SLR January 2026 Edition

JANUARY 2026 | ISSUE 273

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NOW THAT’S A REFIT! Premier Drongan in profile.

TIME TO START PLANNING YOUR ENTRIES! p21

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

Retailers reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

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RATES PRESSURE

Sector demands help in Scottish Budget.

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TS

PRESEN

THE ND ABOVE ARDS AWA D N O Y E B 2026

ABOVE & BEYOND

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January 2026

Contents

Contents ISSUE 273

NEWS 04 05 06 08 16 18

Crime Scots retailers are urged to submit intelligence on organised crime. Business Rates Retailers and trade associations call for a permanent business rate discount for all Scottish shops. Parking East Lothian shops are under threat after councillors approve parking charge plans. News Extra Budget 2025 What are the key changes affecting the convenience sector? Product News Del Monte has a Dubai trip up for grabs while Coca-Cola’s ‘Bosses’ reward local good causes. Off-Trade News Erdinger Alkoholfrei puts a sporty spin on Dry January and BrewDog revamps its flagship Punk IPA.

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INSIDE BUSINESS 21

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SLR Awards The SLR Awards exist for one reason and one reason only: to recognise and reward our fantastic sector – but you’ve got to be in it to win it! Deposit Return Scheme Only one in five independent retailers has plans in place for next year’s DRS launch. Above & Beyond Awards Nominations will be closing soon – so don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate and reward your hardworking team. GroceryAid The industry charity has fully rebranded to put retail workers front and centre, as CEO Kieran Hemsworth explains to SLR. SLR Awards Winner’s Profile Premier Drongan Ian Mitchell’s investment in a full refit has paid off handsomely. Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns. Under The Counter A couple of neds get the Auld Boy pondering the Deposit Return Scheme.

FEATURES 38 44

Smoking Alternatives Oral nicotine sales are soaring in the wake of the disposable vapes ban. Fascia Guide Does the new year mean it’s time for a new sign above your store’s door?

ON THE COVER 12

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Reflections and Ambitions Five leading Scottish retailers discuss the highs and lows of 2025 and their plans for the coming year.

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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News CRIME Opal calls for local info

Co-op invests in Scottish store estate Co-op Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands, which launched on Friday 10 December, was the 10th Co-op store in Scotland to open or reopen in recent weeks. Other sites include Co-op stores in Brora; Fortrose; Callander; Irvine; Aberdeen (Kingswells); Evanton; Kingussie and Inverness, which reopened following transformative investment; and a new store opening in Selkirk.

Card spending drops in November Consumer card spending declined -1.1% year-on-year in November – the greatest fall recorded since February 2021 (-9.5%), according to The Barclays Consumer Spend report. This is considerably lower than the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.8%, as consumer confidence remains subdued. Essential

Scots retailers urged to submit intelligence on organised crime National intelligence unit, Opal, has called on Scottish retailers to submit intelligence regarding Organised Retail Crime (ORC), as part of a National Retail Crime Intelligence Drive running throughout January. Operation Opal is working with the National Business Crime Centre and the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships to ask retailers; those who work to support retailers; and local police forces and divisions to try to submit at least five pieces of quality intelligence per partner throughout the initiative. “The national intelligence drive is a partnership-led campaign to identify quality intelligence held at local levels by retailers, organisations supporting retailers and local police forces,” Opal

Head of Intelligence, Stephanie Coombes, told SLR. “Local intelligence and knowledge is critical to understanding the national threat picture and enhancing opportunities to disrupt the highest-harm offenders,” she said. The unit is seeking the following information: Q Are there offenders impacting your local area who demonstrate elements of organisation and don’t fit into the pattern of a local prolific offender? Q Have you seen any new or unusual methodologies used by offenders in your local area? Q Are you aware of any disposal outlets for stolen goods in bulk including local sales, online sellers, advertised ‘steal to order’ services, or communication

groups that are selling stolen items? Q Have you noted any indicators of any individuals who appear to be underage, vulnerable, or subject to exploitation across retail offending? “Where the intelligence relates to a crime that has been committed, this must always be reported to local policing via the usual mechanisms,” said Coombes. “However, where there is an element of organisation or a suspected element of organisation then we’re keen to ensure this is fed into national policing mechanisms either signposted to Opal by local policing or a follow up submission directly to Opal.” Retailers can email Opal at OpalORC@opal.police.uk.

spend dropped -2.9%, marking seven consecutive months of

CRIME Networking opportunity

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

decline.

Retail Crime Taskforce invites small stores to join forum

Labour waters down unfair dismissal plans

The Retail Crime Taskforce (RCTF) has highlighted its headline achievements so far as it extends an invite to small, medium and independent retailers to join its Joint Retailer Forum. Since the Taskforce was implemented in April, it has announced that 343 arrests have been made by Divisional RCTF teams and RCTF-funded crime initiatives. What’s more, 363 retail worker offence charges have been made, and 1,169 suspects and 31 Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) have been identified.

TOMRA opens RVM London showroom ahead of DRS

Labour has abandoned plans to scrap the qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection, which currently stands at 24 months, and will instead reduce it to six months as the Employment Rights Bill edges closer to Royal Assent. Prior to the decision, the Bill had been through several rounds of parliamentary ping pong with day-one unfair dismissal rights proving a bone of contention.

Spar Market Ladybank launches Spar Scotland has opened company-owned store, Spar Market Ladybank in Fife, after moving its existing Ladybank shop into a former Premier store opposite, which has undergone a complete overhaul. The new 1,747sq ft store houses a CJ’s food-to-go hot food offer; Barista Bar hot and cold drinks;

Now, the Taskforce is reaching out to indies and smaller retailers who wish to join its Joint Retailer Forum. The Forum is a monthly online meeting with the RCTF and other retailers and stakeholders. The next meeting is pencilled in for 21 January and is usually scheduled for two hours in the morning, but generally lasts around 1 hour 30 minutes. Retailers interested in joining can send a request to scdretailcrimetaskforce@scotland. police.uk who will send them an online invite.

Reverse vending machine (RVM) manufacturer, TOMRA, has opened a London showroom in Chiswick as the UK prepares to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). On display at the showroom is a range of RVMs suitable for a wide variety of store types and sizes, from the new TOMRA R2 multifeed machine, which accepts a whole bag of containers at once, to the compact TOMRA B5, for retailers with smaller footprints.

extended chilled ranges; fresh meat; and new ready meals.

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SLR | JANUARY 2026

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News BUSINESS RATES Numerous calls for action

Scottish stores pile on pressure for business rate discount Image Courtesy of Scottish Government on Flickr

With the Scottish Budget due to be announced on 13 January, retailers and retail trade associations across the country have called on Shona Robison to “seize the moment” and introduce a permanent business rate discount for all Scottish retailers. Colin McLean, Chief Executive Officer at CJ Lang & Son, and Paul Stirling, Group Retail Director of One-O-One Convenience Stores, have signed a letter, along with

12 other Scottish-headquartered retailers, asking the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary to act. The joint plea comes from retailers with 295 stores in Scotland and was organised by the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC). In addition, SRC and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation were two of 12 retail representative groups and industry bodies that jointly wrote to Robison asking for a permanent business rates discount for all retailers. The letter acknowledged some of the positive decisions on business rates the Scottish Government had taken. It claimed that investment in stores was essential to minimise the number of shuttered shops but warned that failing to act on business rates would likely shift investment elsewhere in the UK.

Usdaw, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, has also backed calls for a business rate discount. Tony Doonan, Regional Secretary for Scotland, Usdaw, claimed that without a permanent business rate discount for all shops from next April there was “a real risk” that Scotland would become a less attractive and viable option to invest in. He said: “That’s not good for the condition of our high streets, shopping centres and retail parks, nor for staffing levels and job opportunities here in Scotland.” Retail is Scotland’s largest private sector employer with 235,000 Scots directly employed by the industry with thousands more in the supply chain. Retail accounts for a fifth of business rates.

Suds begin work on 12th Racetrack store Vikas, Shamly, Guna and Rits Sud, who claimed the Scottish Local Retailer of the Year 2025 award for Racetrack Wishaw, have started development work on store number 12. Retail Manager, Guna, said: “Store 12 represents an evolution of our convenience offer. We’ll be trialling new ideas, refining past learnings, and building on what’s worked, all with one goal in mind: delivering a true wow experience for our customers.”

