

Walter Bryson David Bryson & Sons, Prestwick Visit the Londis 360 virtual tour at : http://360.skyeyeplus.co.uk/files/LondisTriangle/

Call us on 0808 178 8644 or visit joinlondis.co.uk * Terms and Conditions apply.

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09/04/2021 18:42:08 04/12/2020 09:41

Feature

Fascia Focus - Nisa

NISA HAS IT ALL With access to over 2,000 Co-op ownbrand lines, fantastic availability rates, a comprehensive retail support package and the option to trade under their own fascia, Nisa retailers have never had it so good.

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isa is proud to work with multi awardwinning stores including Pinkie Farm, Ardeer Services, and Greens of Markinch, to name a few, making us the proven partner of choice for many marketleading, independently minded retailers in Scotland.

And with a record number of retailers moving to Nisa Retail in 2020 and those investing in new and upgraded stores enjoying average sales uplifts of 12%, there has never been a better time to join us.

With recent industry recognition including our Symbol/Franchise Group of the Year win at the Retail Industry Awards and the Grocer Gold Awards accolade for Symbol/Franchise Retailer of the Year, retailers can depend on award-winning support, access to an extensive product range comprising more than 13,000 SKUs and over 2,400 Co-op own brand products; all delivered by Nisa’s industryleading supply chain.

Retailers have the option to operate under a symbol fascia; Nisa Local or Nisa Extra, or dual branded, whereby a Nisa partner can maintain their own local identity whilst also benefiting from the strength of the Nisa brand. Alternatively, a retailer can choose to trade under their own independent fascia.

In addition, last year saw the launch of a new Nisa Express format which provides a dedicated fascia option and store format for smaller convenience and forecourt sites, and the latest technology and contemporary design providing a first-class shopping experience for the consumer.

Catering for retailers operating in more compact spaces, the option

for stores up to 1,000 sq. ft. has been developed with three different format options available, providing a solution for a wide range of retailers. Covering food centric, forecourt and essentials, each design differs to accommodate the individual demographic and shopping missions of each store with format and range tailored for the specific market.

Nisa provides a complete retail support package which comprises a strong retail focused team, an enhanced category management system, a bespoke staff training facility and a comprehensive marketing package incorporating social media and PR support, leaflets, point of sale material, a personalised Nisa FM radio network and national advertising.

With its own insight team Nisa helps retailers truly understand their customers and their marketplace, enabling them to modify their offer to match the ‘local’ demographic. Retailers can then use this in conjunction with Nisa’s category management service to create bespoke planograms, layouts and propositions within their individual sites.

A comprehensive support structure is provided to ensure retailers continue to push their business forward. Support comes from a strong field team including retail development managers and regional retail managers, as well as a new induction team that is dedicated to support new partners during their first 100 days with Nisa, ensuring a smooth transition process.

Partners can also support local causes through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity, which has raised more than £12.5m for UK communities to date.

To Join Nisa complete the form on www.join-nisa.co.uk or contact our development team on 0800 542 7490.

www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:42:11

O T S N O REAS

JOIN NISA £

98%

Sales +12% with Nisa Evolution store format

Next day delivery service*

98% Availability

2,000+ Co-op own label products

Working with Nisa enables us to compete at a higher level.

Dan Brown, Pinkie Farm, Musselburgh Scottish Local Retailer of the Year – SLR Rewards 2020

For even more reasons, visit nisalocally.co.uk/join-nisa *currently in selected locations only

#JoinNisa | 0800 542 7490

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09/04/2021 18:42:16 24/03/2021 13:58

Feature

Fascia Focus - Costcutter Supermarkets Group

NEW NORMAL, NEW PRIORITIES, NEW PARTNER?

With the world turned upside down in the last 12 months, now is the perfect time to find a new partner to help you adapt to meet the needs of today’s shoppers, says Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez.

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ith Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) now part of the Bestway family, it is even better placed to champion and support independent retailers. CSG’s mission is to help independent retailers thrive, and provide a full spectrum of support with a leading retail offer that helps retailers adapt to meet the needs of today’s convenience

shopper.

Converting those shoppers who saw their local Costcutter store as a lifeline during lockdown, into lifelong loyal customers, remains a key focus s throughout 2021.

CSG’s unique Shopper First: Drive Five to Thrive business growth programme is at the heart of that effort. It provides alongside actionable insights based on indepth shopper analysis and data which enables retailers to tailor every aspect of their store and reflect changing shopper needs. Retailers who have participated in the programme have seen a minimum of 20% sales growth.

What the last year has also shown is that shoppers are now looking for more than top-up and impulse from their local Costcutter, with an estimated 25% of shoppers shopping more often at their closest, most convenient stores*. With more also more prepared to do a ‘full shop’ closer to home, a strong fresh offer is fundamental to retailers’ success. The access CSG retailers have to Co-op Own Brand has never been more important and that’s why we have extended the supply agreement all the way through to 2026. With over 2,000 products, the brand has been a proven driver of increased footfall, basket spend and sales across CSG stores.

In addition to a strong retail and fresh food offer, focused support on last mile delivery options, coupled with stronger use of data and predictive analytics will enable the CSG team to help retailers maximise their sales and create an even better experience for their shoppers.

