SLR August 2026 Edition

AUGUST 2026 | ISSUE 280

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New event gives you everything you need to know in one day – p32

HOT IN THE KITCHEN

Multiple SLR Award winners David’s Kitchen in profile AUGUST 2026 | ISSUE 280

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DOWN WITH THE KIDS

Is hiring youngsters still viable?

+

COMPETITION

CRIME IN THE CROSSHAIRS

Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce tightens the net around criminals.

Win tickets to Checkout Scotland

MOIRA DEAN

Top manager to leave local retailing

HALLOWEEN

Prepare to scare up spook‑tacular sales

New event gives you everything you need to know in one day – p32

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SWEETENERS

August 2026

Contents

Contents ISSUE 280

NEWS 08 09

12

20

22

Sales Good weather and the World Cup boosted Scottish retailers in June.

Legislation Retailers warn that the Government’s proposed vape display ban would be costly to implement and could drive former smokers back to cigarettes.

News Extra Business Rates The Scottish Government launches reviews of the rates revaluation and wider non‑ domestic rates system.

Product News Rubicon gives retailers the chance to win a £10,000 store makeover and Fanta cuts the price of its two‑ litre price‑marked packs.

Off-Trade News Jacob’s Creek launches a new campaign to support its refreshed range as Brothers Cider unveils its first cloudy apple variant.

8

20

24

38

43

44

INSIDE BUSINESS 24 26

30 32

36 38 40

54

Competition Checkout Scotland Your chance to win a pair of tickets to GroceryAid Scotland’s flagship event.

SLR Awards Winner’s Profile David’s Kitchen The business that all but invented food‑to‑go in local retailing has secured long‑term success by remaining faithful to its original vision.

Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

Success with DRS SLR’s new event will give retailers everything they need to know to make a success of DRS – and all in one day.

Interview Moira Dean Top manager Moira Dean talks us through her decision to leave Premier DUSA. Youth Unemployment As staff costs keep rising, is hiring young people still a viable option for local retailers?

Tradeshows Spar Scotland Collaboration will be front and centre when Spar Scotland retailers, representatives and suppliers meet in Aviemore in September.

Under The Counter Move over Attenborough, SLR’s very own centenarian has some interesting facts about chickens.

Well, one. And it’s fairly boring.

FEATURES 44 50

54

Halloween Get the lowdown on all the ghoulish goodies looking to claw their way onto shelves this fright night.

Smokeless Alternatives Find out how suppliers and retailers are capitalising on Scotland’s growing demand for nicotine pouches and other smoking alternatives.

Forecourts Forecourt retailers are giving their businesses the edge by working closely with suppliers and tapping into retail and fuel trends.

ON THE COVER 16

www.slrmag.co.uk

Crime SLR speaks to Inspector Emma Wright of the Retail Crime Taskforce about how Police Scotland is helping retailers fight crime.

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

7

News SALES SPIKE Football fuels footfall

ACS welcomes English rates reform The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plans to reform the business rates system in England and provide greater support for businesses that make a positive contribution to local communities. The proposals include a 20% rates discount for pubs, clubs and live music venues, alongside wider reforms aimed at supporting high street businesses.

Morrisons Daily storeswitch incentive As part of a plan to add hundreds more stores to its 700site franchise estate, Morrisons has offered franchise partners who operate stores under other symbol groups a £2,000 incentive to transfer those sites to Morrisons Daily. The news came at the Morrisons Daily

Summer sun and World Cup help Scottish retail sales shine Good weather and the World Cup boosted Scottish retailers in June, with total sales rising 7.5% year on year following a 0.4% decline in June 2025.

Adjusted for inflation, sales increased 6.3%, according to the latest Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC)-KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor covering the five weeks from 31 May to 4 July 2026.

Non-food sales drove much of the growth, climbing 12.3% compared with a 1.1% fall a year earlier. Food sales also returned to growth, rising 1.8% after declining 2.3% in June 2025.

Family Shopper Bourtreehill Supermarket in Irvine saw a definite sales uplift during the tournament. “It’s been really busy,” supervisor Kerri Grier told SLR. “We’ve sold lots of ice, ice lollies,

water, barbecue and freezer stuff, and alcohol has been going crazy.”

The store encouraged further shopper engagement by inviting customers to predict the ScotlandBrazil score for a chance to win a hamper of Scottish goodies.

Meanwhile, shopper footfall increased 1.7% in June, up from 0.4% in May, according to SRCSensormatic data covering the four weeks from 31 May to 5 July.

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said Scotland was the only UK nation or region to record footfall growth during the period.

“This positive trend was particularly strong in the lead-up to Scotland’s first and second World Cup matches, likely reflecting increased spending on food, drink and related merchandise,” he said.

Lonsdale added that Glasgow had become the UK’s strongestperforming city, helped partly by the gradual reopening of pedestrian areas following the Union Corner fire earlier this year.

“Scottish retail sales sparkled in June, bolstered by better weather, the World Cup and consumers preparing for the summer holidays. It was the best monthly performance in three years,” he said.

annual conference, where a doubling of the current ‘Refer a Friend’ incentive reward was also announced.

Facewatch plans instant police alerts Facewatch shared its ambition to work with Police Scotland as it announced a new crime management platform, which will alert police in just four seconds when high-risk offenders enter

DEPARTURE

Award-winning Dundee store manager leaves sector Former Premier DUSA Manager Moira Dean (pictured second from right) has left the convenience channel after a decade to take up a position at Costa.

The University of Dundee-based store has just won SLR’s Sustainability Award for a fourth consecutive year, but with increasing legislation, rising shoplifting and the university facing a financial crisis, Moira felt she could no longer stay. “Nothing seems to be on the side of the retailer these days… and with what’s going on at the university, I just thought ‘time to make a move,’ as heartbreaking as it is.”

Praising her “brilliant” team, she said she would greatly miss her wider retail family but was leaving on a high after the store’s most recent SLR Award.

shops. The platform feature will trigger a real-time notification the moment a high-risk offender is matched by live facial recognition as they enter a protected store.

Early Day Motion recognises retailer Patricia Ferguson MP has published an Early Day Motion recognising Glasgow retailer Nathalie Fullerton’s leadership on behalf of independents and congratulating her on her election as National Deputy Vice President of The Fed. During a visit to Nathalie’s Go Local store, the pair discussed retail crime, trading standards enforcement and support for the high street.

8

SLR | AUGUST 2026

RESEARCH C‑stores viewed as vital

Scotland among worst affected by high street decline The Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Community Barometer has identified Scotland as one of the areas most affected by high street decline in Great Britain, while also recognising convenience stores as the most important local service for supporting community growth.

Greater London was the only UK region where residents felt high streets had improved, recording a positive net score of +16. In contrast, the South West ranked lowest at -28, with Scotland and Eastern England close behind at -24.

Nationally, just 23% of people said their local high street had improved over the past year, while 35% believed it had worsened. The main reasons cited for decline were empty shop units, a poor mix of shops and services, reduced spending due to the cost of living, increased online competition, and the presence of dodgy shops.

Despite these challenges, local shops continue to play a vital role in communities. Convenience stores were ranked among the three most essential high street services, alongside pharmacies and post offices. More than half of respondents said their local shop acts as a community hub (51%) and helps reduce loneliness (54%).

The report calls on the Government’s forthcoming High Streets Strategy to prioritise safety through stronger enforcement powers and reduce operating costs through business rates relief and measures to encourage occupation of empty premises.

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

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News REGULATION Restrictions cause concern

Vape display ban proposal criticised by retailers

Food price rises slow Annual food inflation eased to 1.7% in June 2026, down from 2.2% in May, marking the lowest rate since August 2024.

James Walton, Chief Economist at IGD, said: “This easing

Retailers have warned that the Government’s proposed vape display ban would be costly to implement and could drive former smokers back to cigarettes.

The UK Government and the devolved administrations have announced a 12-week consultation on proposals for tougher rules for vapes and nicotine products.

Proposals include restricting shop displays in the same way as tobacco products; introducing plain white packaging; restricting flavour names; limiting branding and imagery; and standardising safety information.

The UK Vaping Industry Association slammed the proposals as “a reckless public health own goal that could drive adult smokers back

towards cigarettes and undermine more than a decade of progress in reducing smoking”.

Jen Paton, Manager at SLR Smokeless Alternatives Retailer of the Year finalist Spar Greenock, told SLR that she did not think packaging or flavour restrictions would be too harmful to sales.

“Pixl has already started bringing

in plainer packaging, I don’t think that will be too much of an issue.”

However, she claimed a display ban would “cause massive issues”, potentially stopping smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives. “If they can’t see it, they don’t know it’s there, and they’ll just stick to what they know.”

She also fears that a lack of visibility may lead vapers back to smoking or drive them towards rogue traders. “There are a lot of shops still selling disposables,” she said. “If they’re still getting away with that, then there’s nothing to stop them ignoring the other changes that are being implemented.”

ACS said a display ban would be “costly and complex” for retailers.

appears to reflect favourable food commodity markets at the start of this year, with grains in good supply and prices under control, helping to offset higher costs elsewhere. For the many UK households under financial pressure, the slowdown will be welcome. However, we expect inflation to rise again later this year as costs start to filter through the supply chain.”

Spar Scotland launches Dash deliveries Spar Dash has been unveiled as Spar Scotland’s new home delivery platform powered

by Snappy Shopper. The platform offers a “seamless shopping experience” using Snappy Shopper’s white-label

REPORT C‑store sites in demand

Scottish convenience property market remains resilient Following a strong 2025, the Scottish retail market remains buoyant, with good-quality convenience stores attracting strong offers for both leasehold and freehold opportunities, according to property specialist Christie & Co. Demand is particularly high for high-volume petrol filling stations, with quality sites drawing multiple bids despite upcoming ICE [Internal Combustion Engine] regulations, the firm reported in its H1 2026 Scottish Newsletter.

Despite the positive property market outlook for convenience, Christie noted that trading businesses in Scotland in 2026 were operating in a particularly challenging environment shaped by persistent cost pressures, weaker consumer demand, and ongoing economic uncertainty. “One of the most significant issues is the sustained rise in operating costs,” said the firm. “Energy prices, although no longer at peak crisis levels, remain structurally high. Consumer confidence has been low, and households continue to limit discretionary spending due to wider cost-of-living pressures. This is particularly problematic for retail, wholesale, and hospitality businesses.”

The company also highlighted staffing challenges and workforce constraints, stating that recruitment and retention costs had risen significantly, and that skills shortages persist across multiple sectors.

Another major issue is the continued increase in fixed costs like business rates, Christie identified, with the recent property revaluations in Scotland leading to significant increases in rateable values for many retail premises.

www.slrmag.co.uk

COMMUNITY

e-commerce platform and order

Glasgow retailers join CCEP’s Clyde clean-up

aggregation technology.

Londis Solo Convenience retailer Martin Lightfoot and Go Local Dumbarton Road owner Nathalie Fullerton were keen to get on board when Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) organised a litter pick along the River Clyde ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Led by CCEP and backed

by Keep Scotland Beautiful and local community groups, the 120-strong team took to paddleboards, kayaks and footpaths to clean up the river.

The initiative formed part of Commonwealth Sport and the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.

Parfetts awards staff 4% bonus Employee-owned wholesaler Parfetts has awarded staff a maximum 4% bonus after the firm reported record sales of £807m for the year to June 2026, up 10.6% on the previous year.

This follows on from a 5.3% sales increase to £733m for the year to 30 June 2025, which was made public in April 2026. The company also reported a decline in profit after tax of 13.3% to £5.34m for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Karan Retail acquires Jet Menstrie Jet Menstrie Service Station in Clackmannanshire was acquired from UK Fuel by Karan Retail on Tuesday 30 June in a sale brokered by Scottish Business Agency. Karan Retail also acquired Jet Chidswell Service Station in West Yorkshire on the same day.

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

9

Smart returns.

Built for every space.

Envipco is a leading provider of reverse vending machines, with more than 40 years of dedicated experience in beverage container recycling. As the UK prepares for the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on 1st October 2027, we are helping retailers, municipalities, and the beverage industry get ready with smart, reliable solutions that make recycling easier for consumers, simpler to manage, and more scalable. Since our founding, our mission has been to support material recovery, promote reuse, and help customers contribute to a circular economy.

Today, we combine proven technology with local expertise to develop solutions tailored to the unique needs of each customer and market. With the exciting announcement from Exchange for Change of the Retailer Handling Fees (RHF) heavily weighted for convenience, we are excited to showcase our most applicable machines tonight.

Compact Compact is a space-saving RVM built for small retailers. It’s plug-and-play, easy to move, the smallest and most cost effective scheme compliant RVM. Proven in other markets, it delivers performance without complexity.

Smallest footprint — just 0.42m2 Large capacity — 265L tote Runs on standard 230V socket

Lowest cost fully compacting RVM Easily moved by store staff, no engineer required Plug & play installation, ready in minutes.

Eligible for scheme grant support

Contact us Envipco UK Ltd The Point, 410 Birchwood Boulevard, Warrington WA3 7WD United Kingdom www.envipco.com

FLEX® Flex® handles higher returns without taking up space. It compacts PET, cans, fits through walls, and stays easy to clean and install.

Small footprint — 0.54 m²

Suitable for indoor or outdoor installation Accepts PET bottles and cans Front-or rear-emptying for easy store-layout fit Easy to clean and maintain Customizable appearance (branding)

Up to 45 containers per minute, fast and accurate sorting Eligible for scheme grant support

Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Launching 1 October 2027 Retailers selling in-scope drinks containers will have obligations under the scheme and must decide how they will participate.