M&S targets 32 Scottish locations for food stores M&S has launched a new list of 500 target locations, including 32 in Scotland, it is considering for new and renewed food stores as it aims to double the size of its food business. Many of the desired locations are in Scotland’s Central Belt and East coast, while Inverness, Elgin and Dumfries have also been flagged

WHOLESALE Southern group eyes Scottish growth

Parfetts makes Scotland a priority for expansion Employee-owned wholesaler, Parfetts, has named Scotland as “a priority growth region” as it expands its reach in the country following rising retailer demand SR Freshway for its delivery service. Lockerbie owner Raj Sankarnathan The business now supplies independent stores across the Borders and into Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell and surrounding areas, with more than 50 deliveries made every week. It has claimed that volumes are increasing steadily as new customers join the network. As Parfetts moves towards an ambitious plan to add more than 300 symbol stores UK-wide to its group in 2026, the business has reached advanced talks with several Scottish retailers about joining the fascia estate. A major step in the group’s expansion came in mid-2025 with the opening of SR Freshway Lockerbie, the first Go Local Extra store in Scotland. Owner Raj Sankarnathan claims that sales are now around 50% higher than turnover in its first month. Guy Swindell, joint Managing Director at Parfetts, said: “The response from Scottish retailers over the past few months has been highly positive. “Scotland is a key part of our national expansion, and Raj’s success in Lockerbie shows what can be achieved when we work closely with an experienced and ambitious retailer.”

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COMMUNITY

Spar Scotland raises £200k for good causes Spar Scotland has announced a record year of charitable giving, donating £200,000 in 2025 to support good causes. The group has continued its support for Marie Curie, Spar’s national charity partner, while also donating to hundreds of local causes across the country – from primary schools, care homes and football clubs to defibrillator units, foodbanks, community councils, theatre groups, pantomimes, and hospitals. Colin McLean, CEO of Spar Scotland, said: “We have donated a significant amount to groups large and small across Scotland, where our customers really are our neighbours. Our colleagues work and very often live in the local communities where our stores are based, so we really do feel we are part of the local fabric.”

up as areas of interest.

Ebay and InPost partner InPost has teamed up with eBay to bring out-of-home delivery directly to UK buyers and sellers for the first time. Shoppers will be able to collect their eBay purchases from the 12,000 InPost Lockers nationwide or one of its thousands of parcel shops, at a time and location that suits them, thus avoiding missed deliveries and benefiting from secure, 24/7 access.

Premier’s 5,000th store Booker’s Premier symbol group has celebrated opening its 5,000th store with an £8,000 community giveaway and 5,000 meal donations. To mark the milestone, Booker has given £1,000 to eight Premier retailers, each from a different region, to donate to a local good cause chosen by their customers. Examples include new equipment for a school, planting flowers in villages or supporting a local community group.

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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News PARKING Charges to wreak havoc

Allwyn rewards retailers National Lottery operator, Allwyn, has awarded 20 independent retailers a total of £127,000 in prizes through the latest round of its ‘Share the Win’ initiative. Two Scottish stores were among the 20 winners. Silver tier winner, Greens of Fraserburgh, earned a £5,000 prize, while Wine and Glens Convenience Store in Dundee was awarded £2,000 as a Bronze tier winner.

Footfall drops in November Scottish footfall fell by 0.3% in November (YOY), down from 0.1% in October, according to SRC-Sensormatic data covering the four weeks from 2-29 November. Footfall in Edinburgh was unchanged at 0% (YOY), while footfall in Glasgow dipped by 1.6%. Ewan MacDonaldRussell, Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Budget uncertainty seems to have deterred shoppers from Scotland’s high streets in November, as footfall to retail destinations fell for the seventh

East Lothian shops under threat as parking charge plans approved Locals and retailers have been left fuming after East Lothian councillors approved parking charge proposals in the towns of Haddington, Dunbar, Musselburgh and Tranent last month. Award-winning retailer Shivakumar Kandaswamy, aka Shiva, who owns an off-licence and Day-Today store in Haddington and a Premier shop in Dunbar, was “appalled” that the charge proposals had been approved. He accused the councillors of “callous” behaviour, claiming that “the voice of the people has been ignored”. He told SLR: “The majority of my customers will be gone. People don’t want to park and shop because they don’t want to have to pay an extra £5. Half an hour parking is free, but people might have five or six shops to attend. My business will be gone.” He shared his frustrations on Premier Dunbar’s Facebook page

in a post entitled “Oppression against democracy”, which received over 250 likes. One local commented: “Surely a money-making exercise by the Council which will in itself put pressure on already struggling small businesses!” Another said: “It is all about raising revenue and to hell with the high street businesses

that rely on footfall for their survival.” The Musselburgh Business Partnership had also strongly rejected the parking proposals. Sharon Brown, owner of Blueberry Gifts, and chair of the Musselburgh Business Partnership said: “This is the first time I have genuinely worried about the future of my shop. Things have been tough this year for lots of us on the High Street with cost of living hitting hard so folk are spending less. This just feels a kick in the teeth from East Lothian Council.” Income from town centre parking charges is expected to generate a net return investment of £15m over 10 years, helping to maintain vital infrastructure in East Lothian, claimed the proposals. Shiva is now in the process of setting up a crowdfunder in order to take legal action against the charges.

successive month.”

EG On The Move and Co-op franchise expands The EG on the Move and Co-op franchise partnership has expanded with Buchandyke Petrol Filling station on Maxwelton Road in East Kilbride. The forecourt includes six pumps and a Co-op convenience store operating as a franchise. The store’s offer includes self-service Lavazza coffee; bakery products; and hot food and cold drinks. The site follows the conclusion of a successful trial of Co-op and EG On The Move last year.

CCEP signs up to Smartview Convenience Drinks giant Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has signed up to TWC Group’s SmartView Convenience (SVC), while Booker has renewed its subscription for a second year. SVC is TWC Group’s market read of independent convenience stores, launched in 2023 in partnership with In Touch Group.

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SLR | JANUARY 2026

HORIZON SCANDAL PO makes data mistake

CHARITY New look encourages more people to seek help

preventable” data breach that resulted in the unauthorised disclosure of Horizon victims’ personal information. The breach occurred when the Post Office’s communications team mistakenly published an unredacted version of a legal settlement document on its website. This contained the names, home addresses and postmaster status of 502 people who were part of a group litigation against the organisation. When investigating the breach, the ICO found that the Post Office failed to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect people’s information. Sally Anne Poole, ICO Head of Investigations, said: “The people affected by this breach had already endured significant hardship and distress as a result of the Horizon IT scandal. They deserved much better than this. “The postmasters have once again been let down by the Post Office. Our investigation highlighted that this data breach was entirely preventable and stemmed from a mistake that could have been avoided had the correct procedures been in place.” The ICO initially considered imposing a fine of up to £1.094m. However, it did not consider that the infringements identified reached the threshold of ‘egregious’ under its public sector approach, and a reprimand was issued instead.

Industry charity, GroceryAid, has revealed the biggest brand revamp in its 168-year history. The new brand positioning is designed to make the charity’s vital services clearer and more accessible to reach more people in the industry, sooner. The refresh reflects the commitment and resilience of grocery workers, and the pride they feel in their work, while encouraging more people from the industry to seek help when they need it. The revamp will be publicised by a trade and consumer marketing campaign. GroceryAid hopes that the brand refresh will enable it to reach a new younger and more diverse demographic.

Post Office reprimanded over Horizon victims’ data breach

GroceryAid unveils brand refresh to The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has improve reach reprimanded the Post Office after it committed an “entirely

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News Extra

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Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF We hit the ground running, with a big year ahead for both the sector and for SGF. In some ways, it’s a year of knowns and known unknowns! At the time of writing, the Scottish Budget is the first known unknown, setting out Scottish Government plans for two key areas – Business Rates support for retail and funding for Police Scotland to curb the rise in retail crime. With it being an election year, alongside an extra £820m in Scottish Barnett consequentials, the Scottish Government will be looking to make friends in business wherever possible. Which, of course, is the second known unknown. What new policies and initiatives will we see from a new government in May? On the SGF side, we know retail crime will again be top of the agenda, with our flagship crime report published at the SGF Crime Seminar on 12 Feb. Linked to that is the growing impact of the illicit trade. Changes coming very soon through the UK Tobacco & Vapes Bill could bring both much-needed standards and concerning tighter controls. We need to protect important cessation devices like vapes and nicotine pouches from overregulation that limits access and encourages the sale of cheap illicit products. While crucially ensuring they are never sold or marketed to children. As well as highlighting the inevitable operational impacts on compliant businesses. We also expect guidance to be published soon on Scottish restrictions to the sale and promotion of food & drink high in fat, sugar, or salt that will come into force on 1 Oct. SGF has been heavily involved in the process and we welcome the decision to shift toward alignment with other parts of the UK. Watch this space.