Retailers right across Scotland are recognising the strength of our offer and the boost CSG brings to their business, in the last few weeks alone we have opened new stores in Fife and Ayrshire, with a very exciting large c-store due to open in Glasgow imminently. * Source: Nielsen

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Modern, contemporary store brand to attract and retain shoppers Unique shopper insight to drive your sales Highly competitive price and great rebate of up to 6% Amazing range, including Co-op Own Brand products

Come and meet the team and let us show you our stores.

Y www.costcuttersupermarketsgroup.com/costcutter-difference SLR April 2021_converted_AB_2_converted.indd 43

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Feature

Summer Drinks

THE CHANGING FACE OF SUMMER DRINKS What customers are looking for from summer drinks is evolving fast with healthier options and bigger packs driving much of the growth in the category.

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ith a potentially enormous summer lying ahead of us as Covid restrictions (hopefully) continue to be relaxed and consumers across Scotland looking to throw themselves back into something more closely resembling normality, there’s a lot for retailers to think about over the coming months.

Not least of those concerns will be the summer drinks category. If the next few months see another hot summer like last year, the category will be critical to local retailers in generating much-needed new footfall and in attempting to keep basket spend nice and high, as it’s been for most of the last year.

But things have clearly changed over the last year and that definitely includes what

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HIGHLAND SPRING CANS IT! Highland Spring has embraced the 330ml can format for the first time with the launch of its new Highland Spring Flavoured Sparkling Water range.

Available in individual 330ml cans and 4 x 330ml multi-packs from this month, the new format is a first for the brand, and is designed to sit within the ‘canned sparkling water’ segment. The range includes three fruity variants based on flavours “inspired by Scotland”: Pear & Elderflower; Blackberry, Plum & Hibiscus; and Rhubarb & Ginger.

Single cans carry an RSP of £1,15 while 4-packs at £3.25 are available in the Pear & Elderflower and Blackberry, Pear and Hibiscus variants.

At under 35 calories a can, all three flavours contain no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.

The canned sparkling flavoured water category has experienced encouraging growth in the last 12 months, up 40% to a total value of £4.9m [Nielsen, Jan 2021].

The launch is being supported by an integrated, through-the-line campaign featuring national advertising, social media, PR, digital support and in-store activity.

www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:42:28

LUCOZADE, LUCOZADE ENERGY and the Arc Device are registered trade marks.

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**Recommended retail price 09/04/2021 18:42:32

Feature

Summer Drinks

shoppers are looking for when they browse their local store in search of summer drinks.

So what are the biggest changes?

PACK FORMATS & VALUE Matt Gouldsmith, Channel Director, Wholesale at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, says: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers have spent more time at home, leading to a greater focus on take-home drinks such as larger formats and multi-packs across the category – in fact, one in four shoppers are now consuming more soft drinks.

Suntory has seen significant increases in sales of Lucozade Energy and Ribena’s drinklater portfolios.

“Lucozade Energy is catering for this rise in in-home drinking occasions this month with the launch of a brand new 1.45L bottle, price-marked at £2,” says Gouldsmith. “This new format launch will also be joined by

ADRIAN TROY, MARKETING DIRECTOR AT BARR SOFT DRINKS, IDENTIFIES KEY WAYS TO DRIVE SUMMER SALES: CHILLED DRINKS: The importance of offering chilled soft drinks in summer cannot be overlooked. Shoppers prefer their drinks to be chilled, with ‘Drink now’ sales accounting for more than three quarters of all soft drinks sales in convenience.

AVAILABILITY & CHOICE: Ensure that your soft drinks fixture is highly visible, well presented and restocked regularly during the summer months. If a product is selling out regularly increase the number of facings. Higher value Take Home products are also important for summer occasions like BBQ.

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE: We know that the way people live is changing - health is becoming more important and, especially with younger shoppers, we’re seeing an increase in demand for lower calorie products and a significant reduction in the consumption of alcohol. Offer a good choice of low calorie products to cater for these consumers.

a Lucozade Energy 12x330ml cans pack.

Research indicates that 64% of consumers would buy a larger serve pack if it were available.”

The company has also reduced the on-pack price of some of its most popular drink-later products, including Ribena 600ml squash, tapping into the continued popularity of price-marked packs, and the growth in sales of drink-later formats.

Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at Barr Soft Drinks , echoes these sentiments: “The balance of Drink Now and Take Home Soft 46

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Drinks changed during lockdown as social occasions moved to ‘in home’ and, while we expect ‘food to go’ shopping missions to recover, the warm weather, combined with sporting events and longer evenings creates the perfect opportunity for retailers to continue driving take home sales by inspiring and exciting their shoppers.”

Phil Sanders, Out of Home Commercial Director at Britvic agrees that value will be vital this summer and that PMPs will be critical in helping communicate that value.

“At the start of the first lockdown in www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:42:41

ENJOYED IN 7. 5 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS*

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*Source: Kantar Panel Data, latest 52 weeks, w/e 27/12/20 **Recommended resale price is a recommendation only and you are free to set the price at whatever level you determine. ©2021 The Coca-Cola Company. All rights reserved. COCA-COLA and COCA-COLA ZERO are registered trade marks of The Coca-Cola Company.