Option 1 — Exemption Retailers may be eligible for an exemption if they meet the scheme criteria.

Size

Location

Register?

Return Point?

Exempt?

Under 100m²

Urban

No

Not required (can opt in) Auto

Under 100m²

Rural

Yes

Required

If criteria met

100m²+

Any

Yes

Required

If criteria met

Option 2 — Manual Take-Back Best for smaller stores with lower return volumes Low upfront cost

Fraud risk and staff errors

3p per container handling fee

No grant available

Simple to implement

Heavy impact on staff time and store space

Option 3 — Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) Best for retailers with space and volume seeking operational efficiency Automated return process

5p per container handling fee

Better customer experience

Eligible for RVM grant

No staff handling

Reduced space with compacted containers

Scheme Funding*

RVM Grant Fund*

The Retailer Handling Fee (RHF) will operate on a tiered basis across manual and automatic return points, and will provide for small to large volumes of returned containers.

As a result of extensive industry consultation, engagement and research, Exchange For Change has set the RHF at: Manual return points – 3p per container Automatic return points Tier 1 – 5p per container, up to 225,000 in-scope items returned annually Tier 2 – 1.3p per container, for annual in-scope returns in excess of 225,000

*Source - https://exchangeforchange.co.uk/

Envipco UK Ltd The Point, 410 Birchwood Boulevard, Warrington WA3 7WD United Kingdom www.envipco.com

£6,000

Per site avaliable Total fund

£60m

Eligible retailers

Up to 10,000

Payment structure

3x£2,000

First payment

3 months after install

News Extra

NewsExtra MAKE SPOOK-TACULAR SALES THIS HALLOWEEN – P44

Convenience Matters with the SGF Scotland’s shoplifting crisis has hit a new high, with recorded shop theft at its highest level since 1971 and offences rising for the fifth consecutive year.

A 19% increase in the past year caps a surge of 86% in shop theft over the past decade. The figures likely underestimate the true scale of the problem, as many retailers don’t report every incident – partly because they see little prospect of meaningful action.

Behind every statistic is a local business paying the price of theft: an average of more than £10,000 a year, with shoplifting a daily occurrence. What was once an opportunistic petty crime has evolved into organised gangs clearing shelves. Offenders repeatedly target the same stores, and staff increasingly face abuse and violence.

Credit where it is due: the Scottish Retail Crime Taskforce has made rapid progress with limited resources. New initiatives have improved crime reporting and strengthened engagement between retailers and Police Scotland. The Scottish Government was right to fund the Taskforce for another three years.

However, too many criminals see no real consequences for stealing. Until repeat offenders face effective punishments, retail crime will keep rising.

Scotland’s local shops are more than businesses – they are community hubs providing essential services and supporting local economies.

Every theft increases costs, threatens jobs and discourages investment.

Scotland cannot afford to accept soaring retail crime as the new normal. We need to unclog the justice system to curb the escalation, restore confidence and deter those who believe they can steal without consequence.

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

Bring on the business rates review The Scottish Government launches reviews of the rates revaluation and wider non‑domestic rates system.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has announced that the Scottish Government will appoint an independent panel to examine the outcome of the recent non-domestic property revaluation, which took effect on 1 April 2026, after businesses raised concerns about inconsistent valuations.

The panel will assess whether there are any anomalies that exist within the revaluation and report within three months of being appointed.

Alongside the revaluation review, ministers have pledged a broader examination of Scotland’s nondomestic rates framework, aimed at identifying longerterm reforms to the system.

Scotland Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Guy Hinks said: “We welcome the promise of quick action to address some of the deeply unfair and perplexing anomalies thrown up by the recent rates revaluation. Simplifying the opaque and overly complex assessors’ system which administers the rates regime reflects what we have been saying for many years.

“The wider review of the rates system is also an opportunity to deliver a quick shot in the arm to the Scottish economy and the small businesses which drive it.”

BDC Fuels Director Brian Connolly is desperate for things to change. The owner of SLR Forecourt of the Year finalist Londis Ayr Rd Service Station in Dalmellington, as well as a Jet forecourt in Maybole, said rising costs are crippling his businesses.

“The biggest challenge unquestionably is energy bills and non-domestic rates, particularly the rates when you’re getting hammered for nothing.

“We don’t get any reduction. We get no relief in terms of retail because we’re considered a fuel station.

So we don’t get any benefits at all from the Scottish Government or discounts. We’re trying to emphasise that we’re more a shop now than a petrol station, but they don’t accept that.”

The lack of support is stifling business growth.

“We have reduced our plans,” said Brian. “Our Dalmellington site refit was planned before all the Ukraine energy issues so we went through with that because it had already been planned. But our investment now will be severely restricted until conditions improve.

“Deputy First Minister” by Scottish Government, CC BY 4.0.

“We’ve got quite a large workshop at the back of the Maybole store that we were looking to extend into, which would be a significant investment, but we’re not going to do that at the moment.”

The revaluation has only made matters worse. “I’ve just got a revaluation done recently by the Scottish Government; everything’s just rocketed again. We’ve appealed non-domestic rates on more than one occasion and we’re going to appeal again.”

Brian has been forced to put his prices up as a result. “There’s no question we would like to be more competitive than we are, but when every other bill is going up, your only option is to increase your prices.”

He claimed that the “horrendous” non-domestic rates situation has meant that the business is firefighting, rather than thriving.

“It would be great if the government was encouraging us to invest, but they aren’t,” he said. “We’re treading water, basically.” www.slrmag.co.uk

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Comment

DRS: ALL IN A DAY’S WORK As unpleasant as it was at the time, the fact that Scottish local retailers have already lived through the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (albeit a failed one) puts them at a significant advantage over their retailer cousins south of the border. Up here, we know all about handling fees and RVMs and deposit levels and so on, but down south all of this stuff is landing with them for the first time. It’s a lot to take in, as we all learned when we had to do it a few years ago.

Perhaps the key learning from DRS 1.0, however, is that it’s a high-risk strategy to leave the planning to the last minute. Last time, a lot of retailers gambled – correctly, as it turned out – on it not taking place. That’s not a bet we can make again this time around. DRS 2.0 will happen.

So, as we approach October and the 12-month countdown until DRS goes live in October 2027, SLR has pulled together a new event – Success with DRS – that promises to give every attendee everything they need to know about the scheme, all in one day.

We like to think of ourselves as a real-world, practical magazine and that’s exactly what this event will be. Straight-talking, no faff and dealing exclusively with the issues that matter most to retailers.

We are building a very impressive list of speakers like AG Barr veteran Jonathan Kemp, who is now Non-Executive Director of Exchange for Change, the scheme administrator, and Chris Furey, Director of Furey Smyth Retail, a family-owned independent Irish retail business that operates a network of community-based Eurospar stores across Ireland.

Chris has lived through a couple of years of DRS in Ireland and is perfectly placed to share the learnings he has made to help Scottish local retailers steer their own course through the launch in Scotland.

Our Headline Partner for the event is the ever-supportive CCEP and we’re delighted to have many of the UK’s leading RVM and semi-automated manual handling solutions providers on board too. Attendees will have the chance to see a range of solutions first-hand and talk to representatives from each company to start their journey towards a successful implementation in time for next year’s deadline.

DRS is a challenge. Of course it is. But it’s perhaps more appropriate and worthwhile to view it as an opportunity for local retailers to embrace it with both hands and work out how to protect and grow footfall, sales and profits, as well as helping make a massive step forward in Scotland’s drive to boost its sustainability credentials.

If you can make it along on the day, I would urge you to do so.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

© 55 North Ltd. 2026 ISSN 1740-2409.

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

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Cover Story

Retail Crime | Inspector Emma Wright

A FORCE TO BE RECKONE SLR speaks to Inspector Emma Wright of the Retail Crime Taskforce about how how Police Scotland is making meaningful progress in the battle against retail crime.

BY SARAH BRITTON

L

ast year, the Scottish Government finally took meaningful action against the retail crime epidemic that has been affecting our industry, allocating £3m to tackle shoplifting and abuse against shopworkers. Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Taskforce was established in April 2025 with a clear strategy, explains Inspector Emma Wright.

“When we started out, we had a baseline that over a third of all shoplifting offences were committed by just 4% of offenders,” says Wright.

“We’ve been working hard to target those highharm recidivist offenders so that we make sure that we have the most impact for retailers.”

In its first year, the Taskforce made: Q Over 5,760 shoplifting charges and detections Q 648 retail worker offence charges Q 1,330 arrests The Scottish Government has now committed to providing a further £9m over three years to fund the Taskforce until March 2029.

Wright talks us through its multi-strand approach to combatting retail crime using the four Ps – prevent, pursue, protect, prepare – and what the Taskforce will focus on going forward.

ONLINE REPORTING PROGRESS Up until recently, reporting retail crime by calling 101 had frequently been a time-consuming and disheartening ordeal.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from retailers that 101 can be frustrating,” concedes Wright.

“It can take too much time away from the shop floor and sometimes they haven’t bothered to report.”

However, an online reporting tool for shop theft, which removes the need to use 101, is transforming the reporting process. Following a successful pilot, the tool went live for all retailers in mid-March. More than 8,582 reports of shoplifting were made via online reporting between 1 January and 31 May, accounting for a third (33.9%) of all shoplifting crimes recorded.

“That’s relating to over £830,000 of goods stolen,” says Wright. “The uptake of online reporting has been really good and as its use increases, we’ve seen a reduction in the use of the other reporting methods. Obviously, that gives us efficiencies. It allows call handlers to deal with calls that are the highest threat, harm and risk on the 101 system. And it saves time for retailers.”

Report a shop theft here: scotland.police.uk/ contact-us/report-shoplifting

THIRD-PARTY PARTNERSHIPS The online form is only the beginning for digital reporting – the next stage is extending reporting capabilities to third-party suppliers.

“The online reporting is the first step but we know that a dedicated platform is what some retailers want to see introduced,” says Wright.

“We’re working with third-party suppliers, such as SentrySIS, Retail AI and Aura, on building the platform. Work is ongoing to address any technical limitations, just so that we can ensure that that product is user friendly and it meets the needs of retailers and Police Scotland.”

MAKING IT EASIER TO SHARE CCTV Digital Evidence Sharing Capability, known as DESC, completed rollout across all Police Scotland divisions in September 2025.

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

www.slrmag.co.uk

Inspector Emma Wright | Retail Crime

Cover Story

ED WITH “When using the online reporting form, retailers will be shared a DESC link and then they use that to send CCTV footage direct to our system,” says Wright.

This saves time by eliminating the need to provide footage physically via USB sticks or discs and significantly reduces the risk of footage being lost before it can be secured.

“It allows us to have the CCTV evidence at the time of the first hearing at court, which can really speed up the criminal justice process.”

FASTER COURT RESOLUTIONS The Summary Case Management (SCM) initiative was rolled out to all Sheriff Courts in Scotland earlier this year, requiring the police to submit key evidence in shoplifting cases to the Crown at the time of reporting. That key evidence will be disclosed early to the defence with a view to achieving a swifter resolution.

“It doesn’t just save us time, because that evidence is there up front, it allows for discussions at the court there and then to either resolve a case, perhaps at the first hearing, or resolve it very soon afterwards, which reduces the amount of witnesses called from retail to go to court,” states Wright. “So it reduces police officers needing to go as witnesses, but it also reduces the time and impact on retailers who might get called to court as a witness.”

LOCAL POLICING INITIATIVES All 13 of Scotland’s local policing divisions submitted bids to get Retail Crime Taskforce funding in its first year.

“We’ve had over 80 different bids that have been approved and all have undertaken initiatives that work with local retailers to improve engagement and reduce retail crime,” says Wright.

Initiatives include high-visibility and plainclothes police patrols, the provision of posters and leaflets, and local radio schemes such as the Shopwatch scheme in Edinburgh.

“Essential Edinburgh funded the majority of that project, but we were able to provide some additional funding for additional radio sets and pieces of equipment like earpieces to help,” says Wright. “Retailers really feel that it not only increased their safety, but it has increased shopper safety too and retailers feel like they have a network. That’s been really positive and www.slrmag.co.uk

we’ve seen that expanding from Edinburgh into areas in Leith as well.”

BANNING OFFENDERS FROM SHOPS Where appropriate, officers will seek a preventative order for high-harm offenders.

“We’ve got orders called post-conviction ASBOs, which can be applied on conviction for a retail crime offence that involves antisocial behaviour,” explains Wright. “They’re really useful where an offender may get a noncustodial sentence or a short custodial sentence.

They can be imposed for a period of time and that period is open-ended in terms of what can be applied by the courts. It can prevent the offender from going back and re-victimising the stores that they’ve targeted previously. Then if they breach that order, they would be liable for arrest and it’s imprisonable.”

The Taskforce has already secured a threeyear post-conviction ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) in respect of a male who had been targeting businesses in the northwest of Edinburgh. The shop ban will kick in after he has served a 14-month custodial sentence.

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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Cover Story

Retail Crime | Inspector Emma Wright

The Taskforce has also been raising awareness of ASBOs with colleagues in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

“We’ve been making them aware that it’s an option they’ve got to strengthen their sentencing options,” she says.

RAISING VICTIM IMPACT AWARENESS The team has also been highlighting the effect of shoplifting on shopworkers’ mental health to argue the need for ASBOs. “Shop theft isn’t just a victimless crime where the shopkeeper is losing financially, it causes fear and anxiety in the shop workers when a repeat offender comes in,” says Wright. “Showing the impact has allowed us to get the orders in these cases. Where we have used them, we’ve seen a real difference.”