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SLR | JANUARY 2026

Budget 2025 The key changes affecting the convenience sector.

The Budget 2025 saw the UK Government announce that Scotland would receive an extra £820m over the next three years and revealed a raft of changes impacting the convenience channel, including plans to introduce permanent lower tax rates for more than 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England. The new business rates multiplier for England will be set 5p lower than the small business and regular multipliers, although it fails to offset the removal of the remaining 40% relief on business rates that was first introduced to stores in England during the pandemic. While this does not directly impact Scottish retailers, its introduction has propelled increased calls for a permanent business rate reduction north of the border. There was no increase to income tax in the UK Budget, but Rachel Reeves announced a freeze on tax thresholds for personal tax and employer National Insurance contributions until 2031. The Scottish Government has also confirmed that it will not increase income tax rates or introduce new bands in the Scottish Budget. The UK Government introduced 100% business rates relief for EV charging points and EV-only forecourts for the next 10 years. It also announced a new mileage charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028. The Chancellor said fuel duty would be frozen until September 2026, followed by staged increases. There will be a reduction in the writing down allowance main rate in Corporation Tax. The government will double the penalty for taxpayers submitting a Corporation Tax return late from 1 April 2026. This will be legislated for in the Finance Bill 2025-26. Alcohol duty will rise by RPI on 1 February 2026 to maintain its current real-terms value. Duty rates on all tobacco products increased by RPI inflation +2 ppts, taking effect from 26 November 2025. The one-off increase of £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or 50g of other tobacco products and annual uprating of tobacco duty by RPI +2 ppts next year will take effect from 1 October 2026 and will be included in the Finance Bill 2025-26. The government will legislate for the new Vaping Products Duty to be introduced from 1 October 2026 at a flat rate of £2.20 per 10ml applied to all vaping liquid, alongside the Vaping Duty Stamps scheme

as part of its plans to crack down on the illicit vape market. Rogue traders dealing in illegal vapes could be fined £10,000 and face prison, while a digital duty stamp is set to be introduced across all vapes sold in the UK to help identify fake vapes. While the Vaping Duty Stamp Scheme will become compulsory in October 2026, convenience stores will have a six month grace period to sell any unstamped stock. The UK Government also confirmed its intention to extend the soft drinks sugar tax, bringing pre-packed added sugar milk drinks within the scope from 1 January 2028 and lowering the levy threshold to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml. The Government voiced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on the future rate of the National Living Wage (NLW). Hourly rates for National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will change from 1 April 2026 as follows: Q Over 21s will rise by 50p (4.1%) to £12.71. Q 18-20 will rise by 85p (8.5%) to £10.85. Q Under-18s and apprentices will rise by 45p (6%) to £8. What’s more, the government will simplify administration of the DRS by removing the requirement for individual producers to account for VAT on unreturned deposits. Instead, this will be done by the Deposit Management Organisation. David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “After last year’s Budget battering Scottish retailers will be relieved the 2025 iteration appears to have little which will immediately make trading harder. Nonetheless, there was little to be excited about.” www.slrmag.co.uk

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Comment

HELP US HELP YOUR TEAM It’s a sad fact of retail life that things are getting tougher for most people, and that means everyone in your business, not just the boss. Making ends meet has probably never been harder for some of the team in your store as life just keeps on getting more expensive – and let’s be honest, there’s no realistic prospect of that getting much better any time soon. Then, on top of those financial worries that are affecting most people, there’s no doubt that working in the local retailing sector has become a damn sight harder in the post-Covid years. Daily abuse and violence in-store, mental health issues, relationship issues and every other type of issue you can imagine only serve to make life more challenging than it’s ever been for your team. But there is some good news. All hope is not lost. If you think there’s not much you can do about it, you’re wrong. There is something you can do: you can get onto the GroceryAid website and download the latest (completely free) independent retail pack that gives you all the tools you need to help you show your team that there is free and confidential help available from expert professionals. Whether it’s financial, emotional or practical support they need, GroceryAid can provide it – and nobody else needs to know anything about it. As you’ll see inside, GroceryAid has recently carried out a full rebranding but unlike most fancy rebranding jobs, this one has a genuine and very important purpose: to show colleagues that they have earned the support they can get. This isn’t charity as they know it. They bust a gut in a very demanding industry and face things that most people will never have to face. If they need some help, they’ve damn well earned it. Which brings us back to you: our 2026 ask of you is that you download that pack and you share it with your team. That’s all you have to do. Scan the QR code and it’s five minutes of your time that could make a world of difference to a member of your team. GroceryAid support spending in Scotland has rocketed in the last few years and that’s purely and simply down to the fact that more workers than ever now know there’s a place they can go to get help This is the help they’ve earned. So please make sure they have the chance to get it. Download that pack.

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.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

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.

© 55 North Ltd. 2026 ISSN 1740-2409.

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Cover Story

2025: How was it for you?

REFLECTIONS AND AMBITIONS

Five leading Scottish retailers discuss the highs and lows of 2025 and their plans for the coming year. BY SARAH BRITTON

we have had some great media coverage in over 16 different titles. SLR called us the Rolls-Royce of Royston, which was a real highlight.

HARDEST PART OF 2025 The hardest part of 2025 was the disposable vape ban. That was a bit difficult in terms of changing over from the disposables to the nondisposables. Some people’s Universal Credit was lowered in 2025 too and that was a challenge to get customers to spend in stores. We had to change our range and get more of Co-op’s Honest Value products in stock.

PLANS FOR 2026

RAHEEM ALI RAZAQ

ALI’S NISA ROYSTON, GLASGOW HIGHLIGHT OF 2025 I took over the shop from my brother in December 2024. We redeveloped the store, got a new Nisa fascia, installed RetailAI anti-theft and personalised radio – we gave it a massive boost. Sales are up by over 30% and 12

SLR | JANUARY 2026

We started doing deliveries with Flash on the 1st of January. We began promoting it on social media a few weeks before and we have deals on soft drinks, sweets, chocolates and crisps with different items going for a penny. We’ve just bought our first delivery car and we’re going to get it wrapped soon. Before now, we’ve had Just Eat and we’d do 12-13 a day, but they take a 33% cut. There is www.slrmag.co.uk

2025: How was it for you?

definitely demand for the service as I got a lot of customers asking when we were going to start. We’re looking to make 80 –100 deliveries a day. We have also just purchased Electronic Shelf Edge Labels from a company called Avery Berkel. Labelling is one area where we were lacking and could do with an improvement. I saw them on Facebook and I’ve spoken to a couple of retailers down South and they were already fond of them. They cost £19,000. It’ll be another challenging year, but we’re ready for the challenges. From a personal point of view, I’ve got the foundations and the basics now, so we should come on in leaps and bounds in 2026. Last year was a transitional period for us, now we’re ready and raring to go. We are going to enter the SLR Awards this year!

opportunity where we see growth and we’re going to be investing heavily into it this year. In my opinion it’s a service which convenience stores have got to offer now because of the drop in footfall which has been caused by the ban of single-use vapes.

HARDEST PART OF 2025 Customers’ disposable income has been squeezed and has not been aligned to the inflation and living costs due to the fixed tax thresholds. We’ve certainly seen a drop in people purchasing seasonal items.

PLANS FOR 2026

Deliveries are going to be a challenge, but it’s one I’m looking forward to. My only concern is that we don’t sell alcohol, which is a big part of deliveries. We’re going to be the first Flash store without alcohol, but they’re confident because they’ve seen our set up and our team. Staff costs will increase, but I was expecting wages to rise because the cost of living is going up.

The Avens brand has been fantastic and I’m excited to be working with a company to produce our own leaflets, getting the brand out there and building our own model that works for our customers. I’m also looking to invest in Electronic Shelf Edge Labels. I’m speaking to a couple of suppliers. It will cost about £100,000 to install across all three stores. We’re looking at ways to bring labour costs down all the time and this is such an important part. It’s important not to lose customer trust when the price scans at one thing and it’s another on the shelf.

ADVICE

CHALLENGES IN 2026

Improve and invest in your stores. If we were sitting like the way we were last year, it would have been really difficult [to face increased costs]. But the 30%+ growth that we’ve had has enabled us to maintain our opening hours for this year and helped us to keep the staff.