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Feature

Summer Drinks

March 2020, with people stockpiling some essentials, promotions lost relevance – but as we have moved on from this, value is becoming more important once again,” he says. “As we experience a challenging financial period, shoppers will be looking to spend wisely and PMPs can offer assurance that they are getting great value. As people start to feel more confident about returning to variations of their old day-to-day routines – whether that be attending university or working from the office more regularly – retailers will need to prepare accordingly.”

Britvic has responded to that challenges by updating its 500ml £1PMP offering across its entire no-added-sugar range.

“This is a temporary move and includes Pepsi MAX, Pepsi MAX Cherry & Raspberry, Diet Pepsi, 7UP Free and Tango,” says Sanders. “It will allow retailers to clearly communicate value to their shoppers, at a time when this is so important as a result of the pandemic. The exciting new Tango Sugar Free Dark Berry flavour will also include this £1 price mark on pack.”

HEALTH & WELLBEING Suntory’s Gouldsmith comments: “When it comes to lower-sugar soft drinks, it’s important to understand that this trend is part of a wider, long-term shift in consumer attitudes as we are all becoming more aware of our health and wellbeing.

Lower-sugar soft drinks are particularly important in contributing to the growth of

take-home formats, which is especially relevant after a year which saw larger packs grow.

“Low and no sugar soft drinks make up more than half (of total soft drink volumes sold, so it is an incredibly important category for retailers to pay attention to.

“To help tap into this trend, Lucozade launched a brand-new drink: Lucozade Zero Tropical. Available in 500ml bottles, Lucozade

Zero Tropical is the Lucozade brand’s first ever flavour exclusive to the Lucozade Zero range.”

One brand that has long targeted shoppers looking for healthier soft drink options is Purdeys. The company has recently expanded its range with the addition of two new products: Refocus and Replenish. Both offer consumers the choice of a wider range of benefits to meet the different energy needs throughout the day and week.

Over

SMALL CHANGES, BIG GROWTH Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I recently worked with independent retailer Umesh Patel of UP1 News in East London to find out how small changes can help to grow soft drinks sales:

BLOCK YOUR SOFT DRINKS BY CATEGORY. It’s important to group the same types of drinks together. After putting all flavoured carbs together in one block in the chiller, sales in this category grew 7.1%. This will also help shoppers find what they want more easily.

WITHIN EACH CATEGORY, ARRANGE BY FORMAT. Range formats within each category together so they flow smoothly. Putting colas together, for example, and then segmenting tis section further into cans and formats, will improve the ‘shopability’ of the category by making it easier to find the right format.

BLOCK ENERGY BY CATEGORY AND HIGHLIGHT YOUR TAKE-HOME OFFER. Energy and sports drinks account for almost a third of total soft drinks sales in convenience, so it’s an important segment of any retailers’ chiller, with drinks satisfying different shopper needs. By blocking sports and energy by need state – starting with stimulants, flowing into sports, then energy and finally natural energy, customers will be able to easily find the right drink for the right occasion.

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N NEE W W

33 calories per can

WILDLY FRUITY! 330ml sleek cans

STOCK UP NOW 100% recyclable

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09/04/2021 18:43:13 24/03/2021 12:17

Feature

Summer Drinks

BULLISH ABOUT SUMMER

Today Sports & Energy is worth £1.4bn, with growth totalling over £43.2m vs 2019 [Nielsen, Dec 2020].

Red Bull continues to drive growth, boosting sales by £35.4m vs YTD last year. The company says shoppers are also putting more Red Bull in their baskets, more frequently and Red Bull will continue to support this positive category growth throughout 2021.

In the latest six months, Red Bull sold 32.5% more Sugarfree volume

the last year, the pandemic through multipacks [Nielsen, Dec 2020] highlighting the importance of bottles to share within the has accelerated health trends, sugarfree options. household. creating opportunities for For impulse purchases it wellness brands. Refocus and Similarly, Red Bull Zero relaunched in early 2020 with a reformulated taste is also available in singles, profile to appeal to shopper demands and a four-pack has since been Replenish are ideally positioned with the addition of a £1 added. to meet these growing consumer PMP 500ml bottle. needs by offering multiple benefits One product likely to Last month, Red Bull launched its latest Summer Edition, for those seeking energy but looking feature this summer is Barr Soft Cactus Fruit, delivering all of the functional benefits for a more ‘natural’ lift.

Drinks’ latest innovation, Rubicon of Red Bull Energy Drink, along with a burst Aqua Libra has also broadened its Raw. “We’ve launched Rubicon Raw of berry. range of infused sparkling waters with the to meet the needs of today’s developing introduction last month of a new raspberry Energy consumers,” says Troy. and blackcurrant variant in single 330ml “We have invested heavily throughout the cans with a multipack rolling out in May to development of Rubicon Raw to understand capitalise on the take-home occasion. sparkling water delivers 50% more value the Energy consumer better, and what’s But while health is critical, AG Barr’s through retailers’ tills so it’s important to have relevant in their lives today. They adopted Adrian Troy advises retailers not to forget that the right balance of products in their stores to the category as young adults, but many have balance is vital. meet shopper needs and maximise sales.” matured and evolved as consumers since He says: “As the trend of health continues then, and they’re calling out for something to grow, so does the range of products that NPD new. are available to shoppers. However, taste The role of NPD will also be critical this “The average age of an energy drinker remains the number one reason for shoppers summer and there’s plenty for retailers and is older than one might think at 31, and to choose a soft drink and it is essential that customers to get excited about. Gouldsmith their needs are moving on. They are life retailers offer a wide choice of flavours to says: “In terms of growth drivers, it’s maximisers, people who want to get the most satisfy many different needs. Plain water was important to remember shoppers want variety out of life. Energy drinks fuel that lifestyle. significantly hit during lockdown, both from when buying soft drinks.