Raising awareness of the devastating impact of retail crime goes far beyond the courts. The Taskforce has been providing advice on conflict resolution and staff safety, while issuing posters to be displayed in store stating that offences against staff will not be tolerated and that retailers are working with the police.

The Taskforce has also worked with other groups, including Crimestoppers, trade union Usdaw, the National Business Crime Centre, the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation to spread the word.

“We’ve been involved in all of their campaigns to support awareness about retail worker offences and push that behaviour change messaging amongst offenders and the community that it’s not victimless.”

EDUCATION AND DIVERSION INITIATIVES Victim impact awareness is also being used in educational and diversion programmes supported by the Taskforce to further reduce offending.

As an example, Wright points to a scheme called Supporting Opportunities for Life (SOL), which works with young offenders and those at risk of offending in Lothian and Borders.

Through a restorative justice approach, young people attend meetings alongside shopworkers to understand the real impact of retail crime.

They are also paired with peer mentors — for example, ex-offenders — who draw on personal experience to communicate consequences in a relatable and impactful way.

“We’ve been able to expand their funding, and we’ll also be looking at carrying on that education piece around behaviour change in year two with a particular focus around offending by young people,” says Wright.

RESALE MARKET CRACKDOWN PLANS Over the coming months, the Taskforce is also planning to increase its focus on the resale market, where stolen goods are being sold on.

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“We have had increased information about that in year one and we’ve been able to act on it,” says Wright. “We’ve been able to work with Trading Standards and we’ve been able to undertake warrants activity and go out and seize suspected stolen goods that are being resold. But we need more information about that.”

She hopes that working more closely with retailers will help unlock further intelligence.

“What we are finding is quite often shop staff or small retailers who are being targeted know where their goods are being sold on. So we need that information to get fed in so that we can start to target those markets because if there isn’t a resale market, people won’t steal the goods.”

WORK WITH THE FORCE There are lots of different ways retailers can share intelligence with the Taskforce, including talking to the police directly or via the dedicated Taskforce email address.

“We’ve seen intelligence submissions increasing as a result of the work that we’re doing locally with the Taskforce,” says Wright.

“If people don’t feel confident reporting directly to the police, Crimestoppers is another option to report information anonymously and that will filter through to us.

“In some areas, retailers are signed up to [crime partnerships, such as] Retailers Against Crime, so that’s another way that information can be shared. We can join up the intelligence, link together cases and identify offenders.”

Contact the Taskforce directly on: SCDRetailCrimeTaskForce@scotland.police.uk Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/ forms/pre-form

HAVE YOUR SAY The Taskforce wants SLR readers to join its new quarterly Teams forum for small, independent retailers. Information exchanged in the forums can prove crucial.

“Sometimes the people that we know are causing the most harm may not be the same as those people that are causing the retailers the most harm,” says Wright. “It may be that that person hadn’t been identified yet or the crimes hadn’t been reported into police, so we don’t actually know the volume of what’s occurring and we can then tailor our response to the people that are affecting the retailers the most.”

The next meeting is at 11am on 19 August.

Contact: SCDRetailCrimeTaskForcePrevent@ Scotland.police.uk for a link to the forum.

GROWING TRUST While there’s clearly still plenty of work to be done, there are positive signs that Scottish retailers are beginning to have more faith in the police. www.slrmag.co.uk

Inspector Emma Wright | Retail Crime

In the 2024/2025 Scottish Grocers’ Federation Crime Report, almost half (48.2%) of retailers said that they were not likely to report to the police. In 2025/2026, this figure has fallen to just 10.9%.

“We know that confidence in the police response is improving,” says Wright. “Coupled with making reporting easier, this is leading to an increase in reports and that’s what we are seeing.”

At the end of May, year-to-date figures show the number of shoplifting crimes recorded had increased 26.8%, equating to around 183 crimes per day (up from 146 crimes per day last year).

“The increase that we’re getting now is perhaps not reflective of a huge increase in offences,” says Wright. “It’s perhaps the industry data and the police data coming together and meeting. So we’re getting a more accurate picture of what’s happening. We don’t doubt that there is some increase still, but certainly some of that is about the reporting and confidence picture.”

Cover Story

of confidence, and people feeling that nothing was being done about retail crime,” says Wright.

“I would say a huge thank you to retailers. We’ve had a bit of a hill to climb in gaining that trust and confidence, but retailers have embraced it and they have come on board, so we just need to keep doing more of that.”

KEEP THE FAITH Wright is keen to acknowledge the support retailers have given the Taskforce so far.

“We know that prior to the Taskforce being formed, the picture was increased offences, a loss

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AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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News

Products

Theme park recycling lark Coca-Cola and Merlin Entertainments have brought back their reverse vending machine recycling scheme for a fifth year, giving shoppers the chance to win VIP experiences at UK family attractions. The summer promotion invites consumers to recycle an empty 500ml plastic bottle at specially designed reverse vending machines across participating Merlin attractions to be entered into a prize draw.

Wheat in spotlight McVitie’s is launching new packaging for its Original Digestives to highlight its use of 100% British wheat and support for British farming. New packs feature ‘100% British Wheat’ and ‘Partnering with Farmers’ messages, reflecting growing interest in food provenance. The update also shines a light on

Product News THE RISE OF SMOKELESS ALTERNATIVES – P50 SOFT DRINKS Buy five cases to enter draw

Win a £10k store makeover courtesy of Rubicon Rubicon is giving independent retailers the chance to win a £10k store makeover as part of its ‘Big Flavour Behaviour’ summer campaign.

Retailers who purchase five cases of Rubicon products in depot or online from a qualifying wholesaler can enter online with proof of purchase.

Prizes include a £10,000 store makeover, Rubicon-branded hoodies, duffel bags and sliders.

The competition, running until 8 August, forms part of AG Barr’s biggest-ever marketing investment for the brand.

The wider campaign includes TV, out-of-home, digital and experiential activity, alongside the nationwide distribution of more than 700,000 samples.

Cases can be any flavour, with either plain or PMPs. Full terms and conditions and prize details are available at winwithrubicon.com.

pladis’ Back to Farm programme, which helps British farmers introduce regenerative farming methods.

Pressing need met Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I has invested £14.5m in a blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire. The site is operational in time for this year’s harvest and will press and concentrate around 10,500 tonnes of fruit for use in Ribena over six weeks. It is located closer to key blackcurrant growing regions and Suntory’s factory, supporting efficiency

FOOD TO GO

Rollover launches Spider-Man campaign Rollover is marking the launch of the new Spider-Man movie with a competition giving shoppers the chance to win a family trip to Barcelona.

To enter, shoppers scan the QR code on co-branded Rollover Original Hotdog packaging or in-store POS. The competition runs until 17 August and is backed by social media and digital out-of-home advertising.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrived exclusively in cinemas on 29 July.

across the supply chain.

Charity milestone Weetabix Food Company has given the equivalent of 25 million breakfasts to UK charities and community groups since 2014, marking a milestone in its efforts to tackle food insecurity. The business has worked with food redistribution charity Felix, formerly FareShare, for over a decade to help ensure surplus cereal reaches those in need.

The partnership has supported more than 8,000 charities and community groups UK-wide.

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SOFT DRINKS £250 gift cards up for grabs

Pepsi has prizes for retailers

TS team up Oreo and B limited-edition

BISCUITS

ched a BTS. Oreo has laun an boy band ith South Kore w t n ee tio sw ra a bo e colla atur S Cookies fe street food an The Oreo & BT re Ko a , d by hotteok crème inspire gar. with brown su d le fil e rent designs, pancak ffe di x feature si k The biscuits BTS light stic e ber names, th on s em m aw g dr in gn ud incl ing desi logo. Packag ferencing re , re ltu and the BTS cu t s street marke ok.

South Korea’ ed with hotte ods associat fo d an 0, .6 ts £1 gh P of the si ck has a an RS of £1.

Each 157g pa l price na io ot om pr a supported by

Carlsberg Britvic is giving convenience retailers the chance to win one of three £250 experience gift cards to mark the launch of its Pepsi Zero Sugar Ice Cream Flavour range.

The competition runs until 17 August through the drinks giant’s At Your Convenience platform. Retailers can enter by signing up or logging in and completing an entry form with their name, store name and email address.

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

www.slrmag.co.uk

Products

SOFT DRINKS Two‑litre price mark reduced by more than 10%

Fanta PMP prices cut Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has launched a limited-time £1.89 price-marked pack promotion across its 2L Fanta range.

Available now while stocks last, the promotion reduces Fanta 2L price-marked packs from £2.15 to £1.89 across Fanta Orange and Fanta Fruit Twist.

Fanta Lemon has also been introduced in a 2L price-marked pack for the first time, at the same price.

The packs feature front-of-pack pricing and “When It’s Gone, It’s Gone” messaging to highlight the offer on shelf.

Convenience retailers can access POS materials and downloadable digital assets via MyCCEP.com to support the offer in-store.

CONFECTIONERY

Swizzels and Days Out With The Kids team up Swizzels has collaborated with Day Out With The Kids to launch exclusive discounts across its Scrumptious Sweets, Luscious Lollies and Curious Chews variety packs.

The promotion gives shoppers the chance to win one of 5,000 annual VIP passes, which offer hundreds of discounts on UK attractions.

Even if shoppers do not win, they will receive a free threemonth family pass with every purchase to help them save money on days out throughout the summer.

www.slrmag.co.uk

News

STOCK UP NOW! NEW

FRESH & CHILLED You cannot be serious

Del Monte cuts Wimbledon queue

Del Monte treated queueing Wimbledon fans to complimentary haircuts inspired by iconic tennis hairstyles to promote its Fresh Cut fruit range.

The brand set up a ‘Fresh Cuts’ barber experience, offering trims modelled on wellknown looks from the sport while distributing samples of its fresh fruit to those waiting to enter the tournament. Celebrity hairstylist Tobias Bell cut hair in a pop-up barber shop and offered quick touch-ups throughout the queue.

Del Monte research revealed that 70s superstar Björn Borg’s headband and long flowing locks was the sport’s most iconic hairstyle.

The activity follows the brand’s new summer campaign, ‘Fresh for the Win’, supported by a partnership with British tennis player Mimi Xu.

BE BOLD. BE MEATY. AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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News

Off-Trade

Funkin backs Nitro range with £500k campaign Funkin Cocktails is investing £500,000 in a nationwide summer campaign, ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Funkin’. The campaign puts the brand’s Nitro range front and centre, focusing on key consumption. Running across out-of-home, shopper marketing and social channels, the campaign is expected to deliver 200 million impressions throughout the summer.

Tomatin expands convenience reach with Booker deal Highland whisky distillery Tomatin has strengthened its presence in the convenience channel after securing a listing with Booker Wholesale for its Tomatin Double Cask single malt. The listing gives the brand access to 22 Booker depots across Scotland and the potential to reach more than 500

Off-TradeNews FORECOURTS FORGING AHEAD – P54 WINE New campaign hits multiple consumer touchpoints

Jacob’s Creek chills in support of refreshed range Jacob’s Creek has launched ‘Welcome to the Creek’, a summer campaign supporting its refreshed UK range that is running across TV, streaming, digital, social, outdoor and retail. It includes in-store activation, sampling, customer-led activity and a Disney+ sponsorship.

The refreshed range focuses on lighter, more refreshing styles and clear taste descriptors.

The campaign is designed to build awareness before store, create visibility in store and drive trial through the summer.

Premier stores. The expression has an RSP of £37.75 for a 70cl bottle.

Chouffe Cherry lands in Co-op Belgian beer brand Chouffe is expanding its UK retail presence with the nationwide launch of Chouffe Cherry in Co-op stores.

The listing follows 50% year-todate volume growth for Chouffe Cherry compared with the same period in 2025. Brewed in the Belgian Ardennes, Chouffe Cherry (8% ABV) combines La Chouffe with cherry flavour,

RTDs

CIDER

Four Loko has added a Raspberry Ripple variant to its UK range.

The new vodka-based RTD combines vanilla ice cream sweetness with raspberry flavour and is available in a caffeine-free 8.4% ABV format.

Raspberry Ripple Four Loko Jackpot is available in 440ml cans with a £3.69 RSP. Red Star Brands is supporting the launch with in-store POS materials alongside social media activity, influencer campaigns, competitions and branded merchandise.

Asahi has unveiled a new Cornish Orchards 4x440ml multipack with an RSP of £5.75.

The launch follows the return of the brand’s ‘Can You Trust Your Cider?’ campaign for a second year, highlighting that Cornish Orchards is made from 100% fresh-pressed UK apples and never from concentrate.

Part of Cornish Orchards’ biggest-ever media spend, the campaign spans digital, social, influencer and out-of-home advertising. Investment has increased by 11% compared with 2025 and also includes substantial on-trade activity.

For support on growing cider sales, Asahi advised retailers to visit asahibeer. co.uk/sales.

Four Loko hits jackpot with Raspberry Ripple

sweet notes, subtle spice and a smooth finish.

APERITIFS New drink inspired by flavours of Spain

UK push for Spanish and Portuguese wines

Freixenet unveils aperitif

Iberian wine producers have

Freixenet is expanding its presence in the growing spritz category with the launch of Freixenet Solare, a new Mediterranean aperitivo.

Made with Spanish lemon, clementine, rosemary and a number of botanicals, it comes in both 70cl bottles and 250ml cans, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic variants available.