The challenges are that there has been a squeeze from the multiples in terms of their labour. We’re finding that – because the mults are so focused on work pace now –they’re being quite ruthless in applying pressure to get the pace up in their staff members and squeeze every

CHALLENGES IN 2026

Cover Story

ADVICE

ZAHID MUKHTAR

AVENS RETAIL, THREE STORES IN KIRKCALDY AND BALLINGRY, FIFE HIGHLIGHT OF 2025 It was a tough year, but the trialling of the Snappy Shopper delivery platform was a real highlight. We introduced it in April. It’s a great www.slrmag.co.uk

bit of performance out of their workforce. Subsequently, they’re driving staff out. We’ve picked up some of the staff members and the stories that we hear are pretty horrific. The positive is that there’s talent out there now and they’re willing to work for an independent, more family-orientated work environment. There seems to be an appetite for that now.

Continue to invest in your store and raise the store standards. Staff training is more important than ever. That point of contact is crucial. You could spend all the money you want on store standards, but if the service isn’t right this negates any sort of investment you’ve made in your store. We have in-store bakeries, so all our staff have to go through a training programme to get their hygiene certificates and part of the training we do for all our management now is customer service training. This is a three-month training programme, and they get an SQA certificate [awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority]. We introduced that this year. JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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Cover Story

2025: How was it for you?

stores. We have good funding, but the way the government is behaving, it’s very sad to say that is our biggest challenge. Then the other thing is the concept of spending money on good-quality wine is dropping. People like to buy supermarket brands. We want to run tastings and push good wines.

ADVICE

SHIVAKUMAR ‘SHIVA’ KANDASWAMY

To tackle supermarkets, retailers need to buy collectively. We could speak to boutique wine makers and if we bulk buy with five or 10 stores together and distribute it among ourselves, we can get a good discount on quality wine. I think that’s a good way forward.

PREMIER DUNBAR, DAY-TODAY HADDINGTON AND HADDINGTON WINES AND WHISKIES, EAST LOTHIAN HIGHLIGHT OF 2025 It was one of the best years we’ve had. We opened Premier Dunbar on 15 November 2024 and two days before our first anniversary, we hit £1m turnover. We have also scaled new heights with awards. We have picked up several, including Off-Trade Retailer of the Year and New Store of the Year at the SLR Awards back in June.

HARDEST PART OF 2025 The climate was very good in 2025, but business slowed in the last quarter. October and November were some of our toughest months and even in early December things hadn’t improved. The wage increases also had an impact. In 2009, I was selling milk at £1.50 and wages were £3.85 or £4 an hour. Now the wages are over £12 and I’m still selling milk at £1.59. We cannot keep going like this.

PLANS FOR 2026 With Dunbar, we want to look at targeting more of a younger crowd, and sourcing more Scottish food. We are also planning to refurbish our DayToday store in Haddington to the Premier standard, so that’s exciting for us. We have applied for planning permission, and we are due to get the building warrant for putting up a beer cave inside.

CHALLENGES IN 2026 Wages have gone up and non-domestic rates are going to go up. The problem is the taxes, the VAT, the digits are all going up. If I try to go two steps up, the government pulls me one step down. We want to build some super world-class 14

SLR | JANUARY 2026

ANAND CHEEMA

FRESH IN FALKIRK, CENTRAL LOWLANDS HIGHLIGHT OF 2025 It was a very tough year. From a store point of view, we’ve done quite a lot with the community. We donate milk and porridge to the local high school and we’re installing a defibrillator at the store. We’re going to run defibrillator training in February. We’ve moved from Snappy Shopper to Flash for deliveries and that move has worked well for us. We went live on 24 June. We’ve seen a £4,000 increase in sales just from home delivery. We’ve put a lot of investment and effort into it. We’re able to provide the same prices online as in-store and there’s zero per cent commission for the customer. They just pay the delivery fee we set. Our basket spend has improved by £4.

HARDEST PART OF 2025 The challenge of joining a new platform and having to reestablish ourselves. We were losing a www.slrmag.co.uk

2025: How was it for you?

chunk of turnover, which has a knock-on effect on buying levels, picking, rebate, staff. It was a big risk to go from x sales to zero. We’ve put a lot of money into this: £12-15,000 on the cars and wraps, insurance, maintenance and getting them serviced beforehand, plus deals and marketing – about £30,000 overall. We also had competition from Snappy. They put a lot of funding into a competitor store.

but sometimes we dipped in and out. This has given us the push to be on it constantly on a daily basis. It takes a bit of work, but we’re getting there. We’ll see we’re up 100% on the line [we’re promoting] on that period of time Aunty Meg’s accounts for 30-40% of the Scoot sales, so that’s about £200 coming direct from Scoot. The café staff are now busier in the evening, whereas it was quieter before.

PLANS FOR 2026

HARDEST PART OF 2025

I’m really excited about our Flash platform. We’re looking to add a further £5,000 sales per week at least. We’re also changing our coffee machine in store. Our contract is up with Costa and we’re moving to Lavazza. We’ve found a better bean at a more competitive price point. Lavazza is a really well-known brand and it’s different when every Tom, Dick and Harry has the Express machine. I’m also looking to tighten up on margins a little bit as we go into next year and focus more on that rather than turnover. We’re hoping to increase our delivery sales by roughly a further £5,000 by June next year.

The increase in wages and staffing costs with the Budget. We automatically started cutting back our hours from 10pm to 8pm. There has been a tightening of the belt. I’d have preferred to be open until 10pm, but the money wasn’t there.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN 2026 Overheads – you’ve got the National Living Wage increasing again. We’re not seeing the same movements in profit as we are with the increase in overheads and inflation. It’s always the same scenario – DRS, potentially HFSS issues as well, there’s always something.

ADVICE Do your figures. The technology is there, but people aren’t reviewing it. You’ve got a Ferrari, but you’re probably driving it like a Peugeot.

BILLY GATT

PREMIER WHITEHILLS, NEAR BANFF, ABERDEENSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025 Aunty Meg’s Kitchen continues to grow and we launched deliveries with Scoot in April and our sales have gone up 100%. We’ve grown from £2,000 to £4,000 turnover. We’re very proactive now with social media. We’re advertising every day through Henry at Orrest Digital, they’ve been good. Before, it would be fair to say our social media was good, www.slrmag.co.uk

Cover Story

gap between senior and junior is getting so close.

ADVICE Be aware of your cashflow. If I look back at my three years [at Whitehills], if there’s one thing I’d change it would be to be in my office more often and understand what I was doing. I spend more time in the office now than I did before because I don’t want any nasty shocks with my cashflow with payroll, VAT or bills. I pay my bills as soon as they come in. It’s easy to fool yourself with the top line, but cashflow is everything.

PLANS FOR 2026 We’re removing our ice cream display and spending £20,000 upgrading the display with a wider range of product. We’ll also change some of the slush machines. We’ve got about 12 drink options – three milkshakes, four Tango Ice Blast and seven Jolly Rancher and a broken Hershey’s, so I’ll go to the Booker trade show and look at what’s new. We’ll need a new van with the Scoot logos too. We’re putting in a new till system through RDP, which is better-integrated with Booker and Scoot. I think we’re holding our own in a tough market; we just need to keep at it. I’m feeling fairly positive with Scoot and Aunty Megs – our growth areas. We’ve got a fairly big InPost lockers unit, and we’re signed up through the Post Office to do Amazon – just trying to drive footfall. I’m sure we’ll be at £5,000 a week soon with deliveries and there’s lots of room to expand on that.

CHALLENGES IN 2026 We’ve not got a lot of room to streamline more to account for the wages, but Scoot will increase sales. Will it increase enough to mitigate the next wage increase? I doubt it. The prices will go up again. Last year, everything non-price marked would go up a little, not much, because we didn’t want to lose customers. People are careful with their spending. We’re up in the North East which has had a kicking with the oil. Money is tight, it’s been difficult. The pay [national minimum wage] has gone up, it’s not too bad for an adult. The younger people’s wage going up is a problem – the JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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News

Products

Surcare refreshes brand Sensitive-skin laundry brand Surcare has unveiled a new identity that puts skincare and wellbeing at the heart of its offer. Launching under the ‘Love your laundry, love your skin’ campaign, the redesign introduces updated packaging and branding to position laundry as part of a skincare routine. A wider transformation includes plans for a celebrity brand ambassador, NPD, new listings and an e-commerce site.