“The No. 1 reason consumers like Rubicon “Ribena brought its unique taste and Raw is that it’s made with 20% real fruit juice, a Drink Now and Take Home perspective, with shoppers switching their spend into vitamin C to the flavoured carbonates category which together with caffeine from green flavoured sparkling water, as consumers are with the launch of new Ribena Sparkling, in coffee beans and B-vitamins provides a big not prepared to compromise on taste when two flavours: blackcurrant and raspberry. energy hit that is full of flavour.” looking for healthier options. Flavoured Both are available in 500ml and 2l bottles as The Rubicon Raw range comprises three well as, newly available, 330ml single cans. variants - Raspberry and Blueberry, Orange “Ribena is also helping and Mango and Cherry and Pomegranate, retailers capitalise on with natural flavours and no artificial the growing demand colours. for interesting and The launch is being supported by a £1.5m consumer, social and shopper great-tasting squash options with the marketing campaign designed to recent launch of a raise awareness and encourage trial. new flavour. Ribena In line with Barr Soft Drink’s Raspberry & Rhubarb commitment to environmental squash is available sustainability, the Rubicon Raw in 600ml bottles outer case will be wrapped in 100% which are perfect for recycled film, which has more than sharing.” half the carbon footprint of its virgin Meanwhile, Tango plastic equivalent. introduced a new The levy-free 500ml Rubicon sugar free Dark Berry Raw range is available in plain pack variant last month in (RSP £1.29) and a £1.29 PMP with a a range of formats, range of in-store and in-depot POS including 6-can to signpost the category and engage multipacks and 2l shoppers at the fixture.

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Feature

Tobacco

TOBACCO CONTINUES TO DELIVER

Tobacco remains the most resilient category in retail and is still a massive footfall, sales and profit driver for retailers – despite challenges that no other category has faced.

A

t the core of every local retailing outlet remains the tobacco category which continues to deliver footfall, sales and profit – despite facing challenges that no other category has had to contend with. Undoubtedly the most resilient category in local retailing, tobacco is no less important to retailers than it has ever been.

With everything that has happened over the last year, the tobacco market still continues to be one of the biggest and most resilient FMCG categories in the UK and a category that drives footfall and revenue for retailers nationwide,” says Ross Hennessy, Sales Vice President at JTI UK. So it is just a case of keep on keeping on?

Yes, and no, says Hennessy. The category continues to evolve and among the most persistent trends has been customers seeking out good quality tobacco products at affordable prices – and this is one of the key drivers in continued impressive performance of RYO. “With 8.1 million kilograms of rolling tobacco sold in the UK each year [IRI, Jan 2021], this category offers a significant opportunity to maximise sales,” says Hennessy. But it’s not just in RYO that value and price are critical.

“Price remains a key factor for existing adult smokers,” adds Hennessy. “To remain competitive, retailers should stock up on Value RYO products, such as Kensitas Club 52

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- which is the second fastest growing tobacco brand in Scotland and JTI’s Sterling Rolling Tobacco, which is currently the UK’s fastest growing tobacco brand [IRI, Dec 2020].

Imperial Tobacco has launched two new RYO formats and a limited-edition design for its Lambert & Butler RYO range to celebrate one year in the market. Launching exclusively into the independent channel, the limitededition packs are available in 30g and 50g formats with RSPs of £12.80 and £21.00 respectively.

Another key trend is convenience, which is why 3-in-1 formats have performed well in recent times. JTI’s Hennessy comments: “Our Sterling 3-in-1 Rolling Tobacco, which transitioned from a box to a pouch last year, offers existing adult smokers the fuss-free and convenient format they want, at the same value price as before.”

Also worth keeping an eye on is cigarillos.

A massive category in the US, cigarillos continue to grow in popularity in the UK. “With a current market share of 36.1% cigarillos are the fastest growing cigar sector and are now worth circa £6m a month [IRI, Dec 2020],” says Hennessy. “To capitalise on this growth, retailers should stock up on products such as Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped, which is the number one cigarillo brand, with a 92.6% share of the UK cigarillo market [IRI, Dec 2020].

JTI is building on the growth of the product

with the recent launch of the line in a 20 pack. “The 20 pack follows the same stick configuration as the 10s, with a mentholated Virginia blend tobacco and capsule filter that when crushed releases a peppermint flavour,” says Hennessy.

“Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped offers a good value and high-quality product, with an affordable RSP of £9.10 for a pack of 20 cigarillos.”