The launch is supported by Freixenet’s new ‘Taste the Sun’ campaign.

launched a three-year campaign to raise awareness of Spanish and Portuguese wines in the UK. The campaign will highlight the diversity, heritage and sustainability credentials of wines from Spain and Portugal, which together represent the largest vineyard area in the world

Cornish Orchards launches new four-pack

and are home to hundreds of indigenous grape varieties.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Off-Trade

News

Damm ramps up UK growth Damm reported worldwide net profit of €155m for 2025, with the UK delivering strong growth.

The Barcelona-based brewer acquired Old Speckled Hen last

CIDER Brand unveils first cloudy variant alongside new promo

Brothers Cider adds Wild Cloudy Apple

month, with the addition of the

Brothers Cider has launched its first cloudy apple variant, adding 7.0% ABV Wild Cloudy Apple to its line-up.

Lightly sparkling and naturally cloudy, Wild Cloudy Apple comes in 500ml single cans with an RSP of £1.75. The premium cider has a hazy, unfiltered appearance.

It launches alongside an on-pack competition running until the end of September that gives shoppers buying any Brothers can the chance to win one of hundreds of prizes. As well as multiple £1,000 top prizes, festival packages, athome party bundles, cases of cider and Brothers merchandise are up for grabs.

than £70m has been invested in

The promotion, the brand’s biggest this year, is supported by social media, in-store and digital activity, alongside Spotify and podcast advertising.

This spring, the brand also introduced a 1.2% ABV Cider Shandy range.

Apple is by far the most popular flavour in the cider category, accounting for 60% of total sales.

Furthermore, Premium apple is the fastestgrowing segment, up 8.5%.

well-established premium ale range expanding its footprint in traditional beer segments.

The deal builds on ongoing development at the Damm Eagle Brewery in Bedford, where more recent years.

House of Botanicals launches vermouth The House of Botanicals has expanded its Pietro Nicola aperitivi and digestivo range with the launch of Sfizi Extra Dry Vermouth. Produced in Aberdeen, the vermouth is made by fortifying Italian white wine and aromatising it with wormwood and 12 additional citrus peels, herbs, flowers, seeds and spices. It has an RSP

RTDs Will Brits go loco for Calimocho?

19 Crimes mixes red wine and cola for latest launch

Treasury Wine Estates has launched 19 Crimes Calimocho, a lighter wine-based drink, in the UK. Calimocho is inspired by Spain’s Kalimotxo cocktail, a mixture of equal parts red wine and cola.

The range is available in two variants. The first stays close to the original, blending Shiraz with cola, while the second is a more off-piste option combining white wine with lemon.

Both are 9% ABV and come in 75cl bottles with an RSP of £9. The range is initially rolling out into Morrisons at a promotional price of £7.50.

The launch is supported by the brand’s debut TikTok campaign, designed to “put Calimocho on the radar of those wanting to kick back and have fun this summer”.

It comes as consumer demand for lower-ABV wine options continues to grow.

BEER

Foster’s launches darts promo with Australia trip up for grabs Foster’s has launched a new on-pack promotion tied to its ongoing partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation, giving shoppers the chance to win a family trip to Australia as well other darts-related prizes.

Running from now until 31 October 2026, the promotion is available across all Foster’s and Foster’s Proper Shandy formats, including price-marked packs.

The top prize is a seven-day trip to Australia for four people, including tickets to the 2027 Australian Darts Masters, alongside a range of Foster’s-branded merchandise.

To enter, shoppers need to buy a participating pack and scan a QR code, or enter via the brand’s Good Call Darts Club platform.

of £21.50 for a 50cl bottle, with an ABV of 18%.

SIBA wins for Loch Lomond Loch Lomond Brewery won 25 medals, including 12 golds, at this year’s SIBA Scotland Beer Awards. Its Bravehop IPA won the overall Cask Champion Award. Southern Summit struck gold in both cask and keg categories, and the alcohol-free version came top in 440ml cans.

The Dumbarton-based brewer will now represent Scotland at the UK Indie Beer Awards National Finals next March.

Eden Mill launches Summer in St Andrews gin Eden Mill’s new limited edition coastal Scottish gin is inspired by the flavours of the distillery’s hometown during the summer months. Bottled at 40% ABV, the gin has notes of lemon, rhubarb, raspberries and strawberries.

Summer in St Andrews is available now from the Eden Mill distillery shop, edenmill.com, and via selected trade partners.

It has an RSP of £32 for a 70cl bottle, with 500 bottles produced.

www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

23

Inside Business

GroceryAid Scotland | Checkout Scotland 2026

WIN TICKETS TO CHECKOUT SCOTLAND 2026!

C SLR is once again offering local retailers the chance to win one of 15 pairs of tickets to Checkout Scotland 2026, the flagship music festival from the GroceryAid Scotland committee!

27th August 2026 BAaD, Glasgow

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tickets up for grabs!

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

heckout Scotland, the unmissable flagship music festival organised by the Scottish committee of industry charity GroceryAid, is set to return next month for another unforgettable evening of fantastic fun and banging tunes with over 600 industry colleagues.

Since its launch in 2022, Checkout Scotland has established itself as one of the highlights of the Scottish local retailing calendar and it continues to gather momentum with every passing year.

Last year saw Callum Beattie and Peter Andre whip the crowd into a frenzy and this year is set to be just as spectacular with the inimitable Nathan Evans and the Saint Phnx Band confirmed among the headline acts, fresh from performing at the official opening of the Commonwealth Games.

If you fancy being in on the act, SLR has 30 tickets to give away to local retailers and readers of SLR. To have a chance of winning one of 15 pairs of tickets, all you have to do is email your: Q Name Q Store name and location Q Phone number to abegley@55north.com and every entry will go into the magic SLR hat with the winners drawn at random. It’s that simple.

SLR Publisher Antony Begley, Co-Chair of Checkout Scotland 2026, commented: “Checkout has become one of the biggest and most popular events in the Scottish local retailing sector in a very short space of time and we intend to keep that momentum going this time around.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for the industry to come together, have some fun, hear some great music and spend some quality downtime with industry colleagues.

“We are delighted to have secured Nathan Evans and the Saint Phnx Band who are riding high at the moment. We are always keen to deliver top-quality Scottish talent for our audience, as we did with Callum Beattie last year.

“And just as we had Peter Andre last time around, we also plan to unveil another top tier crowd-pleasing act in the very near future.

Watch this space… But whatever you do, don’t miss out.” www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

SLR Awards 2026 Winners’ Profile | David’s Kitchen

VISION AND DRIVE KEEP IT HOT IN THE KITCHEN The ground‑breaking David’s Kitchen business all but invented food‑to‑go in local retailing more than a decade ago and has secured long‑ term success by remaining faithful to its original vision all these years later.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

W

hen directors Keith Fernie and Diane Greenough strode onto stage to collect the coveted Scottish Local Retailer of the Year Award on behalf of the David’s Kitchen business, one of four awards they collected on the evening, it was yet another milestone in the journey of a remarkable and visionary business.

It’s difficult to appreciate all these years later just how innovative David’s Kitchen was when the first store opened in Glenrothes back in 2014. This was a store built to focus squarely on food-to-go. Yes, it had a traditional convenience range too but that was – and remains – very much a sideshow to the main food-to-go event.

FOOD-TO-GO?

CHRISTIE CO

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Back in 2014, however, food-to-go just wasn’t a thing in local retailing. Who wanted to buy hot food from a corner shop? Who wanted to buy their ready-to-eat breakfast or lunch from a convenience store? The prevailing logic at the time was that it made no sense.

There was one man, however, who had very little time for prevailing logic: David Sands had long travelled the globe visiting stores with a notepad in hand and an open mind. If foodto-go in small-format retailing was so big in so many countries – particularly Ireland – why wouldn’t it work in Scotland?

Armed with this vision and fresh from having sold his eponymous David Sands chain of 28 stores to the Co-op for lots of millions in 2012, probably somewhere between £10m and £15m, Sands had the idea, the time and the capital he needed to bring his idea to life.

CASH PROFIT There are many aspects of the David’s Kitchen business that were ahead of their time but possibly the most fundamental was Sands’ commitment to focusing ruthlessly on one thing: cash profit. Not sales. Not POR. Cash profit and cash profit only.

A decade ago, most retailers simply felt that if you kept the weekly sales figure high enough the profits would take care of themselves. And back then, they were mostly right. But times change and life can get a lot tougher very quickly, as all retailers have discovered over the last seven or eight years.

And this is where Sands’ food-to-go vision was so innovative. Food-to-go is very high margin. We’re not talking the single-figure margins of tobacco or the 10% or 15% on lots of alcohol or even the 30% on many own-brand lines. We’re talking 70%, 80% and more.

The flipside, of course, is that food-to-go is also very difficult to do. Or, to be more precise, it’s very difficult to do well. It requires some capital expenditure, it requires lots of staff, it requires www.slrmag.co.uk

David’s Kitchen | SLR Awards 2026 Winners’ Profile

Inside Business

WATCH THE VIDEO FOOD-TO-GO RETAILER OF THE YEAR DAVID’S KITCHEN BO’NESS

www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

27

Inside Business

SLR Awards 2026 Winners’ Profile | David’s Kitchen

WATCH THE VIDEO SCOTTISH BRANDS RETAILER OF THE YEAR DAVID’S KITCHEN BO’NESS

a much more intense focus on presentation, it involves a lot of health and safety issues. But most of all, it requires a different mentality.

Sands understood all of that and set about building a bespoke model. Glenrothes was built with a professional kitchen in situ. The vast majority of food on sale would be made in-store, to max out the margins. The store layout was conceived to unapologetically make sure that the first thing customers would see when they walked through the door was food-to-go, both hot and cold.

However, Sands also knew that the store would still need a traditional convenience range – but that part of his store’s offer was both literally and metaphorically to one side of the main attraction.

LOCAL SOURCING If food-to-go was the headline event, the key supporting act was local sourcing, again something that was far from common back then. In his vision, Sands saw David’s Kitchen as being a true destination store – and you couldn’t achieve that by stocking a bog-standard range of big brand products. The key was to work closely with local butchers, bakers, confectionery businesses and so on, which ensured that much of what consumers would find in the store, they wouldn’t find anywhere else in the area. That plan had the added benefit of tapping into the brand loyalty that was already enjoyed by these local suppliers.

And the final benefit was that local products often commanded premium pricing and thus bigger margins. Sands predicted that customers would be prepared to pay more for high-quality, locally produced lines. And it turns out he was right.

VOLUME CHALLENGE The biggest challenge that Sands faced is the same one that any business launching a foodto-go offer for the first time faces: getting the sales volumes up without incurring horrendous waste. Many customers won’t buy fresh, chilled or hot food from a two-thirds empty chiller or hot hold. They get confidence from a fully stocked, pristinely clean unit. That’s a hard circle to square. Pack all the chillers and hot holds full and you’ll give yourself a fighting chance of driving sales – but you also know that a lot of that lovely short-dated product is likely to end up in the bin unsold.

Keith and Diane readily admit that the first few months were challenging on that front, but they stuck to their guns and, before long, the volumes started rocketing. It was game on for David’s Kitchen.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

A RETAILER-FIRST INDUSTRY FORUM

BY THE TEAM BEHIND SLR

HEADLINE PARTNER

FREE to attend for all local retailers

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRS IN ONE DAY. Success with DRS is Scotland’s retailer-first event designed to help local retailers prepare for the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme.

 Exchange for Change speakers  Expert Guidance from retailers, wholesalers and suppliers  Retailer Insights from Ireland  Live demos of leading Technology & Solutions  Practical Advice

28 OCTOBER 2026

200 SVS, GLASGOW

SOLUTIONS PARTNERS

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT: HELEN LYONS, SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR hlyons@55north.com 07575 959915 FOR GENERAL INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER TO ATTEND, CONTACT: CARA BEGLEY, EVENTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER cbegley@55north.com 07967 022 506

Inside Business

SLR Awards 2026 Winners’ Profile | David’s Kitchen

WATCH THE VIDEO NEW STORE OF THE YEAR DAVID’S KITCHEN BO’NESS

GOOD TO GO Over the ensuing years, food-to-go finally did start to become a thing in local retailing and really started gaining momentum – just before Covid brought that bandwagon to a screeching halt.

But the fact that David’s Kitchen did it first and did it best gave it a massive advantage when times got tough. With a committed, loyal customer base, the Glenrothes store could confidently pack the chillers and hot holds all day long knowing that very little of it would end up in the food recycling bin.

Only a year into the journey, a second David’s Kitchen store opened in Falkirk in 2015. In 2019, a further store was added in Kirkcaldy then, last year, the Bo’ness store was unveiled.

CONSISTENT DRIVE Now, around a dozen years into the journey, the business has thrived by staying entirely true to its roots and to that same vision that inspired the launch of the business in the first place. David’s Kitchen remains just as committed to food-togo and local sourcing as its foundational planks as it was on day one. Yes, there have been many tweaks and evolutions and improvements along the way but fundamentally it remains the same business.

The range has been expanded and honed over the years, the kitchen now operates a night shift to cope with demand, self-scan tills have been added, a large contract catering business has evolved in tandem and so on, but David’s Kitchen remains more or less as it was founded.

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Even the new Bo’ness store is an evolution rather than a revolution. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke. It takes the best of the other stores and combines them in a more modern presentation – but it’s instantly recognisable as a David’s Kitchen store.

The net result? The business does margins most retailers can only dream of – north of 40% across the store – and it does weekly sales volumes that are equally impressive, particularly in the original Glenrothes store.