Candy Kittens purr-chases Graze from Unilever Candy Kittens, the vegan sweets brand co-founded by Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, is set to acquire healthy-snacking brand Graze from Unilever. Graze began life as a DTC snack-box business before expanding into retail. It was bought by Unilever in 2019 for a sum thought to be around £100m but has seen

Product News NICOTINE POUCHES PACK A PUNCH – P38 GROCERY Competition marks launch of Zootropolis 2 movie

Del Monte offers Dubai trip in Disney tie-in Fresh Del Monte has teamedup with Walt Disney Animation Studios for a new promotion to mark the launch of Zootropolis 2, which is in cinemas now. As part of a global collaboration, Fresh Del Monte has rolled out co-branded Zootropolis 2 stickers across a wide range of its fresh fruit and tinned products. Hundreds of millions of stickers will be distributed worldwide. Shoppers also have the chance to win a family trip to Dubai, alongside a range of themed prizes

inspired by the film. Details on how to enter appear on participating packs and across the brand’s UK social channels.

The activity is backed by POS, print, digital and on-pack communications across fresh and tinned categories.

sales decline in recent years. Industry insiders now value the business at about £35m.

PAYMENT SERVICES

PayPoint offers Fortnite vouchers

Artisan Drinks signs distribution deal Distributor Proof Drinks has added The Artisan Drinks Company to its portfolio, strengthening its position in premium mixers and functional soft drinks. Artisan is known for premium mixers with artistic design and offers 200ml can mixers as an environmentally friendly option. It has also launched functional soft drinks enriched with vitamins and electrolytes.

Performance boost for Bru Irn-Bru will soon be produced with the same precision as a pit stop after AG Barr appointed former Formula One coach Bradley Scanes as its new People Performance Director. Scanes brings over 13 years’ experience coaching elite athletes, including serving as High Performance Coach and Physiotherapist to four-time

PayPoint has announced a partnership with Epic Games to offer instore vouchers for its popular Fortnite video game. Fortnite has more than 650 million registered players worldwide, and PayPoint hopes the collaboration will attract gamers across the UK into their local convenience stores. Players can now buy Fortnite digital vouchers valued between £10 and £125. With over 99% of the UK population living within a mile of a PayPoint retailer, the partnership provides convenient locations for gamers to top up. The move comes as PayPoint continues to grow its digital gaming voucher portfolio, which already includes Google Play, Nintendo, PlayStation, Roblox and Xbox, in response to rising demand for digital vouchers. Alongside earning commission, the partnership lets retail partners to attract new customers with digital voucher services, increasing cross-selling potential for other services and products while in-store.

HOME BAKING

McDougalls unveils new look Flour brand McDougalls has rolled out a packaging redesign across its portfolio to improve shelf standout and shopper engagement. The new look features enhanced visuals, clearer product descriptions, and added recipes and baking tips. The update comes as the flour category shows solid growth, with value up 2.4% and volume up 1%, while McDougalls is outperforming the market with 13% growth in both value and volume.

Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen.

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Products

News

McCain marks two years with Community Shop McCain Foods and social enterprise Community Shop are celebrating the second anniversary of Community Shop

SOFT DRINKS Six retailers choose local charities to each receive £20,000

Coca-Cola’s ‘The Bosses’ campaign donates £120k

Eastfield in North Yorkshire –

The Coca-Cola Company has donated £120,000 to charities chosen by six independent retailers featured in its ongoing campaign, ‘The Bosses’. The campaign celebrates retailers at the heart of their communities and their role in Coca-Cola’s story in Great Britain. The six store owners were the focus of a nationwide tribute showcasing their contribution and championing the wider convenience retail sector. They have now received £20,000 to allocate to up to two charities of

and household goods at reduced

personal significance. Donations have supported causes ranging from food banks and hospice care to youth initiatives and cultural organisations. In Edinburgh, Sophie Williams and her parents directed their fund to Oxgangs Care, a local service supporting vulnerable people. Sophie said: “This donation will make a real difference to people locally, and I’m grateful to Coca-Cola for helping continue to support our work within the community around us.”

the home of McCain GB since 1969. The store, fully funded by McCain through product donations worth over £2.3m since opening in 2023, provides local residents with surplus food prices.

World of Sweets launches spring confectionery range World of Sweets has unveiled its Spring 2026 range, designed to help retailers boost seasonal sales through value, novelty and impulse formats. New lines include Candy Realms Jelly Bunny Heads, Candy Realms Jelly Filled Mallow Bag, Candy Realms Spring Hard Candy Lollies, Candy Realms Spring Mix Cup and Pick n Mix Station

TOBACCO Brand’s popularity reflects growing demand for value

Imperial hails success of Paramount launch

Imperial Brands has reported that its value cigarette brand Paramount is now the UK’s fastest-growing in the cigarette category following a successful launch last year. Introduced in England, Scotland and Wales in October 2024, Paramount has quickly gained market share and achieved more than 5% in independents, with customers showing strong loyalty and repeat purchases. Combining value and quality, Paramount features premium, full-flavour Virginia sun-ripened tobacco, catering to the UK market where most cigarettes use Virginia blends. The brand’s success reflects growing demand for value options, with the value sector now representing nearly 37% of the UK cigarette market. Available in full flavour king-size and super king-size formats, Paramount maintains a competitive RSP of £12.50, offering adult smokers affordability while delivering strong margins for retailers. Paramount previously launched in Europe and enjoyed a highly successful debut in Germany, where it became the fastest-growing cigarette product on the market in summer 2023. For more information, visit the Imperial Brands website.

CHILLED

Malcolm Allan rolls out revamped pack designs Malcolm Allan has completed a major rebrand, introducing a contemporary new look that reflects its heritage as a family butcher. The redesign, the largest launch in the company’s 71-year history, features navy, gold and white branding across its range. The update also includes recyclable cardboard packaging for its steak pies. Founded in 1954, Malcolm Allan operates from Larbert and employs over 100 staff. Its portfolio includes Lorne sausage, steak pies, black pudding, burgers, sausages and BBQ meat lines. The company is Scotland’s largest producer of Lorne sausage. The rebrand follows Malcolm Allan coming under new ownership last year, forming the Macsween Allan Food Group after acquiring a controlling stake in haggis maker Macsween of Edinburgh.

Spring Mix.

Zyn kicks off nationwide campaign for X-Low variant Philip Morris has unveiled a campaign to support the launch of Zyn X-Low, the lowest-strength nicotine pouch in its portfolio (1.5mg). The campaign – ‘Be bold enough to take it easy with X-Low’ – aims to raise awareness of Zyn’s strength variation and highlight the brand’s latest innovation. Spearmint, Black Cherry and Cool Mint in 1.5mg are available now through wholesale and PMI Open, PML’s retailer platform.

Spraga kombucha hits UK Ukrainian kombucha brand Spraga has launched in the UK in 330ml cans (RSP £2) in Original, Ginger & Lemon, Pomegranate and Apple & Pear variants, available from CLF Distribution. Made with organic tea, organic cane sugar and a living SCOBY culture, the range is naturally fermented, rich in probiotics and low in sugar, and is positioned as a healthier alternative to traditional soft drinks.

www.slrmag.co.uk

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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News

Off-Trade

Bardinet VSOP hits shelves in bold new look French brandy brand Bardinet has launched a new limited edition. Bardinet VSOP Brandy (ABV 36%) comes in a onelitre eye-catching gold and red bottle with an RSP of £22.50. Slowly matured in oak casks just outside Bordeaux, Bardinet is known for its rich, mellow taste, with fresh fruit notes and a long oaky finish. It was the winner of the Global Brandy Masters gold medal in 2023.

Vinarchy trims brands in major shake-up Vinarchy is cutting around 60 wine brands — about 40% of its portfolio — over the next two years to sharpen its focus on global flagships Hardys, Jacob’s Creek and Campo Viejo. The cull follows its merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard’s wine interests, and the company also plans a AU$30m investment

Off-TradeNews TIME FOR A FRESH FASCIA – P44 LOW/NO Consumers can win a sports box every week

Erdinger Alkoholfrei urges shoppers to get active Erdinger Alkoholfrei is encouraging consumers to adopt a healthy lifestyle and get active with a new campaign that breaks away from the drinks industry’s customary focus on simply cutting back on alcohol in January. The promotion, which is now available, supports the brand’s positioning as a sporty thirst quencher. The ‘Get Active with Erdinger Alkoholfrei’ campaign is running on 500,000 neck collars carried on promotional 500ml bottles of the Bavarian low-alcohol beer.