Imperial Tobacco is also seeing success with its new Crushball Cigarillos variant from its JPS Player brand. Duncan Cunningham, UK Corporate Affairs Director at Imperial Tobacco & blu, says: “JPS Players Crushball Cigarillo, the menthol alternative, comprises an American Blend tobacco, wrapped in a natural tobacco leaf and features a menthol crushball within the filter. This provides consumers with the choice of releasing the fresh flavour contained within or smoking as a standard cigarillo.”

The JPS Players Crushball Cigarillo is available to buy in packs of 10 with an RSP of £4.20 in a price marked pack.

HEATED TOBACCO One tobacco category that has long been threatening to burst into life is the heated tobacco category. Philip Morris was first to establish a foothold in this category with the launch of its IQOS product with a vision for a smoke-free future. www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:43:26

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Feature

Tobacco

“With everything that has happened over the last year, the tobacco market still continues to be one of the biggest and most resilient FMCG categories in the UK and a category that drives footfall and revenue for retailers nationwide.”

ROSS HENNESSY, JTI

STOCK UP

NOW ON THE NEW STERLING DUAL

CAPSULE LEAF WRAPPED 20S! ROSS HENNESSY Head of Sales, JTI UK “We are committed to bringing retailers products that respond to current trends and resonate with existing adult smokers.

The Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped 10s range has gone from strength to strength since its launch, so we’re pleased to be giving retailers even more choice for their customers. With this new 20s extension, we expect the product to follow the same route as the 10s, resonating with those looking for a good quality product, at an affordable price point.”

RRP

£9.10 for a pack of 20 cigarillos*

WHAT TO STOCK

MUST STOCK

Cigarillos is the fastest growing cigar sectori, with a current market share of 36.1%ii.

Sterling Capsule Leaf Wrapped is the No.1 cigarillo brand, with a 92.6% share of the cigarillo marketiii.

Kate O’Dowd, Head of Commercial Planning UK & Ireland at Philip Morris Limited, says: “Despite this increase in traditional tobacco sales, the exponential growth of smoke-free categories - which include heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes - continues to build unstoppable momentum.

“At the end of 2020, a survey carried out

by KAM Media on behalf of PML, found that more than a third (38%) of all retailers expect more adult smokers to switch to smoke-free categories in 2021. Despite comparatively small sales in relation to traditional tobacco, smoke-free products are eating into the market share of cigarettes. The sales of heated tobacco products, for instance, grew by 270% in 2020.”

O’Dowd advises that it is vital that retailers provide a wide range of alternatives to ensure differing preferences, such as taste and sensory experience, are met. “Increased choice may be the difference in an adult smoker switching to a less harmful alternative over continued smoking,” she says.

To help that drive, PML will be launching a new Digital Trade Engagement platform, HEETWAVE OPEN. The move strengthens the digital support the company offers retailers with online training tools that improve knowledge of PML’s expanding smoke-free portfolio, whilst also encouraging more peerto-peer advice sharing through the platform and an FAQs section to provide stockists with an initial reference point, should they need support.

The latest major scale entrant to the heated

tobacco category is JTI’s Ploom solution.

Lyle Mitchley, Reduced Risk Products & Brand Portfolio Manager at JTI UK says: “It’s predicted that by 2025 there will be nearly one million Heated Tobacco users nationwide and that traditional retail will contribute to two thirds (67%) of this volume [JTI estimates].

“To help retailers profit from this category, we recently launched a new heated tobacco product, Ploom, which is unique in its set up with its sleek design and carefully crafted technology. Offering existing adult smokers and dualists (smokers and vapers) an alternative but familiar tobacco experience by heating tobacco instead of burning it.

Ploom uses EVO tobacco sticks which are available in four different flavours with an RSP of £4.50 including plain tobacco and menthol and berry menthol variants.

NICOTINE PORTFOLIO A significant trend in tobacco over the last couple of years has been the rise of the ‘nicotine portfolio’ where consumers choose different products for different occasions.

Duncan Cunningham, UK Corporate Affairs Director at Imperial Tobacco & blu, says: “The tobacco market remains heavily price-driven and this has led to an uplift

WHY YOU SHOULD STOCK

Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped came out on top in the Retail Industry Awards this year, winning the tobacco category for its innovative launch, as well as SLR’s Tobacco Product Launch of the Year Award.

*Retailers are of course free to sell JTI products at whatever price they choose. i IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigar Category, Total UK, over the last 12 months to Dec 2020 (based on slope calculation ii IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigar Category, Total UK, Dec 2020 iii IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigarillo Category, Total UK, Dec 2020

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HEATED TOBACCO TOP TIPS Philip Morris offers the following advice in the growing heated tobacco category: Q Fully educate your staff on the heated tobacco category.

Q Ensure existing and new IQOS customers know you stock heated tobacco (HEETS) – speak to your local IQOS representative about POS and signage.

Q Stock a variety of smoke-free alternatives, as well as a range of variants within each, to offer your adult smoker customers that all-important choice.