WORTHY WINNERS So it should come as no surprise that as well as David’s Kitchen being named Scottish Local Retailer of the Year at the SLR Awards in June, the Bo’ness store also picked up three other accolades: New Store of the Year, Food-to-Go Retailer of the Year and Scottish Brands Retailer of the Year.

A word of praise must also go to the astonishingly passionate team behind the success. Built and led by Keith and Diane, the teams in each store consistently demonstrate an energy, enthusiasm and friendliness that is infectious and unmistakably helps create that special vibe that customers can instantaneously sense when they walk into a good, well-run store.

It’s also worth mentioning that the judges visited David’s Kitchen stores on at least a dozen occasions and not once were the stores anything less than immaculate. That’s no mean feat and it speaks to the pride of the people who make the business so very special. www.slrmag.co.uk

David’s Kitchen | SLR Awards 2026 Winners’ Profile

Inside Business

WATCH THE VIDEO SCOTTISH LOCAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR DAVID’S KITCHEN

www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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Inside Business

Success With DRS

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ONE DAY SLR’s new event will give you everything you need to know to make a success of DRS – all in one day.

O

ctober 2026 marks the 12-month countdown until the implementation of the new Deposit Return Scheme, one of the biggest operational challenges that local retailers have faced since the introduction of the National Lottery in 1994.

Having lived through the first attempt to implement a DRS in Scotland, local retailers are all too familiar with the time-consuming challenges that lie ahead. Which is why it’s vital to prepare for DRS 2.0 in good time. To help you do just that, SLR is hosting a special one-day event to provide retailers with everything they need to know – and all in just one day.

AHEAD OF THE GAME

FREE to attend for

all local Held on 28 October in Glasgow and with the support of Headline Partner Cocaretailers Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), Success with DRS will arm you with the knowledge and advice you need to ensure that when October 2027 rolls around, you will be fully ready to take advantage of the many opportunities that will present themselves in terms of retaining and growing footfall, sales and profits – while also helping make a massive and instant positive impact on the fantastic environment that makes Scotland famous the world over.

Whether you are a knowledgeable veteran of DRS or you’ve never put much thought into it, Success with DRS will get you up to speed in a single day.

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

STELLAR CAST Speakers on the day will include Jonathan Kemp, former Commercial Director of AG Barr and now Non-Executive Director of Exchange for Change, the scheme administrator. A man who knows local retailing inside out, Kemp will detail the impressive progress made so far by Exchange for Change as well as outlining what remains to be done to ensure that the scheme is fully ready in time for its October 2027 debut. He will also detail precisely what local retailers in Scotland will need to do in order to make sure they are in a position to fully exploit the opportunity.

Also on stage will be Chris Furey, Director of Furey Smyth Retail, a family-owned independent Irish retail business that operates a network of community-based Eurospar stores across Ireland. Chris will share his first-hand experience of DRS since it was launched in Ireland on 1 February 2024.

He will also offer invaluable advice driven by the learnings his business has made during the launch of DRS and since.

Attendees will also hear from Scottish local retailers, wholesalers and suppliers discussing how the implementation of DRS affects their part of the supply chain and what that may mean for local retailers.

Panel sessions will take a deep dive into a number of real-world issues that are likely to face retailers in the run-up to the launch of DRS and beyond, and an open-floor Q&A session will allow attendees to pose any questions they have to the experts on the day.

In addition, we will host a Dragon’s Den-style series of brief presentations by a range of solutions providers, offering attendees the chance to learn more about some of the key options available to them. www.slrmag.co.uk

Success With DRS

Inside Business

28 October 2026

HEADLINE PARTNER

200 SVS, Glasgow City Centre

SOLUTIONS PARTNERS

www.slrmag.co.uk

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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Inside Business

Success With DRS

SUCCESS WITH DRS:

AGENDA

MORNING

AFTERNOON

REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS

RETAILER REALITY CHECK Leading Scottish local retailer in conversation with:

WELCOME AND INDUSTRY OVERVIEW Antony Begley – Publisher & Editor, SLR

Q

Antony Begley Lessons from Ireland: what Scottish retailers can learn

Q

Chris Furey, Furey Smyth Retail, Kildare Retailer solutions sessions

WELCOME FROM OUR HEADLINE PARTNER CCEP DRS: THE ROAD TO OCTOBER 2027 Jonathan Kemp, Non‑Executive Director, Exchange for Change MIDDAY

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES: PREPARING THE SECTOR Q Supplier view Q Wholesaler view Q Logistics provider view Q Additional stakeholders

MAINSTAGE RVM SUPPLIER PARTNER PRESENTATIONS: Q RVM Systems Q Envipco Q Tomra Q Carnaud MetalBox RVM Solutions Q Reborn/Trovr OPEN RETAILER FORUM Q&A Live audience discussions

NETWORKING LUNCH

TASTE AND TRY Having learned all that they need to know about DRS in the first session, the second session will allow attendees to see first‑hand a selection of reverse vending machines and semi‑ automated manual handling systems from the UK’s leading suppliers:

Representatives from each solution provider will be on hand to answer any questions you have about any aspect of DRS.

ARMED AND READY Our aim is that by the time retailers leave, they will fully understand the Deposit Return Scheme and what it means for their business and will be well on the journey to finding the most appropriate solution for their business. All in one day.

To book your FREE retailer place, email cbegley@55north.com or visit slrmag.co.uk/success-with-drs/

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

Interview | Moira Dean

A FOND FAREWELL MOIRA DEAN Top manager Moira Dean talks us through her decision to leave Premier DUSA

BY SARAH BRITTON

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SLR | AUGUST 2026

A

fter a decade at the heart of convenience retail, Moira Dean has made the difficult decision to leave the sector and take on a new role at Costa Coffee.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Moira knows what a force of energy she is.

When she took the reins at Premier DUSA (Dundee University Students’ Association), she was determined to build the team’s confidence and encourage them to reach for the sky.

“I was just giving the team the belief that they could do it,” she says. “For me, it’s always the staff and team that come first and then everything else will follow after it.”

She was exactly the shot in the arm the store needed, and it has gone from strength to strength under her management.

Having attended the SLR Awards in June this year, Moira, accompanied by staff member Jackie, picked up the store’s fourth consecutive Sustainability Retailer of the Year accolade. It was a fitting way to cap off a remarkable chapter at Premier DUSA. Having achieved so much success, she describes opting to step away from her role as “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make”.

While no single factor prompted her departure, the increasingly difficult operating environment facing convenience retailers played a significant role, particularly rising legislative pressures and escalating retail crime.

“Shoplifting has not helped,” she says. “It’s just getting unbelievable now. Nothing seems to be on the side of the retailer these days. It just seems to be one hurdle after another.”

The situation was compounded by the fact that the University of Dundee is currently at the centre of a financial crisis. Although employed

by DUSA, rather than the university itself, Moira

says the store is closely tied to the fortunes of the institution.

The university has cut DUSA’s funding by 34%, and with hundreds of university redundancies announced, she has witnessed first-hand the impact on staff and the local community.

“You see people coming in who have been here 30 years and they’ve just been told they’re being made redundant,” she says.

The uncertainty surrounding the university’s future inevitably affected the store’s outlook.

“They’re all our customers during the summer while there’s no students,” she explains. “You start to wonder how safe is it if they make any more redundancies?”

While feeling overwhelmingly guilty about leaving her team, she thinks “the time is right” and knows that they are more than capable.

“My team are brilliant,” she says. “I’ve got them where they need to be. They don’t need me now. They are more than great at what they do.”

She’s not wrong – they even picked up Team of the Year at the 2025 Above & Beyond Awards!

Parting ways with her industry peers is another huge wrench. “Sitting at the SLR Awards with that wider retail family and real friends that I’ve found – Antony and Cara Begley, Natalie Lightfoot, Nathalie Fullerton, Graham Watson, Guna and Shamly Sud, and everyone else – I said to Jackie, ‘If anything could change my mind about what I’m thinking of doing, it would be this.’”

But ultimately, she had to prioritise her own wellbeing. “That’s been the hardest thing, putting me first instead of here and the team,” she says. “I just thought in the end, life’s a bit too short, so I’m going to make the move.”

Team SLR wishes Moira every success in her new role. Given everything she has achieved at Premier DUSA, we’re sure it won’t be long before she’s making her mark at Costa too. www.slrmag.co.uk

CONFERENCE CUSTOMER & COMMUNITY: MORE THAN A STORE 18TH NOVEMBER 2026 8.30AM - 4.00PM DOUBLETREE BY HILTON, GLASGOW

Be present at the SGF’s flagship event with 400 key personnel from the convenience sector, including the key retail buyers/decision makers within the industry.

BOOK AN EXHIBITION SLOT NOW: email pauline@sgfscot.co.uk

YOUR EXHIBITION SLOT INCLUDES: 6FT table, chairs, space for one pull-up banner & access to power

Company logo on event page with clickthrough to company website

2 x day passes to Conference

Company logo & bio in event brochure

Lunch & refreshments throughout the day

Special discounted rates are available for attendance at the Gala Dinner and accommodation

SHOWCASE YOUR SOLUTIONS: CONNECT WITH THE INDUSTRY. DRIVE GROWTH. www.sgfscot.co.uk

events@sgfscot.co.uk

0131 343 3300

Inside Business

Youth Unemployment

THE YOUNG ONES As the industry faces ever‑increasing staff costs, is hiring young people still a viable option for local retailers?

BY SARAH BRITTON

O

ver the years, convenience retailers have provided hundreds of thousands of young people with their first experience of paid work, helping build the industry’s future workforce while filling essential store roles.

In fact, retail and its supply chain account for almost a quarter of all youth employment across the UK, according to the British Retail Consortium, making the sector one of the country’s most valuable providers of entry-level jobs.

But as employment costs continue to rise through higher wage rates, National Insurance contributions and increased regulation, many retailers are warning that it is becoming harder to recruit young staff.

WAGE CHANGES Recent changes to minimum wage policy have dramatically altered the cost of employing younger workers. In April 2021, the National Living Wage age threshold was lowered from 25 to 23 years old, before being reduced again in April 2024 to include workers aged 21 and over.

The latest increases, introduced on 1 April 2026, saw workers aged 18 to 20 receive an 8.5% pay rise to £10.85 per hour, while 16 to 17-year-olds and apprentices received a 6% increase to £8 per hour. The National Living Wage now stands at £12.71 per hour, up 46% from £8.72 in 2020.

While higher wages improve living standards, many employers argue that the speed and scale of increases have created unintended consequences for young jobseekers.

Anthony Webster, Founder and Managing Director of DVF Recruitment, says: “We as a society are pricing young people out of the workplace through large increases in the National Minimum Wage and higher taxes on jobs via increases in National Insurance.”

He explains how the wage increases have impacted employers: “Back in 2020, if an employer wanted to hire a 21-year-old for 40 hours a week for a full year, it would cost them around £17,035. If that same employer wants to hire a 21-year-old on a 40-hour week today, it will cost them around £29,654 – a staggering 74% increase in the cost of employing young talent.

“So when people ask why more 21-year-olds are struggling to find work, that’s a good place to start looking.”

For many retailers operating with tight margins, these additional costs can influence recruitment decisions.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS Scottish Local Retailer of the Year 2023 Billy Gatt, who owns Premier Whitehills in Aberdeenshire, has long championed employing young people and is frustrated by the current state of affairs.

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“The number of people unemployed between the ages of 16 and 24 is scandalous,” he tells SLR. Billy believes retail jobs provide much more than a pay cheque, helping young people develop confidence, communication skills and a work ethic.

“We employ a lot of young people ourselves. I see them come through and go to full-time work, or university or college,” he says. “My grandson just started a month ago doing three hours a week after school. He’s a clever lad and he just lacked a few social skills and it’s doing him the world of good.”

However, he argues that narrowing pay differentials between younger and older workers can discourage businesses from recruiting first-time employees.

“I don’t think increasing the minimum wage year on year for youngsters is encouraging businesses to employ youngsters.

It’s actually having the opposite effect. I think that’s a mistake by the government. They cannot go backwards, but they need to slow down to maintain that gap in my opinion.”

And he warns that when wage gaps become too small, employers may not have enough incentive to train up a newbie. www.slrmag.co.uk

Youth Unemployment

Inside Business

The warning comes at a time when the retail sector has already lost around 400,000 jobs over the past decade, raising concerns that traditional routes into work could continue to shrink. The situation is particularly acute in Scottish convenience, where the SGF Scottish Local Shop Report 2025 revealed that local retailers employed 6,000 fewer people than the previous year.

The letter called on government to: Q Establish a joint government-retail taskforce focused on youth employment.

Q Reduce the cost of employing young people.

Q Ensure employment and skills reforms support entry-level recruitment and career progression.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The message from retail is clear: if government is serious about tackling youth unemployment, it cannot keep making it more expensive to create jobs.”

She added: “Retail and its supply chain account for almost a quarter of all youth employment, making our industry uniquely placed to support young people through flexible, entry-level roles and clear routes for progression. But this first step on the ladder is cracking under the weight of government-imposed costs and regulations.”

A NEW GOVERNMENT RESPONSE The government has responded with fresh measures aimed at encouraging employers to recruit younger workers.

On 30 June 2026, it launched the Youth Jobs Grant, offering employers £3,000 for every eligible young person they hire.

The initiative is designed to help up to 60,000 people aged 18 to 24 secure employment over the next three years.