The bottles are available until 8 March 2026 or until stocks last. Participants have the chance to win one of 35 sports boxes every week, each containing a range of equipment to help kickstart an active routine. The boxes include an Erdinger towel and sport bottle, a Blackroll mini, a Blackroll ball, a Flexvit revolve resistance band and a mini resistance band. A companion app enables everyone – not just the winners – to access a series of free workout tutorials.

in the Rowland Flat winery alongside new formats aimed at younger drinkers.

Madrí marks fifth birthday with £1bn in sales Madrí Excepcional has surpassed £1 billion in annual sales as it celebrates its fifth anniversary. Launched in October 2020 by Molson Coors Beverage Company in partnership with La Sagra Brewery, the premium Europeanstyle lager has become the second-largest world lager brand in the UK. Since launch, more

BEER

Carlsberg, Holsten and 1664 launch new 10-pack PMPs Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, Holsten Pilsner and 1664 Bière have expanded their ranges with new 10-pack price-marked packs, marking Holsten’s first multipack format, available now exclusively to the convenience channel. The launch aims to tap into growing demand for value-led, midsized pack formats. Designed for sharing and social occasions, the packs also support rapid delivery missions. Circana data shows 51.8% of convenience shoppers purchased a price-marked product between late June and mid-September last year. The new packs are available now from Bestway and Parfetts wholesalers, with 1664 Bière and Holsten Pils priced at £12.99 and Carlsberg Danish Pilsner at £9.99.

than 750 million pints have been sold nationwide. BEER Online tool offers insights, advice and planograms

Clydebuilt unveils four new expressions

Asahi launches impartial category advice platform

Clydebuilt has launched four

Asahi UK has introduced Super Sales, a new impartial category advice platform designed to help convenience retailers grow beer sales and profits. The resource offers data-led insights on the beer market, ranging advice and planograms tailored to different store sizes. Regional bestsellers are highlighted to help retailers reflect local preferences.

new whiskies, including three single cask bottlings. They are a 27 year old 100% Sherry Matured Blended Malt – Speyside, Highland & Island (RSP £95), 2009 Bourbon Hogshead, Fettercairn Distillery (RSP £85), 2012 Bourbon Hogshead, Royal Brackla Distillery (RSP £75), and 2014 Sherry Butt, Ben Nevis Distillery (RSP £85).

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With the top 15 SKUs accounting for a third of total beer sales in convenience, Super Sales provides

a simple checklist for retailers to monitor bestsellers and identify gaps. Eleven of the recommended SKUs aren’t produced by Asahi, underlining the impartial approach of the platform. Super Sales is live now at asahisupersales.co.uk and will be updated with additional features throughout 2026.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Off-Trade

News

Mangrove outlines 2026 spirits trends Independent spirits distributor Mangrove Global has outlined the trends set to shape the off-trade in 2026. Tequila and

BEER Reformulation is backed by nationwide campaign

BrewDog updates Punk IPA recipe with new hops

low-and-no alcohol products led

BrewDog has updated the recipe of its flagship beer, Punk IPA, to deliver a cleaner, brighter and more expressive flavour, without increasing prices. The new recipe is rolling out nationwide supported by a digital outdoor campaign with the strapline, ‘Tastes like commercial suicide’. The campaign highlights the upgraded ingredients and increased hops while confirming the price remains unchanged. The original Punk recipe was developed over 18 years ago when hop choice was limited. Modern hops now offer greater flavour, aroma and stability.

further and world whisky is also

growth in 2025 and are expected to remain strong performers. However, gin, rum and vodka will continue to dominate in volume terms as staple spirit choices. Tequila is forecast to grow attracting attention.

Tequila Tapatio unveils new look and bottle design Tapatio is introducing a fresh visual identity across its range, while retaining key elements of its heritage. An updated bottle shape is inspired by the agave plant and features a cork closure.

BrewDog worked with growers and hop development programmes to select the best varieties. The key change is the introduction of Krush hop, which delivers intense, longlasting aromatics alongside the original Simcoe and Citra varieties.

LOW/NO Brand promoted in month-long alcohol-free campaign

Belvoir Farm named as Official Dry January mocktail

Belvoir Farm has been confirmed as the official mocktail partner for Dry January 2026, supporting Alcohol Change UK’s campaign to help people start the year alcohol-free. The partnership will see Belvoir’s mocktail range promoted as a flavourful alternative for those taking part in the challenge. The line-up includes Lime & Yuzu Mojito and Peach Bellini, both made with real fruit juice and no artificial ingredients. The drinks are available in 250ml cans with an RSP £1.40. Independent retailers can source them from wholesaler Cotswold Fayre. Dry January is designed to encourage consumers to take a break from alcohol after the festive season, and Belvoir Farm aims to make that easier by offering sophisticated options that replicate the taste experience of cocktails without the alcohol. The brand will feature in campaign materials and social media activity during January, which will highlight the benefits of alcohol-free living and the versatility of its mocktails.

Lauren Carrol, Chief Operating Officer at BrewDog, said: “New Punk IPA is now a much punchier, hop forward evolution of our flagship beer, made possible thanks to modern hop science and brewing processes.”

BEER

Butcombe Original launches in cans

Labels now highlight origin, production process and tasting notes, with a refreshed logo and new ‘TT’ symbol. Each of the five expressions has a distinct colour variation. The range is available from Speciality Brands.

Tailored Spirits launches new Experimental Series Tailored Spirits Co. is releasing four new single cask whiskies as part of its Experimental Series. The latest line-up includes Aultmore 15 Year Old; Benriach 13 Year Old; Dailuaine 13 Year Old; and Springbank 23 Year Old. Each bottle carries a detachable ‘lab ticket’ marked with a unique code. Collecting six tickets grants access to

Bristol-based Butcombe Brewing Co. has introduced its flagship bitter in cans for the first time. Butcombe Original (ABV 4.5%) is now available in a 4x440ml format with an RSP of £6.80 through wholesalers. The multi-award-winning session beer, crowned Best Session Bitter at this year’s CAMRA Awards, is the number one cask ale in the south-west of England. The move into cans aims to connect the brand with a wider audience of beer drinkers across the UK, as demand for heritage craft beers in convenient formats continues to grow.

special limited editions, including a new bottling from Springbank.

WKD to invest than £10m ahead of 30th anniversary WKD is gearing up for its biggest year in over a decade, with an investment of more than £10m for 2026 as the RTD brand prepares a relaunch to mark its 30th anniversary. The investment will fund a refreshed identity and a national marketing plan spanning digital, TV and broadcaster video on demand, experiential activity and upgraded shopper marketing.

www.slrmag.co.uk

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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THE SLR AWARDS:

BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT!

The SLR Awards have always existed for one reason and one reason only: to recognise and reward this fantastic sector – but you’ve got to be in it to win it! BY ANTONY BEGLEY

When we first launched the SLR Awards more than two decades ago, we set out with a single and solitary purpose: to celebrate this amazing industry and to give our retailers a fantastic night out that was all about them. We believe we’ve stayed true to that goal ever since and we hope that it’s still as clear to you today as it was back in the early 2000s that the SLR Awards give us an annual golden opportunity to shout about YOU. We’ve always tried to make it special which is why we do things like, for example, giving every shortlisted entrant a completely free night out. Who else pays for your dinner, your drinks and your accommodation? All you need to worry about is getting there and having a ball! That ethos extends to how we run the entire awards. Our judges make unannounced visits so we can see your stores how they really are. We take thousands of photographs – literally – as well as hours of video. That way we can share with everyone how amazing our shortlisted and winning stores are.

We spend weeks and weeks on the road visiting stores and I personally visit every single store on the shortlist. Every one. It’s the only way we can absolutely guarantee consistency of judging. Do you know of any other awards that can say the same? And we also used to own and run our own store for five years, so we get retail in a way that no one else can claim to match. So yes, it’s a huge amount of effort and commitment but we do it because you’re worth it. This sector is nothing short of remarkable, something we’ve learned over and over during the last quarter of a century. So when you enter the SLR Awards, you truly are getting involved with a unique awards programme and if you happen to make a shortlist or even win an award, you can be confident that you and your team deserved it. So please do get involved. It takes a little time and effort to enter, sure. But it’s worth it.