05/03/2021 10:19 am

www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:43:42

FLAVOUR FUSION CARDS

FROM THE UK’S NO.1 FILTER BRAND EASY TO USE INDIVIDUAL CARDS - AVAILABLE NOW IN TWO GREAT FLAVOURS

FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR

PLACE CARD IN PACK

LEAVE IT LONGER TO MAKE IT STRONGER

Log on to our trade website at republictechnologies.co.uk

ENJOY THE FLAVOUR FUSION

Follow us at @RTUKtrade

Republic Technologies (UK) Limited, Sword House, Totteridge Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 6DG

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Feature

Tobacco

in consumers switching into Roll Your Own (RYO), as well as value Factory Made Cigarettes (FMC). We’re also seeing a rise in dual users buying both RYO and FMC for different occasions, as more shoppers move to a nicotine portfolio approach. In fact, our figures show a quarter of consumers are now dual smokers. Retailers must be wellequipped with a strong product range across all categories in order to cater for this trend and keep one eye on their sales so they can adapt their range to meet the needs of their customers.”

ACCESSORIES This increasing consumer shift towards RYO products also presents new sales opportunities for tobacco-related accessories.

Cunningham advises: “In order to tap into this trend and take advantage of the incremental sales on offer, retailers should make sure they’re fully stocked at all times of filters, papers, lighters and other flavourrelated innovations like Rizla Flavour Cards and Rizla Polar Blast Crushball filters, to cater for the rising number of consumers buying into the RYO segment.

“In 2019, we launched our Rizla Flavour Infusions range which has been extremely well received by both the trade and consumers, winning in SLR’s New Product Launch of the Year Awards 2020 in the Tobacco Accessories category.

Rizla Flavour Infusions comprise flavour cards that can be used with traditional factory made cigarettes or roll your own tobacco products. Simply insert a flavour card into a packet of cigarettes or roll your own tobacco and wait at least 60 minutes, or leave it in longer for a stronger, more intense flavour.

Also making big inroads in the Scottish flavour cards market is Swan. Republic Technologies recently launched its new range of Flavour Fusion Cards from leading filter brand, Swan.

The Flavour Fusion Cards enable consumers to create their own level of flavour in a packet

of cigarettes or roll-your-own tobacco in just 60 minutes and are available in two variants, Fresh Burst and Menthol (RSP: 39p per card).

Each outer contains 25 individual cards.

“Following the change in legislation last May, there has been a considerable rise in the number of consumers making a conscious decision to find competitively-priced flavour alternatives to menthol cigarettes,” says Gavin Anderson, Head of Sales at Republic Technologies (UK).

Republic Technologies has been busy in the last year with a raft of interesting NPD. “Value for money remains key, but so too does the tactile aspect of rolling, which also has the added benefit of reducing consumption as smoking becomes less instant,” says Anderson. “convenience-driven RYO shoppers are looking for different solutions for a variety of smoking occasions. That’s why our NPD includes new and exciting flavour alternatives which meet these needs.”

“Last year we introduced Swan Crushball Menthol capsule filters, which proved to be really popular, and our new Flavour Fusion Cards enable retailers to offer shoppers even more choice in flavour and format. The cards not only provide smokers with the ultimate in flavour impregnation, they enable retailers to capitalise on the growing interest in roll-yourown flavour innovation.”

CIGARETTES The factory made cigarette market remains, however, the key driver in the category and there’s plenty for retailers to get excited about.

Imperial Tobacco has recently launched three new products recently under the Embassy Signature umbrella. The range launched with Gold and Silver variants that are available to buy with an RSP of just £9.50 per pack of 20s, plus Embassy Signature Gold in packs of 100 at an RSP of £47.50.

Embassy Signature Gold Superkings was next to join the range’s line up as a straight swap for Embassy No.1 Red Superkings.

Priced to align with the rest of the range with an RSP of £9.50 per pack of 20s, the new addition helps to increase the availability of the Embassy Signature range and target superkings down traders and switchers looking for premium features at a value price point.

The latest addition to the range, Embassy Signature New Crush, comprises a modern blend of the finest Virginia tobaccos wrapped in premium paper with a unique cooling sensation filter. When coupled with flavour cards, New Crush provides one of the closest menthol alternatives available on the market today. The new variant is available to buy now in Superkings, also priced at £9.50 per pack of 20s and £47.50 per pack of 100s.

WIN THE FULL SWAN FILTER AND FUSION CARDS RANGE! SLR has hooked up with Swan to offer five retailers the opportunity to win the entire Swan accessories range, including filters and Fusion Cards.

Republic Technologies UK launched its biggest ever programme of NPD last year, with the introduction of six innovative filters from the iconic Swan brand, allowing retailers to build a tobacco accessories range that suits every shopper and helping them to drive sales within the category.

Republic Technologies is giving five retailers the chance to win the full range plus its brand new innovation, Swan Flavour Fusion Cards. 1 x outer of each product: Swan Fresh Burst Crushball, Swan Cool Burst Crushball, Swan Cool Menthol, Swan Graphite, Swan Eco Loose and Swan Long Extra Slim, Swan Flavour Fusion Cards Menthol and Swan Flavour Fusion Cards Fresh Burst, worth more than £60 RSP. To enter, please send your name, store name and contact telephone number to Rachael Kershaw MTJ PR, Station Brow, Leyland, PR25 3NZ or email rachael@mtjpr.co.uk

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THE UK’s

No.1 CIGARILLO

1

*RRP effective 16th November 2020. Retailers are free at all times to sell JTI products at whatever price they choose.