Employers can apply through a simplified online process and will receive the funding in two instalments once employment and earnings have been verified by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Alongside the grant, the government is expanding intensive Jobcentre support for almost one million young people nationwide.

“When the pay band gap gets so narrow, people will want to have an older person who is more experienced, rather than training a new person to come through.”

He believes this risks depriving young people of key opportunities to enter the workforce and build social and professional skills.

“I know a lot of people don’t get the opportunity to get a job. Then they’re stuck in a rut and they don’t have any social skills. I just wish there was more incentive to get youngsters employed.”

RETAIL SOUNDS THE ALARM These concerns are not confined to individual businesses.

On 10 June, the heads of Spar UK, Scotmid and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation joined more than 80 major retail CEOs in signing a letter to the Prime Minister coordinated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The retailers demanded urgent action on the youth unemployment crisis, citing Alan Milburn’s interim report into young people and work, which warned that as many as 1.25 million under-25s could become unemployed over the next five years without effective action. www.slrmag.co.uk

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE No one would argue against the principle of ensuring workers are paid fairly. However, retailers and recruiters are increasingly questioning whether rapidly rising employment costs are unintentionally reducing opportunities for the very people policymakers are seeking to support.

The challenge for government is balancing higher wages with incentives that encourage businesses to continue hiring inexperienced workers. The newly launched Youth Jobs Grant may help offset some of the financial pressures facing employers, but many in the industry believe broader reforms will be needed if retail is to maintain its role as the UK’s most important gateway to employment.

For local retailers, the issue goes beyond employment policy. Young people represent the next generation of supervisors, managers and business owners. Ensuring they have access to that crucial first job could be just as vital for the future of local retail as it is for the future of the wider economy.

Q Apply for a Youth Jobs Grant here: find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/youth-jobs-grant-1 AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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Inside Business

SPAR Scotland Tradeshow 2026 | Collaborate

COLLABORATE AND THRIVE

SPAR Scotland retailers, representatives and suppliers are set to come together once more at the group’s spectacular annual tradeshow.

A

nother truly spectacular event awaits in Aviemore as SPAR Scotland’s annual tradeshow returns on Thursday 24 September.

The event will once again bring together hundreds of retailers, suppliers and industry representatives for what has rapidly become one of the biggest dates in the convenience

calendar.

The one-day event at the Macdonald Hotel and Resort is expected to attract more than 800 delegates, including independent SPAR retailers, company-owned store managers and CJ Lang support staff. Attendees will also include representatives from SPAR UK, SPAR International and other SPAR regional distribution centres, alongside non-SPAR retailers keen to explore the latest developments across the sector.

More than 200 FMCG suppliers are set to exhibit at the show, showcasing a wide range of products and exclusive on-the-day deals aimed at helping retailers drive sales and stay competitive in an increasingly challenging market. The tradeshow marquee, now a well-established feature of the event, will once again provide the focal point for supplier engagement.

This year’s event will be held under the theme ‘Collaborate’, highlighting the importance of partnership working across the SPAR Scotland network and the wider supply chain. The theme reflects the organisation’s focus on working closely with retailers, suppliers and stakeholders to deliver growth and innovation across the business.

The day will begin with a series of morning business briefings tailored for suppliers, retailers and CJ Lang staff. These sessions will provide an update on recent performance and outline key priorities for the months ahead.

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CJ Lang will update delegates on progress since its last business update in April, including a review of campaigns already delivered, new initiatives introduced and a forward look at upcoming developments across the business. The update will place particular emphasis on what lies ahead, giving retailers greater visibility on SPAR Scotland’s future initiatives and support.

Throughout the day, retailers will have the opportunity to engage directly with suppliers. In addition to product showcases, there will also be tailored deals designed specifically for independent stores. This remains a central draw for many attendees, offering genuine opportunities to drive margin and refresh ranging.

The tradeshow will culminate in a presentation from one of the top performance coaches in customer service, motivational speaker Alf Dunbar.

Proceedings will then continue into the evening with the highly anticipated SPAR Scotland Awards, which will take place alongside a gala dinner in the Osprey Arena. The celebrations will conclude with entertainment and dancing, providing an opportunity for delegates to network and mark the achievements of the past year.

The event’s strong focus on collaboration, commercial opportunity and insight will provide retailers with both inspiration and practical tools to support their businesses in the months ahead, while reinforcing relationships across the wider SPAR network.

With strong attendance expected and a packed programme planned, the 2026 SPAR Scotland tradeshow looks set to build on its reputation as a key event for the convenience sector. www.slrmag.co.uk

Thursday 24th September Aviemore

Scotland’s Biggest Convenience Retail Event Awaits!

Meet leading suppliers, discover the latest innovations, and find out how SPAR Scotland can help drive growth, increase sales, and support the future success of your business.

Contact us today to secure your place.

Call 01382 512000 or email sara.higgins@cjlang.co.uk

Discover Grow Your Business with SPAR Scotland

Join one of Scotland's most recognised convenience retail brands.

• Exclusive access to Barista Bar and Iceland in-store – driving footfall and increasing basket spend.

• Expand your offer with market-leading food-to-go solutions to meet growing customer demand.

• Benefit from high-impact national and regional marketing campaigns, promotions and customer giveaways.

• Competitive own-brand ranges and trusted supplier partnerships.

• Expert retail support, category advice and business development to help your store thrive.

• Be part of a successful network focused on helping independent retailers grow.

Contact us today to find out more!

www.sparscotland.co.uk

Innes MacDonald – SPAR Retailer

Call 01382 512000 or email discover@sparscotland.co.uk

Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

Swizzels Milk Drinks Delamere The range comprises three flavours in 240ml glass bottles: Squashies Drumstick Raspberry & Milk, Squashies Rhubarb & Custard and Lemon Refreshers.

All products have a £1.17 RSP. The launch marks Delamere’s first collaboration and the start of a long‑term partnership between the two brands, with further flavours under consideration for seasonal occasions later this year and beyond.

Raw Vibrant Living Organic Water Kefirs Windmill Organics Made with live cultures and low in sugar, the new drinks are naturally fermented, lightly sparkling and come in Cherry and Mango & Passionfruit flavours. Both are available in 250ml cans with an RSP of £2.89.

UK functional beverage sales are up 24.5% year on year, with nearly 30% of households now buying into the category.

Trio of Toblerone launches Mondelez has expanded its Toblerone portfolio with three new products: Toblerone Biscoff Diamond Truffles, a new 100g bar range a limited‑edition Toblerone Crispy Caramel 340g.

The Toblerone Biscoff Diamond Truffles combine Biscoff spread filling with pieces of Toblerone nougat, encased in a diamond‑shaped milk chocolate shell. The launch taps into demand for new flavour combinations, with 70% of consumers actively seeking new food concepts, while building on the existing Toblerone Truffles range, which is growing value sales by 23% year on year.

The brand has also introduced a limited‑edition Toblerone Crispy Caramel block, featuring milk chocolate with salted crispy caramel pieces.

The product will be available until the end of the Christmas season in a standard 340g block and as part of the new 100g range.

The new 100g bars, available in Milk, White Chocolate and Crispy Caramel, aim to attract younger shoppers looking for more accessible premium treats.

Research shows 72% of consumers are seeking affordable luxuries such as chocolate, supporting

Grenade Soft Core Mondelez International

Monster x Oscar Piastri CCEP

This new range of protein bars featuring a soft dough core and gooey centre. Available in Double Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavour and Golden Caramel Flavour variants, the 50g bars contain 15g of protein and fewer than 2g of sugar. They are available now in cases of 12 with a £2.95 RSP. The launch is supported by a traditional media campaign running from September to October, alongside in‑store POS materials.

A new limited‑edition design featuring Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri appears on Monster Energy Original and Monster Energy Zero Sugar, giving two of the brand’s top‑performing SKUs a refreshed look aimed at driving interest in chillers.

The cans come in both plain and price‑marked packs. Retailers can support the launch with POS materials and digital assets via MyCCEP.com.

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demand for smaller formats. The range targets evening indulgence occasions and aims to increase both penetration and purchase frequency in premium block chocolate, the UK’s second‑largest premium segment, forecast to reach £420m by 2030.

RSPs are £6.77 for Toblerone Biscoff Diamond Truffles 180g, £2.50 for Toblerone 100g bars and Toblerone Crispy Caramel 100g, and £8.44 for Toblerone Crispy Caramel 340g.

Mondelez is investing in media, sampling and in‑ store activation to support the new products.

Ristika Dara Ninggar, Brand Manager, Toblerone at Mondelez International, said: “Our new launches demonstrate our commitment to driving growth within premium confectionery. The new 100g range offers shoppers an accessible way to enjoy premium chocolate during everyday indulgence moments. Our new limited edition Toblerone Crispy Caramel also looks to expand our gifting range, with a new flavour extension. Together, these innovations, alongside Toblerone Biscoff Diamond Truffles, will help retailers recruit younger shoppers, drive category value and create excitement.”

Chupa Chups One-Metre Sour Belt Perfetti Van Melle

Maryland S’wich Terry’s Chocolate Orange Fox’s Burton’s Companies

The new 55g one‑metre‑long confectionery line has an RSP of £1 and is designed to stand out in singles fixtures and drive impulse purchases. Inspired by a measuring tape, the carton is designed to make the format immediately recognisable and increase shelf visibility in convenience stores. The launch builds on growth in the brand’s sweets business beyond its core lollipop range.

The new biscuit combines Terry’s orange oil with Maryland’s crunchy chocolate chip cookie sandwich to create a chocolate‑orange cookie.

Following an initial four‑week exclusive with Tesco Group and Booker, it launches across major retailers and wholesalers from 12 August. The 150g packs have an RSP of £1.39 and are also available as £1.29 PMPs. It is the first time Terry’s Chocolate Orange flavour has been available in sweet biscuits.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Product News & Media Watch Sour Patch Kids Monster Heads Mondelez International



Snü Fizzy Energy Klinsmann Partnership

As one of the fastest‑growing confectionery brands, growing 26.9% year‑on‑year, Sour Patch Kids is bringing extra mischief to Halloween this year. The limited‑ edition NPD features bigger ‘Big Kids’ jelly pieces in spooky monster‑ head shapes, with dual‑flavour, dual‑colour combos in Watermelon, Raspberry and Orange. The 105g packs have an RSP of £1.25.

The new tropical energy drink‑ inspired flavour is available in 6mg, 12mg and 18mg nicotine strengths per pouch, as well as 60mg per gram. It has an RSP of £3.99–£4.99 per can. Fizzy Energy features Snü’s rub‑to‑smell label, allowing shoppers to experience the flavour before purchase. This encourages trial, reduce stock losses and helps speed up purchasing decisions. The launch is backed

by POS kits, educational materials and support from BDMs.

Ribena £1 PMP range Suntory B&F GB&I

Mentos Experimentos Perfetti Van Melle

Ribena has launched a limited‑ edition £1 price‑marked pack range for summer across its 500ml RTD portfolio. The range includes all Ribena 500ml RTD SKUs and is designed to help retailers drive sales during a key trading period. The range is supported by in‑store activation and POS materials. The drinks brand is currently worth almost £84m and delivered 7.5% year‑ on‑year growth last year, outperforming the wider RTD category.

The new 150g sharing bag contains two distinct sweets: three flavours of Mini Mentos – Strawberry, Orange and Lemon – alongside five jelly sweets in Strawberry, Green Apple, Orange, Pineapple and Raspberry flavours, letting shoppers create their own various different flavour and texture combinations.

The launch will be supported by organic social media activity alongside in‑store POS.

Zig Republic Technologies

Bebeto Boo Crew Foamies Kervan Gida

A new nicotine pouch range linked to Republic’s established Zig‑Zag brand, Zig comes in three strengths – 8mg, 12mg and 17mg – and six flavours: Berry Cool, Citrus, Ice Mint, Peppermint, Power Mint and Tropical. The range has a £4.50 RSP and was developed following research which found a strong consumer preference for mint, fruit and citrus flavours. The launch reflects growing interest in alternative products following the disposable vape ban.

Available from JW Filshill with an RSP of £1 and launching in September, Bebeto’s new 130g hanging bag featuring six Halloween‑themed foam sweets in shapes including a witch, Frankenstein, vampire, pumpkin, cat on a broomstick, and a Halloween character. Flavours include orange, lime, cola and blue raspberry.

The sweets are made without artificial colours and are halal certified.

Hotlines

Chilled drinks Schweppes’ new global brand platform, With Time Comes Taste, builds on the brand’s ongoing work with British actor Lucien Laviscount, known for his role in Emily in Paris.

He features in a new advert that promotes a more chilled‑out, thoughtful approach to socialising. The campaign runs across digital, social, PR and influencer channels.

Whole new ball game Tango has revived its iconic ‘You Know When You’ve Been Tango’d’ tagline in a new campaign that focuses on the flavour hit consumers get from their first sip of Tango, described as being hit with a “wrecking ball of tang”. The £2.7m campaign runs across video on demand, online video, YouTube, out‑of‑ home advertising, PR and social.

Courgette chaos Gosh! has launched ‘Mad About Veg’, a long‑term brand platform designed to put vegetables centre stage. A main campaign film introduces viewers to the fictional world of Gosh! employees, whose enthusiasm for vegetables borders on the absurd.

The campaign runs across social media, streaming TV, YouTube and out of home.

Keep calm and drink Yazoo ‘Have a Yazoo with Yourself’ repositions Yazoo as a light‑hearted antidote to the stresses and mishaps of modern life, and aims to reconnect with younger adults who may have grown up with flavoured milk but no longer buy into the category. Out‑of‑home sits at the core of the multi‑channel campaign, supported by digital, social and audio activities.