ENTRY DEADLINE: FRI 13 MAR 2026 AWARDS CEREMONY: WED 17 JUNE 2026 www.slrmag.co.uk

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS... PAYPOINT Steve O’Neill, Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer The convenience landscape is evolving faster than ever, with local retailers remaining at the very heart of that transformation. We’re proud to continue supporting the #ThinkSmart Innovation Award, which celebrates the creativity, resilience, and forward-thinking spirit of retailers who are redefining what it means to serve their communities. Today’s local stores are so much more than places to pick up everyday essentials –they’ve become true community hubs. By offering vital services such as banking, bill payments, and parcel collections, they make everyday life simpler and more connected for the people they serve.

SNAPPY SHOPPER Mike Callachan, CEO Snappy Shopper is proud to sponsor the Home Delivery Retailer of the Year Award. This category represents the very heart of where convenience retail is heading. Customer expectations have shifted dramatically in recent years, with speed of delivery, reliability, and communityfocused service now defining what great retail looks like. Home delivery has moved from a “nice to have” to an essential service, and the retailers who excel in this space are driving the entire sector forward. Sponsoring this award allows us to celebrate the retailers who are not only meeting these demands but setting new standards for operational excellence and customer care.

CCEP Kate Abbotson, Senior External Communications Manager Coca-Cola Europacific Partners are proud to sponsor the SLR Awards 2026 because they celebrate excellence and innovation in Scotland’s retail sector – a vital part of the economy and local communities. Supporting these awards reflects our commitment to helping retailers thrive by delivering products and solutions that meet evolving consumer needs. The Soft Drinks category is particularly significant in today’s changing retail climate and by sponsoring this award, we aim to highlight the creativity and resilience of retailers who are responding to current market trends and setting new standards for the convenience retailing industry.

MHOUSE Faisal Sattar, Director MHouse is proud to sponsor the 2026 SLR Awards Special Recognition category. In the current challenging economic climate, retailers are facing some of the toughest trading conditions in years: rising costs, staffing pressures, and constantly shifting customer expectations. Yet, every day, store owners and their teams continue to innovate, adapt, and serve their communities with resilience. This award is about celebrating exactly that. Supporting Special Recognition reflects our commitment to the retailers who go above and beyond, who lead with heart, and who push the sector forward despite the challenges.

AG BARR Dino Labbate, Chief Commercial Officer The Scottish convenience sector is amazing and so resilient. There will undoubtedly be challenges, but we have no doubt that businesses will continue to thrive in terms of store development, innovation and partnerships. Social media will become an increasingly important tool to engage their shoppers and keep on top of trends. In soft drinks, consumers want to see bigger and bolder flavours. Health and wellbeing will influence even more purchasing decisions across all categories, which will lead to increased demand for lower calorie products that still taste great. There also continues to be a significant reduction in alcohol consumption for many adults.

PGMA Martin Devlin, Commercial Manager PGMA continues to sponsor the Fresh and Chilled category as we see it as a priority to be a successful convenience retailer. Having a strong offer of good quality Fresh products that are a frequent repeat purchase helps not only to drive footfall but form the basis of a wider, bigger basket spend for meal solutions. Those who do manage Fresh well see increases not only in turnover but also in margin. We look forward to seeing how the sector has developed in the year and look forward to judging the class leaders again in 2026.

Enter at www.slrawards.com 22

SLR | DECEMBER 2025

www.slrmag.co.uk

IMPERIAL BRANDS Andrew Malm, UK Market Manager Imperial Brands is proud to sponsor the Outstanding Achievement Award because, in today’s challenging retail environment, celebrating resilience and innovation is more important than ever. Retailers are navigating rapid shifts in consumer behaviour, economic pressures, and evolving regulations, all while striving to deliver exceptional experiences. This award shines a spotlight on individuals and businesses that go above and beyond – those who adapt, lead, and inspire others in the face of uncertainty. By supporting this recognition, we reaffirm our commitment to partnership and progress within the retail sector. It’s about honouring the people who make a real difference.

NEWS SCOTLAND Scott McCulloch, Head of Retail The Newstrade category continues to be a vital footfall, sales and profit driver for the local retailing sector in Scotland, and we are delighted to once again sponsor this award. News has long driven seven-day sales in stores, bringing customers to your door every day of the week and driving additional impulse sales. Retailers that continue to highlight the category in-store, on social media and through home delivery continue to prosper from the category. The SLR Awards provides a fantastic platform for recognising and rewarding retailers that drive their business forward with news and we would urge all local retailers to take their successes and learnings on board for 2026.

BOOKER Barry Forbes, Retail Development Controller Scotland Booker is proud to sponsor the Community Retailer of the Year category at the SLR Awards 2026 because independent retailers sit at the heart of both our business and the communities they serve. In a fast-moving retail landscape, this award matters more than ever. Independent retailers who stay closely connected to their neighbourhoods continue to set the standard for excellence. By celebrating those who build loyalty, respond to local needs and create meaningful customer experiences, Booker recognises the very best of independent retail.

CHRISTIE & CO Anthony Meadowcroft, Regional Director – North & Scotland We’re proud to once again sponsor the SLR Awards, celebrating the hard work and dedication of retail business owners who continue to drive the sector forward. We know that retailers are at the heart of our communities, and recognising their achievements is essential – so we’re delighted to again be a part of shining a spotlight on their successes. As a specialist agent supporting business owners to sell, acquire, and grow, we understand the passion and commitment it takes to build a thriving retail business. That’s why we’re particularly excited to sponsor the New Store of the Year Award to honour those who have taken bold steps to launch something fresh and exciting.

BUCKFAST Stephen Wilkes, National Account Manager, J. Chandler & Co (Buckfast) It is a pleasure and a privilege to sponsor the SLR Awards and play our part in recognising and rewarding the fantastic local retailing sector in Scotland. Local retailing is a vibrant and vital sector that has once again met every challenge head-on in the last 12 months despite the many challenges our industry faces. Scotland is obviously a key market for us and it’s local retailers across Scotland who have consistently helped and supported us over the years. Our sponsorship of this award recognises this, and we will be delighted to be there on the evening to celebrate everything that is so special about local retailers.

Enter at www.slrawards.com www.slrmag.co.uk

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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AWARDS CATEGORIES INSTORE Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Food-to-Go Retailer of the Year Forecourt Convenience Retailer of the Year Fresh & Chilled Retailer of the Year Home Delivery Retailer of the Year Newstrade Retailer of the Year Off-Trade Retailer of the Year Scottish Brands Retailer of the Year Smokeless Alternative Retailer of the Year Soft Drinks Retailer of the Year

INACTION Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Community Retailer of the Year New Store of The Year Refit of the Year Sustainability Retailer of the Year #ThinkSmart Innovation Award Team of the Year Special Recognition Outstanding Achievement

Q

Scottish Local Retailer of the Year

Enter at www.slrawards.com SLR Awards 2026 – Official Sponsors CHRISTIE CO

bringing convenience to independent retail

MORE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. PLEASE CONTACT HELEN AT HLYONS@55NORTH.COM

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SLR | JANUARY 2026

www.slrmag.co.uk

Get in touch with HLP to help drive sales of healthier options in your store! Bespoke

POS

Content for Media Screens Chiller Signage

FREE advice on healthier products

We now have over 2,300 retailers Find out how you can be part of the programme - Call 0131 343 7602 or visit

Inside Business

DRS Update

CLOCK TICKING AS DRS EDGES CLOSER The countdown to the implementation of DRS in Scotland is now well underway, yet ‘only one in five’ independent retailers has plans in place. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

ACS FINDINGS: Q 53% not aware of the Deposit Return Scheme at all. Q 27% aware of the scheme but currently with no plan for how they’re going to be part of it. Q Of those who have a plan, 12% said they plan to take back containers manually, 5% intend to invest in a reverse vending machine and 3% plan to seek an exemption from the scheme.

“We now have a firm timeline for the introduction of the scheme, so retailers need to start thinking about their plans for how they’re going to be part of the scheme when it’s introduced in October 2027.” JAMES LOWMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ACS

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ith October 2027 the scheduled date for the launch of a moreor-less UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), a survey by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has revealed that just one in five independent retailers in the UK has a plan for what they’re going to do when the scheme is introduced. Worse, more than half of the retailers surveyed aren’t even aware of the impending DRS. From October 2027, government regulations will require a redeemable deposit to be applied to every single-use drinks bottle or can sold in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consumers will get the deposit back when they return the containers for recycling. The research findings, from the ACS Voice of Local Shops Survey of 1,100 independent and symbol group retailers, show that more than half of those surveyed (53%) are not aware of the DRS at all, with just over one in four (27%) aware of the scheme but currently with no plan for how they’re going to be part of it. Of those who have a plan for their business, 12% said they plan to take back containers manually, 5% intend to invest in a reverse

vending machine to manage returns, and the remaining 3% plan to seek an exemption from the scheme.