1 IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigarillo Category, Total UK, Dec 2020.

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Feature

Crisps & Snacks

THINK BIG TO C GROW CRISP SALES

The single biggest shift in the crisps and snacks category over the last 12 months has been a huge swing into larger format and multipack products – a trend that retailers would be wise to follow.

onvenience stores have cemented their position at the heart of communities across Scotland in the last year or so and that trend has had a huge impact on many categories and chief among those in crisps and snacks.

“Although convenience stores have always been a community hub, during the pandemic they have become pivotal,” says Guy Harvey, Impulse Category Management Controller at PepsiCo. “They have offered daily essentials to shoppers who would rather not visit the larger supermarkets, resulting in many consumers shopping more locally. Over half of shoppers (54%) now use a convenience store every week [Lumina Intelligence, 2020].

“We’ve also seen a huge difference in shopper behaviour across the impulse channel, especially in relation to traditional snacking occasions. As shoppers spent more time of their time at home, there was a marked decrease in sales of single-serve products.”

The good news, however, is that this collapse in the sales of single serve products has been replaced by an increase in sharing and multi-packs sales.

Harvey explains: “Multipacks specifically have performed extremely well – growing

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Feature

Crisps & Snacks

by +15.6% [Nielsen, Dec 2020] over the past year. As we begin the slow transition out of lockdown, larger packs will likely continue to dominate over traditional singles as shoppers look to incorporate a series of lunchtime and snacking occasions.”

Around 65% of shopping trips to symbols and indies now consist of sharing products, but 88% of sharing purchases occur outside of the impulse channel.

“This presents a huge opportunity for stores, as retailers can capitalise on a bit of the market traditionally purchased ‘elsewhere’,” says Harvey. “Therefore, crisps will play an important role in savoury snacking for retailers, with shoppers’ wanting larger formats for on-thego occasions with friends and family, dependent on changing lockdown restrictions.

Intelligence, 2020],” explains Harvey. “By offering PMPs in sharing formats, Hero 25 allows retailers to stock our core bestsellers that meet this demand. We wanted to ensure retailers could maximise crisp and snacks sales, encouraging them to stock the formats and flavours that shoppers will be demanding.”

BEST AND NEWEST For retailers, the key here is having a deep understanding of both your bestselling lines and keeping one eye on relevant, important NPD. “We are introducing new price-marked packs across a number of our multipack and sharing bag lines, to help retailers offer everyday value to shoppers,” comments Harvey. “For the first time, two multipack products will include a pricemarked flash: Walkers Classic Variety and Quavers Cheese 6-packs. New larger Doritos and Walkers Sensations sharing bags will also launch with an RSP of £2, with pack size having increased in size by 20g.

“The £2 PMPs will be available across three products: Doritos Chilli Heatwave, Tangy Cheese and Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli, offering better value than the existing 65g bags.

We hope that our new range – exclusive to the convenience channel – will help retailers to continue to thrive as we begin the move out of lockdown, catering to demand for sharing snacks as restrictions on socialising together decrease.”

Walkers has also updated its core range of crisps and snacks for Symbols and Independents, launching its expanded HERO 25 line-up. It gives a greater focus to PMP and sharing products, offering retailers value and formats that are in demand with shoppers.

With financial uncertainty a concern for many, consumers aren’t just looking for products to share with friends and family, value for money is still high on the agenda.

“Indeed, 62% of shoppers say they are now more careful with their cash [Lumina 60

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In addition to the expanded HERO range, Walkers has launched a range called DRIVE 25, offering a tailored approach, with a targeted range for medium and larger stores.

Harvey says: “Having a wider selection than HERO 25 means retailers can add breath and excitement to their range, with fun products that will lead to strong sales. The selected lines, such as Cheetos, Wotsits and Quavers, are ideal for the big night in occasions, with recognisable brands that add a sense of occasion to savoury snacking. DRIVE 25 gives retailers the ability to tailor their range, stocking new launches and additional formats in the best-selling segments like £1 PMP. The HERO 25 and DRIVE 25 ranges include bestsellers that make up 35% of crisp and snacks sales [Nielsen Oct 2020], making sure it will capture shopper interest when looking for solutions to snacking occasions.

KEY TRENDS

According to PepsiCo, the key trend that retailer should keep an eye on is full flavours. Harvey says: “Our shoppers are all-in, they want bold flavour and excellent value – and they don’t want

“Around 65% of shopping trips to symbols and indies now consist of sharing products.” www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:44:23

Crisps & Snacks

FULL RANGE RSPS ACROSS BOTH WALKERS MAX KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND WALKERS MAX DOUBLE CRUNCH ZINGER: Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Q