Best fruit forward Highland Spring is supporting its Flavours portfolio with the launch of its biggest‑ever summer marketing push. The ‘Make Your Day Fruitier’ fully integrated campaign will reach 23 million on‑the‑go shoppers and introduces the brand’s two new variants, Orange & Passion Fruit and Summer Berries. It comes hot on the heels of June’s ‘Nature Makes Us’ activity.

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

AUGUST 2026 | SLR

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Halloween

HFSS HALLOWEEN

ALL KILLER, NO FILLER

Get the low down on all the ghoulish goodies looking to claw their way onto shelves this fright night.

A

ugust’s sunny evenings might make it feel like summer is here to stay, but with the spectre of Halloween looming, smart retailers will be welcoming spooky season into their stores from early October and expanding this lucrative sales opportunity across the month.

Halloween confectionery is now worth an impressive £263m [NielsenIQ Scantrack & Kantar WPO | Total Halloween Confectionery | 6W to WE 01/11/25] and this year it could be even bigger.

“Halloween is seeing sustained year-onyear growth, and with the occasion falling on a Saturday this year, consumer participation is expected to be stronger than ever,” says Steve Waters, Seasonal Senior Brand Manager at Mars Wrigley UK. “With consistent growth in spend per household, and category penetration, Halloween

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represents a significant opportunity for retailers to support incremental sales through strategic product selection and early season activation.”

Mondelez International agrees that a fast start is a smart move. “Retailers looking to make the most of Halloween should avoid treating it as a last-minute event,” says Trade Communications Manager Susan Nash.

“The strongest opportunity is to build sales throughout October, using early displays to remind shoppers that Halloween is approaching and then increasing visibility as 31 October gets closer.”

An effective approach is to start with a small seasonal section early in the month, focusing on sharing bags, treat-size packs and limited-edition products, she suggests. Then, as Halloween nears, she advises retailers to expand the display, add secondary sitings and create more dramatic in-store theatre.

The ghosts and ghouls might be out in all their glory, but beware – the scariest part of Halloween for retailers may be the new rules coming into effect on 1 October, which restrict how products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) are displayed and promoted.

The HFSS promotion restrictions apply to any retailer with 50 or more employees.

Symbol retailers may also be impacted – you are best to check directly with your symbol group for clarity.

The promotion restrictions mean stores must stop multibuy and volume deals, such as ‘50% extra free’, ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘three for £10’ on HFSS products.

Meal Deals & Temporary Price Reductions will not be included in the restrictions.

Stores under 2,000sq ft are exempt from the HFSS display rules.

Retailers with a relevant floor space of over 2,000sq ft and 50 or more employees must adhere to the display restrictions.

Again, symbol group retailers may also be within the scope – check with your operator for further information.

The display restrictions mean HFSS products, such as chocolate, sweets and crisps, cannot be displayed at the end of aisles, at store entrances and within 2m of checkouts and queuing areas.

Free‑standing displays are exempt from the HFSS display restrictions.

A breach of the rules will result in a fine of up to £2,500.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Image courtesy of Conner Baker on Unsplash

Feature

Feature

Halloween

19%

of households host or attend Halloween parties

28%

of Brits give out sweets to trick-or-treaters

57%

of those celebrating Halloween plan only a week in advance, highlighting lastminute shopping behaviour.

Source: YouGov Surveys: Serviced | September 23-24, 2025

HALLOWEEN MERCHANDISING HFSS has changed some of the mechanics around placement [for retailers within its scope], so the role of range, visibility and occasion‑led activation is now even more important, claims Perfetti Van Melle. “The opportunity is to make the seasonal aisle work harder, using strong branded activation and the right mix of formats to capture shoppers who are buying for several occasions, not just one,” says Marketing & Trade Marketing Director UK Mark Roberts. “We also benefit from having a broad portfolio across indulgence, refreshment and sugar‑free, so retailers can offer choice within the fixture while still leaning into the fun of Halloween.”

He claims that the best stores now treat Halloween as a chance to create real theatre. “It’s not just confectionery on shelf; it’s sweets sitting alongside bakery, snacks, costumes, decorations and party products to make the whole occasion feel bigger. HFSS has changed where some products can be displayed, so seasonal aisles and branded floor stands have become even more important.

Even where products don’t carry Halloween‑ specific packaging, the right display can still get shoppers in the mood and drive the impulse to buy.”

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“Front-of-store displays and till-point features can all help drive impulse sales,” says Nash. “Retailers should also consider grouping products by occasion, such as trick-or-treating, party night, family sharing or spooky snacking.

This makes it easier for shoppers to quickly find what they need.”

SHARING AND SCARING Mars Wrigley, which is bringing back Skittles Darkside for another season, claims that sharing bags represent the largest Halloween confectionery segment. “Large and extra-large sharing formats drive both penetration and basket spend, making them essential for early pre-season engagement,” says Waters.

Sharing bags were the fastest-growing format last Halloween, growing +7.1% in value sales [NIQ Scantrack Total Coverage Total Halloween Confectionery by Sub Segment Value 12 we 01.11.2025], with Mars Wrigley’s Maltesers, M&M’s, Galaxy Minstrels, Milky Way and Revels, driving that growth, states the firm.

Mars Wrigley claims to deliver five of the top 10 brands for sharing at Halloween, delivering 64% of value sales for the category [ibid].

“With eight million shoppers purchasing tins & tubs at Halloween [Kantar, TH, 08 we 03.11.24], and 2.8m shoppers only buying a Celebrations tub [NIQ Scantrack Total Coverage Total Halloween Confectionery by Sub Segment Value 12we 01.11.2025], this format plays a unique role,” says Waters. “Nearly half of Halloween tins & tubs purchasers will buy again at Christmas, creating valuable cross-seasonal loyalty [ibid].”

Bebeto is targeting Halloween sharing with the launch of Boo Crew Foamies.

Launching in September 2026, the 130g hanging bag (RSP £1)

combines foam-textured fruity sweets with six Halloween-themed shapes, including a witch, Frankenstein, vampire, pumpkin, cat on a broomstick and a Halloween character. The halal-certified sweets come in orange, lime, cola and blue raspberry flavours and will be listed in JW Filshill.

The launch follows the strong performance of Bebeto’s Easter Foamies range and marks the format’s debut in the brand’s Halloween portfolio, which it claims has delivered consistent sales growth in recent years.

Boo Crew Foamies joins Bebeto’s wider Halloween line-up, which includes gummies in mini bag formats such as Spooky Mix and, for the second year running, sour pencil sharing bag Witches Hair, plus gummy and centre-filled mix Witches Cauldron.

Phil Hulme, Commercial Director at Kervan Gida UK, explains: “Halloween remains an important seasonal opportunity for retailers and we’re seeing continued demand for products that bring something different to the fixture.

Boo Crew Foamies gives retailers a new format within our Halloween range, combining the soft texture consumers know from Foamies with fun seasonal shapes and flavours.”

Cadbury is also adding some devilishly fun NPD with the launch of limited-edition Sour Patch Kids Monster Heads.

The product features larger “Big Kids” jelly pieces in monster-head shapes, with dual-flavour and dual-colour combinations across Watermelon, Raspberry and Orange. The launch gives retailers a seasonal novelty product that can stand out on shelf while tapping into the growing popularity of Sour Patch Kids.

Sour Patch Kids is one of the fastest-growing confectionery brands, growing 26.9% year on www.slrmag.co.uk

YES SIR, WE CAN BOOGIE

Don’t Embarrass Scotland. Enjoy Buckfast Responsibly.

Feature

Halloween

year [Nielsen IQ, Total Coverage, Sugar share bags, data WE 17/05/25].

TREATS FOR ALL The return of Sour Patch Kids Watermelon & Strawberry Treatsize also gives stores another proven performer, states Mondelez. The product delivered £1.3m RSV following its launch last year and became the number one NPD in Total Halloween [NielsenIQ Scantrack Treatsize and Trad Halloween 6wks Data WE 1.11.25].

“While innovation helps create excitement, Halloween shoppers also want brands they know and trust,” says Nash. “This is where Cadbury’s seasonal treatsize range can play an important role.”

Cadbury Treatsize Sharing Selection 223g is returning for 2026, featuring Cadbury Buttons, Crunchie, Twirl, Fudge and Freddo. “The individually wrapped format makes it well suited to trick-or-treaters, while the mix of familiar products gives shoppers an easy, lowrisk choice,” she says.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo & Friends and Cadbury Fudge treatsize packs are returning too.

Fun-size confectionery also continues to play a central role in Halloween purchasing, driven by the trick-or-treat occasion, notes Mars Wrigley.

“Demand peaks in the final two weeks leading to 31 October, with 80% of shoppers purchasing only chocolate and fruity fun-size products, underlining the importance of maintaining availability during this critical trading period,” says Waters.

“Mars Wrigley delivers six out of the top 10 fun-size products at Halloween, delivering 54% of the value sales for the category [NIQ Scantrack Total Halloween Confectionery VROS 12 we 01.11.2025]. Limited-edition flavours and trade-up packs drive category engagement while maximising late-season availability opportunities.”

The firm will be hoping to bewitch Halloween

consumers with the launch of Chocolate M&M’s Minis Funsize.

Another fun-size treat looking to make its mark on Halloween is Perfetti Van Melle’s Mini Mentos. Designed for Halloween celebrations, Mini Mentos gives retailers a more flexible 48

SLR | AUGUST 2026

DON’T WORRY ABOUT DEAD STOCK

treating format that works across trick-ortreating and group occasions, whilst responding to shopper demand for portion control and value, claims Perfetti. The sweets comprise four fan-favourite flavours (Strawberry, Green Apple, Orange and Lemon) and come in a fun-sized bag-in-bag format.

The firm is also launching Experimentos, which offer a multi-textured experience combining Mini Mentos with jelly sweets. The jelly sweets are shaped to fit a Mini Mentos inside, encouraging consumers to have fun with different flavours. Each bag contains Strawberry, Orange and Lemon Mini Mentos, plus Raspberry, Green Apple, Orange, Strawberry and Pineapple flavoured jellies. While not specifically Halloween-themed, the product definitely falls into the weird and wonderful category, allowing shoppers to create 15 different flavour combinations, delivering a mix of crunchy, chewy and gummy textures.

By combining tried and trusted favourites with a selection of seasonal and quirky treats that cater for a range of Halloween occasions, retailers can really bring this celebration of the dead to life.

It’s all very well buying limited‑edition lines, but every retailer will have been burnt with unsellable products at some point.

However, this isn’t an issue for Halloween beer and cider, as far as Heineken UK is concerned.

“When it comes to the brands people are purchasing, Foster’s 18 pack remains Heineken UK’s best‑performing SKU during the Halloween season, followed

by Foster’s 10 pack,” says Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director. “However, Strongbow Dark Fruit is a standout brand during the lead up to Halloween when it performs ‘way above usual sales’ at this time.

“With Strongbow Dark Fruit and Foster’s being core brands that perform well all year round, retailers and wholesalers don’t necessarily have to worry about having dead stock after the Halloween season has passed, but instead focus on how they display beer and cider in store and having full availability of these bestsellers,” he adds.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Feature

Smokeless Alternatives

ADAPT TO A NEW ERA

T

he disposable vape ban may have disrupted the nicotine market, but it has also created fresh opportunities for retailers. As adult consumers rethink their nicotine choices, demand is growing for alternative products that offer convenience, discretion and variety.

“Amongst UK adults, only 8% of vapers admit to using disposable vapes in 2026 compared with 24% in 2025 [Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and YouGov],” says Snü International Business Development Lead and Manager Javier Soria De Vicente.

“While disposables once dominated due to their convenience and accessibility, their removal has accelerated interest in alternative nicotine formats, particularly nicotine pouches.”

Scotland reflects many of the wider UK trends, but its nicotine landscape is shaped by several unique demographic and regional factors, notes Soria De Vicente.

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Find out how suppliers and retailers are capitalising on Scotland’s growing demand for nicotine pouches and other smoking alternatives.

BY SARAH BRITTON

SCOTTISH DEMAND FOR POUCHES He observes that Scotland sits ahead of the rest of the UK in a metric that is particularly significant to retailers: heavy usage. “A quarter (25%) of Scottish nicotine pouch users use five or more cans per week [Haypp UK Nicotine Pouch Report 2026], creating a valuable opportunity for retailers to build a dependable base of repeat purchasers.

“Snü has recorded a returning customer rate of 60% over the past year, demonstrating the

level of loyalty that can be achieved when adult consumers are offered products that align with their preferences. For retailers, this equates to more frequent purchases, sustainable category performance and long-term revenue.”

Interest in nicotine pouches surged in Scotland last year, with internet searches up 33%, claims Snü, adding that Edinburgh emerged as a key growth driver, recording the highest nicotine pouch search activity per capita [Nicotine Insider].

“Its large adult student and young professional population has helped fuel demand for modern, discreet nicotine alternatives, reinforcing the importance of tailoring product ranges to local consumer preferences,” says Soria De Vicente.

Imperial Brands concurs that c-stores need to pay attention to locals’ preferences.

“Retailers should analyse customer buying habits and stock flavours that sell best locally,” advises UK Market Manager Andrew Malm. www.slrmag.co.uk

Feature

Smokeless Alternatives

six flavours: Berry Cool, Citrus, Ice Mint, Peppermint, Power Mint and Tropical.