Q

Q

50g Grab bags (85p RRP) 70g and 65g Price Marked Packs (£1 RRP) 140g Sharing bags (£1.99 RRP) 6 packs (£1.70 RRP) Multipacks – RSP £1.65 Walkers Variety Crisps 6pk RRP PMP Quavers Cheese 6pk RRP PMP Sharing bags – RSP £2 (promotional price RRP £1.50) Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli 170g RRP PMP Doritos Tangy Cheese 200g RRP PMP Doritos Chilli Heatwave 200g RRP PMP

compromise. To meet demand, we launched our KFC x Walkers MAX collaboration in January, introducing two signature flavours: Walkers MAX Kentucky Fried Chicken: Walkers classic ridged MAX crisp with the signature flavour of KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken Walkers MAX Double Crunch Zinger: Walkers newest, deep-ridged MAX Double Crunch crisp (2x crunch of MAX) with the hot and spicy KFC Zinger flavour “The new products offer the ultimate fulfilling snack, delivering the epic KFC signature taste that people know and love, with the familiar and satisfying crunch of Walkers MAX.” Available all-year-round, each flavour has a limited time on-pack promotion until 31 July giving consumers a 2-for-1 KFC Meal with every pack.

Consumers simply need to buy a promotional pack and take it to their local KFC restaurant for takeaway or drive-thru to claim the meal.

The team-up with KFC follows the tremendously successful 2020 full relaunch of the Walkers MAX portfolio, which has grown by 11.4% year to date [Nielsen, Dec 2020] and Walkers

Feature

Taste Icons – the most successful Walkers limited edition flavour campaign in three years.

STOCK UP

HERE

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APRIL 2021 | SLR

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UTC

IS THERE NO BEGINNING TO DAN’S TALENTS? Not content with being SLR President, reigning Scottish Local Retailer of the Year and an all round good guy, Musselburgh Nisa retailer Dan Brown has hooked up with some of his store colleagues to release their first album. Not being a massive fan on East Coast rap, UTC took a while to warm to the album, but he did admit that ‘Would you like a bag with that?’ had the makings of a banger.

‘Does not scan - must be free’ was another grower but his standout favourite was ‘Can I speak to the manager?’.

Available from all good record stores. For one day only. April 1st.

LIVEN UP YOUR BEER FIXTURE WITH BIN JUICE Speaking of April Fools gags, this one was too close to home not to share. It’s the ultimate ale for the craft beer lovers among your customers: Bin Juice.

‘Launched’ by waste collection company BusinessWaste. co.uk and created to let customers enjoy a drink and save the planet, Bin Juice is made using recycled cans and is available in several variants including a brown ale called The Brown Bin and a stout named Black Bags.

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MY BOG ALREADY SMELLS LIKE A DISTILLERY

To round off our trio of April Fools frivolity, the auld boy thought he’d share the unlikely tale of the the £182 reed diffuser that makes your house smell like a distillery UTC has been inside many a whisky distillery and only has to close his eyes to be transported back to one – but he wasn’t sure about how Mrs UTC would feel about replicating that smell in his bog at home. Mind you, we have it on good authority that his bog at home already smells like a distillery most mornings...

The final clue that we’re all being taken for a ride: The diffuser costs £182.40.

www.slrmag.co.uk 09/04/2021 18:44:32

Helping you to make an extra 3% Gross Profit Ease of use

Simple to use touch screen till software

Backoffice admin software

Cigarette Gantry integration

Indepth reporting and analysis

Touch screen handheld device to control the shop from the shopfloor

Supplier Data links with all major Wholesalers

Credit Card integration

Weekly health check reports to guide you to improve your sales and margin.

Access to background database with over 100,000 products

Benefits of MPos ✓ Built around a retailer, not a computer user ✓ Simple to use till, powerful admin tools ✓ Built from retailers perspective ✓ Reduces labour by downloading products, price changes, invoices and promotions

✓ Reduces labour by allowing one click order generation and one click invoice downloads - easily shave off 10 hours of work per store

✓ Increased control on stock; all stock deliveries downloaded and all stock adjustments emailed to the owner; NO stock is unaccounted for

✓ Emails store performance to the user with real actionable data once a week rather than stats heavy reports that overwhelm the user

✓ Based in Scotland with excellent support and training program

✓ Easy to use Hand Held terminal to control the store from shop floor ✓ Integration with Credit Card terminals, Zapper, Cigarette Gantry, Loyalty Schemes and more ✓ Developed and supported by people that know the retail trade

So How much Could our System make for you?

We can demonstrate a 3% uplift in Gross Profit in using our system.

£5,000

£7,800

£10,000 £15,000 £20,000 £25,000

Current Weekly Turnover Extra profit per annum

£15,600 £23,400 £31,200 £39,000

Even a Single Lane system can more than pay for itself in the first 4 months!

MHouse, 349 Shields Road, Motherwell, ML1 2LD

Tel: 0800 242 5360 email sales@mhousesolutions.com SLR April 2021_converted_AB_2_converted.indd 63

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More than meets the eye!

B awarrand eness Our delicious snowballs and teacakes have been family favourites for 90 years. Following 2019's TV campaign, awareness is at its highest level ever, with 76% of Scots surveyed saying they liked Lees Snowballs and 44% buying Lees products every month.

There’s never been a better time to stock up.

Scotland loves Lees

76%

**

of Scots like Lees Snowballs

01236 441 600

sales@leesofscotland.co.uk *Source: JLral. Post TV Campaign Evaluation- Sept 2019 **Refers to Scots who viewed the 2019 TV ad

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