Snü also believes there’s mileage in the high nicotinestrength segment. The firm recently launched Fizzy Energy in 6mg, 12mg and 18mg per pouch, as well as a 60mg-per-gram option, which will be the fourth flavour in the brand’s extra-strong range.

TOUGHER RULES

“We’d advise engaging with customers to understand key trends within your store and take notice of the products and flavours that customers are frequently purchasing. This will also help you to refine your vape offerings over time.

“Whilst refinement shows a personal touch, offering a variety of products and flavours is important too.”

One retailer who has done her homework is Jen Paton, manager at SLR Smokeless Alternatives Retailer of the Year finalist Spar Greenock, Inverclyde. She recognises that pouches appeal to certain customer groups.

“We get Greenock football club players come in who buy the nicotine pouches,” she says. “I’ve also had quite a few 19-year-olds buying the Velo pouches.” One customer explained that she used pouches instead of vaping while bodybuilding.

The Haypp UK Nicotine Pouch Report 2026 shows consumers choose nicotine pouches for both perceived health benefits and practicality.

Dr Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp, says: “For many adult nicotine users, nicotine pouches represent an alternative to products that involve inhalation, whether cigarettes or vapes.”

A majority view them as healthier (64%), more discreet (64%), and less intrusive to others (52%) compared to other nicotine products.

Jen is also alerting customers to the benefits of pouches in terms of their convenience and discreetness.

“When my older customers come in and they have to make hospital visits where they won’t be able to smoke, then I tell them: ‘We’ve got Nordic Spirit; Zyn are quite good because they’ve got a big menthol range; we’ve got Pablo, Velo and Fumi – try these, they’ll help.’”

Her bestsellers are Velo 3 strength in Peppermint and Tropical, Spearmint Nordic Spirit and Grape Pablo.

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MINT MAKES ITS MARK The bestselling flavour of 2025 in Scotland was Mint, followed by Fruit, Spices and Citrus, according to Haypp Group.

And there is a raft of more mint variants on the way.

Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has introduced a new mint range into its XQS nicotine pouch portfolio. The Spearmint 6mg, The Peppermint 10mg and The Menthol in 11mg and 17mg strengths will be supported by a ‘Get Minted’ campaign, which will give both consumers and retailers the chance to win cash prizes and rewards.

“It’s mint flavours which are really driving the pouch category at the moment, currently accounting for 78% of total sales [SoS, IRI, December read 2025],” says Prianka Jhingan, STG UK’s Head of Marketing.

Meanwhile, Philip Morris Limited (PML) has announced the launch of Zyn Menthol Ice 16.5mg, the new highest-strength nicotine pouch offering in the Zyn range.

Imperial Brands has also added a high-strength mint addition to the mix in the form of Zone Cool Mint 17mg, which it defines as a fast-acting and intense nicotine experience.

A further three mint variants are arriving courtesy of tobacco accessories supplier Republic Technologies UK, which is making its pouch debut with the launch of Zig. Named with an affiliation to Republic’s established Zig-Zag brand, the Zig range includes 8mg, 12mg and 17mg strengths across

As we head into the second quarter of 2026, vape retailers face a plethora of challenges.

Vaping Products Duty is set to kick in on 1 October, with a duty rate of £2.20 per 10ml applied to any bottle, cartridge or pod containing vaping liquids – even nicotine-free variants.

Plus, retailers must adhere to the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme and ensure that all non-dutyliable stock is sold through before 1 April 2027.

And now the Government is consulting on proposals to ban the display of vapes and nicotine products in the same way as tobacco products; introduce plain packaging; limit branding and imagery; and restrict flavour names.

Jen feels that a full display ban would be detrimental to sales, but she isn’t concerned about packaging and flavour restrictions or the new tax.

“I don’t think the Vaping Product Duty will impact sales as long as we stay on top of everything,” she says. “As long as I’ve got the knowledge and information that we need for the changes, I think we’ll be fine.”

As regulation becomes more complex and nicotine formats continue to diversify, consumer education is becoming a critical component of category success, agrees Snü.

Soria De Vicente says: “Well-trained retail staff remain one of the category’s most underutilised commercial assets, helping consumers navigate strengths, formats and usage confidently.” www.slrmag.co.uk

Feature

Forecourt

DRIVING SALES Forecourt retailers are giving their businesses the edge by working closely with suppliers and tapping into retail and fuel trends.

BY SARAH BRITTON

W

ith the warm weather creating additional demand, forecourt operators with a compelling retail offer and strong supplier partnerships are set to benefit.

One forecourt retailer making the most of the opportunity is Ayrshire-based Brian Connolly, owner of SLR Forecourt of the Year finalist Londis Ayr Rd Service Station in Dalmellington and Jet Maybole forecourt, which has a Spar store.

“We’ve just invested in several food-to-go machines at Dalmellington for slushies and milkshakes,” says Brian. “We’re always looking to capitalise whenever there’s a trend. We maximise the shops as much as we can and we’ve got Wash.ME washing machines at both sites.”

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THE POWER OF PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY ShopMate’s Payments and Forecourt Specialist, Paul McIntosh, has spent almost three decades supporting retailers across the UK and Ireland, working with thousands of sites throughout his career.

He claims that payment technology has become a critical part of the forecourt retail experience and that one of the biggest advantages of integrated payments is the time they save retailers.

“Integrated payments reduce keying errors, speed up transactions and make reconciliation much clearer and more accurate,” he explains.

For customers, the benefits are equally important. Faster transactions mean shorter queues and a smoother checkout experience. As cash usage continues to decline, customers increasingly expect quick, convenient card and contactless payments.

Store teams benefit too. Less cash handling means reduced security risks, fewer banking charges and less time spent managing cash throughout the day.

When choosing a payment partner, McIntosh encourages retailers to look beyond headline rates and focus on the overall service they will receive.

“The ability to integrate with your EPoS system is essential,” he says. “Retailers should also look for strong support, transparent pricing and a provider willing to review their current arrangements honestly.”

Having someone who can scrutinise an existing payment setup and clearly explain the alternatives can help retailers avoid hidden costs and make better long‑term decisions.

Modern payment systems provide far more than transaction processing. Access to online portals and mobile apps can give retailers real‑time visibility of transactions, settlements and cash flow. This level of reporting helps business owners stay informed and make faster decisions.

“Being able to monitor transactions and understand cash flow is incredibly important for modern retailers,” he says.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Feature

Forecourt

TYRE INFLATION ON THE RISE UK forecourts saw an 8% increase in tyre inflation equipment usage in March 2026, according to Air‑serv, which has over 10,000 air, jet wash and vacuum machines installed across the nation.

“The increase suggests more drivers are turning to simple vehicle maintenance measures such as checking tyre pressures when motoring costs rise,” claims Air‑serv.

“For forecourt operators, the findings highlight how customer behaviour shifts during periods of higher fuel prices, with increasing demand for on‑site services that help motorists manage running costs a noticeable trend.”

Using the UK average petrol price for March 2026 from the UK Fuel Price Index, a 50‑litre tank cost around £70.25. With TyreSafe estimating that tyres around 20% underinflated can increase fuel use by 3%, keeping tyres properly inflated could help motorists travel roughly 3% further on the same tank – equivalent to around 15 extra miles for a vehicle with a 500‑mile range, states the firm.

Gordon Balmer, from the Petrol Retailers Association, says: “This is interesting data from Air‑serv as it shows the message is starting to get across that correct tyre pressure and fuel economy go hand in hand.”

Richard Sweet, UK Sales and Marketing Director at Air‑serv, adds: “The rise in air transactions during March shows how motorists respond when fuel prices increase. For forecourt operators, air machines become an even more valuable customer service touchpoint during these periods.”

Buccaneer Fuels adopted Jet branding after purchasing Drum of Wartle Filling Station on the A920 near Inverurie earlier this year.

The site has been transformed with a larger Premier convenience store and now serves both local residents and passing motorists with an improved shopping and food-to-go offer.

Meanwhile, Colin White, Director of Craigellachie Filling Station, switched supplier due to “the importance of having a fuel supplier the site can depend on in a rural Speyside location”.

The site sits in the heart of Speyside’s whiskyproducing region and features a large Londis shop, Costa Coffee, pay-at-the-pump for outof-hours service, a modern car valet offer and a 50kW EV charger.

Ian Burgess, Retail Sales Representative at Highland Fuels, says: “What matters to us is helping each site make the most of what makes it distinctive, whether that is serving passing traffic on a key route, supporting a rural catchment or meeting the needs of both local residents and tourists.”

With these additions, there are now 50 Jetbranded sites in Scotland, 12 of which are supplied by Highland Fuels.

Down in South Wales, Gulf Ebbw Vale is aiming to attract more customers with its new Evolo rapid charge hub. With space for six vehicles, drivers can take advantage of rapid charging up to 150kW. Gulf says charging on the go is made easier through contactless payment, app support and power backed by 100% renewable energy.

“This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to bring new energy to the road ahead,” says Gulf.

Customers feeling the heat can also seek chilled refreshment from the store’s beer cave, which was introduced as part of a major refit whereby the store was extended into an old workshop.

Brian is keen to invest further but is being held back by rising non-domestic rates and energy costs. However, thanks to his business nous, both sites are holding their own and he is full of praise for Jet, which he claims is “a great company to work with”.

Jet has recently grown its Scottish footprint with two newly branded ex-Gleaner sites, both of which are now supplied by authorised Jetbranded retail distributor Highland Fuels.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Partner with Gulf Your forecourt, your way.

Gulf gives you an iconic brand and energy transition strategies to drive up sales and drive down costs.

Call us or scan the QR code to see how we can help your business.

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UTC

THE BOTTOM LINE

TROUBLE BREWING

Under The Counter has some sage advice for retailers with stores close to live music venues: stock up on adult nappies.

Before you give this notion the bum’s rush, remember that SLR’s most senior of citizens didn’t get to where he is today (the desk closest to the toilet) without knowing a thing or two about incontinence.

UK online searches for ‘adult nappies’ have increased by 5,000% recently, a trend UTC was keen to get to the bottom of.

It turns out this surge follows Olivia Rodrigo moaning that she can sometimes smell fans wearing nappies from the stage. Possibly during renditions of her top‑three hit, ‘Bad Idea Right?’.

The practice means diehard Rodrighoes (yes, really) who need the toilet don’t lose their front row place after queuing

Under The Counter almost dropped his can of Tennent’s when he discovered half of Gen Z turn to tea rather than booze to steady their nerves before life’s big moments.

This earth‑shattering finding comes from new research that tea peddler Twinings cites as evidence of “behaviour that signals new opportunities for tea occasions”.

If, like UTC, you think it’s actually proof the world is going to hell in a box of 240 teabags, you’d better put the kettle on and brace yourself.

It turns out youngsters are brewing up before such high‑pressure situations as watching the finale of a TV series, phoning their friends, and going for a hot girl walk.

UTC had no idea what a ‘hot girl walk’ was but, in the interests of investigative journalism, didn’t hesitate to type it into Google, blaming his arthritic fingers for accidentally activating image search.

Just so you know – and the Auld Boy risked yet another trip to HR to uncover this – a hot girl walk covers exactly four miles. Walkers focus on gratitude, achieving their personal goals and – this bit has been fact checked – acknowledging how hot they are.

Judging by the pictures he spent an hour quickly skimming over, UTC acknowledged some of them looked extremely hot indeed – to the point that they had stripped down to what he imagines must pass for 21st‑century unmentionables; PE kits looked nothing like that back in his day.

The Auld Boy suggests everyone’s nerves – including his – could be steadied and decorum maintained if, before setting off, walkers swapped hot tea for a cold can of Tennent’s straight from the fridge.

for hours. Losing their last shred of dignity is presumably a worthwhile trade‑off.

Rodrigo’s comments have apparently reignited the debate – one which the Auld Boy was blissfully unaware of – over whether donning keech catchers to live music events is a practical concert hack or a step too far.

Under The Counter suspects it may be the latter.

The Auld Boy is not rushing to judgment though; he remembers grown men peeing in empty beer cans at football matches.

Given the state of stadium toilets back in the black and white days, however, this was perfectly understandable.

SLR’s legal counsel was at pains to point out that deliberately soiling yourself in public can result in a £1,000 fine.

They needn’t worry; UTC would never do that. Not on purpose.

FOWL PLAY Under The Counter is no spring chicken, so he can remember when eggs were white rather than brown.

He can also recall when eggs used to be powdered and came in a tin, but the Auld Boy doesn’t like to mention the war – mainly because he’s yet to hatch a satisfactory reason for his lack of participation therein.

Brown eggs first became popular at the same time shoppers switched on to the perceived health benefits of brown rice and brown bread. However, unlike a delicious slice of Mother’s Pride, a white egg has precisely

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the same nutritional value as one of its brown counterparts.

Shell colour is the only difference – and that’s down to chook colour. Brown‑feathered hens lay brown eggs, while white eggs come from hens with white feathers. Given UTC’s draft dodgery, the less said about white feathers the better.

Now, in a move the Auld Boy is already brooding over, Sainsbury’s is transitioning back to white eggs

– apparently to reduce its carbon footprint. Aye, right. The supermarket says white hens have a longer laying life and require less feed for the same output, resulting in a 12% reduction in carbon emissions compared to brown birds.

Under The Counter might have dodged the call‑up but now he’s prepared to stick his head above the parapet to call out some corporate greenwashing. Spare us the hot air about greenhouse gases, Sainsbury’s – everyone knows using hens that live longer on less food will help shareholders feather their nests that wee bit more.

www.slrmag.co.uk