FIRM TIMELINE Outgoing ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Deposit Return Schemes have been talked about for over a decade, with a lot of noise and false starts that have understandably left retailers exhausted by the concept, let alone the detail. “We now have a firm timeline for the introduction of the scheme, so retailers need to start thinking about their plans for how they’re going to be part of the scheme when it’s introduced in October 2027, whether that be through hosting a reverse vending machine, taking back containers manually, or applying for an exemption. “We are committed to working with the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) to ensure that convenience retailers are ready for the introduction of DRS across the UK.” The DMO referred to by Lowman is the UK DMO, the not-for-profit, business-led body appointed by government to develop the necessary infrastructure and manage the scheme in the most effective and efficient way possible. www.slrmag.co.uk

DRS Update

DMO ON DRS: The DMO says that, while details are still being finalised, it is now actively looking to help convenience retailers begin planning for the launch of the scheme by outlining some key considerations and a timeline for when further information will be available: Q The DMO will publish detailed sector-specific guidance for the independent sector in early summer 2026, setting out what support is available and practical arrangements to help convenience retailers take part in DRS in a way that works for them and their customers. Q The DRS will cover drinks containers made from PET plastic, steel and aluminium between 150ml and three litres Q Retailers will be compensated through a handling payment per item to cover the costs retailers incur through things like additional staff requirements, the space taken up in store, and potential investment in kit or machinery. This will be a handling payment per item that is collected in store. The DMO is currently gathering information and will be consulting with business in the new year to help ensure this is as fair as possible. Q Not every retailer will need to take part. Urban areas will be exempt from hosting a return point if they have a retail space of less than 100m2. Retailers will also be able to apply for an exemption if their business is close to another return point, or it is not possible to host a return point due to the location, layout, size, design or construction of their store. Q Voluntary participation is welcomed. Even if they are exempt, retailers can apply to be a voluntary return point to help increase footfall and provide a vital resource for local communities. Q UK DMO will continue to engage the sector, through trade associations, direct consultation, events and the media and encourages everyone to visit the website at ukdmo.co.uk and sign up to the regular newsletter to receive the latest updates.

Rebecca Oliver-Mooney, Director of Commercial at Co-op and UK DMO Board Director representing Convenience Retail, said: “Convenience retailers will be essential in making DRS a success, providing local neighbourhood return points that will make returns easy for consumers and help us to cut waste and increase recycling. “As a DMO, we truly recognise the unique challenges for convenience and that’s why we’ve been working really closely with the ACS and other convenience groups to ensure that their views and experience of the sector shape our work as we develop the scheme.” Oliver-Mooney cited the concerning research findings as proof of “the importance of helping convenience operators get the information they need to make informed decisions”. The DMO looks to have made a more promising start than Circularity Scotland did when appointed to run Scotland’s doomed DRS and is committed to working closely with all stakeholders. “As our work to build the scheme continues, we’ll be able to provide much more detail throughout the first half of 2026,” says Oliver-Mooney. “This will include hosting a series of free webinars on how DRS will work as well as regular newsletters and specific updates for the convenience sector. “We’re focused on building a scheme that allows for return points in space-constrained environments and which reflects the operational and financial realities for much of the sector. www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

“We’re focused on building a scheme that allows for return points in space-constrained environments and which reflects the operational and financial realities for much of the sector.” REBECCA OLIVER-MOONEY, UK DMO BOARD DIRECTOR

“As a DMO, we truly recognise the unique challenges for convenience and that’s why we’ve been working really closely with the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and ACS among other trade associations to ensure that their views and experience of the sector really shape our work as we develop the scheme.” As someone who works for a convenience retailer as well as sitting on the DMO

Board, Oliver-Mooney knows first-hand the entrepreneurial spirit of the sector and that operators will have many questions about the scheme. “While we aren’t able to answer all of these now, we want to provide as much clarity as we can, as soon as we can,” she says. “Now is the time to start considering what this means for your business, and to begin factoring it into your operational and financial planning.”

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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Inside Business

Above & Beyond Awards

TIME TO STEP UP FOR YOUR STAFF!

SLR

PRESENTS

THE ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARDS 2026

Nominations for The Above and Beyond Awards 2026 will be closing soon – so don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate and reward your hardworking team. BY GAELLE WALKER

CELEBRAT OR LUNCH Y

L

ike a whirlwind, the festive furore has now blown over and in the relative calm that tends to follow in January, now is the perfect time to take a breath, and to take stock, not just of your business operations but crucially too, of the people who power your store: the pistons on your payroll who go above and beyond their call of duty – and set your store apart. If you’re lucky enough to have a customer service queen, a community focused king, or a tech wizard working for you, then now’s the time to show your appreciation – and we’ve got the perfect way to help you do so. Entering your employees into The Above & Beyond Awards 2026 is one of the most powerful ways that you can show your thanks. Just ask Amy Bennett, of Baba’s Kitchen in Bellshill, who was nominated for several categories in 2025 and won the title of Up and Coming Star. “Being nominated meant the world,” Amy says. “Working in retail can be difficult at times and you don’t always get a whole lot of thanks – so this was a really nice experience. It’s so nice to feel appreciated and for people to see all the hard work you do. The awards themselves were also so much fun!”

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18 MARCH 2026 THE CORINTHIA N CLUB, GLASGOW

The entry process couldn’t be simpler. We just need a few key details about you and your nominee and then we’ll do the rest. Every nominee will also get a call from one of our friendly judges – just to learn a little bit more about them. No tricky questions, we promise! It’s all very informal and relaxed. “The whole process was fine!” Amy enthuses. “Everyone I spoke to was so friendly, easy to talk to and down to earth, I felt totally at ease, I actually really enjoyed it,” she says. “The day itself was wonderful. We had such a great time. I’ll always remember it!” And if you can’t pick one, or don’t want to single out individual employees – you don’t have to, because we also have a Team category! So come on, why not kick off 2026 by giving your colleagues a gift they will never forget: the gift of recognition. They’ll thank you for it!

www.slrmag.co.uk

Above & Beyond Awards

HOW TO

Inside Business

AWARDS CATEGORIES

NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE…

INDEPENDENT STORE COLLEAGUE

It couldn’t be quicker or easier:

COMPANY-OWNED STORE COLLEAGUE

Q Find the simple nomination form online: www.slrmag.co.uk/aboveandbeyond Q All we need from you is some very basic information like: the nominee’s name, job title and contact telephone number. Q one or two bullet points on why you believe your nominee should be considered for an award.

Sponsored by Mondelez International

Open to all colleagues working in independently owned local retailing stores in Scotland that are unaffiliated or members of any symbol group, fascia or franchise.

Sponsored by CJ Lang / Spar Scotland

Open to all colleagues working in CJ Lang company-owned stores in Scotland.

BUSINESS BOOSTER Open to all colleagues who have materially improved their store’s performance by suggesting or introducing a new concept, product, service, communication method or a change in operational process.

TEAM OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Highland Spring

Open to all in-store teams which have pulled together to make a positive difference to their store’s performance and/or to their community.

Q Complete and return to events@55north.com

UP & COMING STAR

Q Contact Cara with any questions: cbegley@55north.com

Open to all colleagues aged 25 or under working in any of the store formats detailed above who have shown themselves to be outstanding colleagues with a bright future in the sector ahead of them.

Q Our judging panel will then personally call every nominee to find out a little more from them. It’s a very informal and relaxed call and allows us to gather the information we need to share your nominee’s story with the world.

LONG SERVICE AWARD

Sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Sponsored by Mondelez International

Open to all colleagues working in any of the store formats detailed above who have worked in the sector, or a single store or chain, for an extended period of time.

ASTONISHING ACT Open to all colleagues working in any of the store formats detailed above who truly went Above & Beyond to perform an astonishing act that had a massive positive impact on a customer, colleague or the community.

OUR SPONSORS

SLR

PRESENTS

THE ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARDS 2026 www.slrmag.co.uk

MEDIA PARTNER

TO NOMINATE STORE COLLEAGUES, PLEASE VISIT SLRMAG.CO.UK/ABOVEANDBEYOND OR SCAN THE QR CODE OPPOSITE JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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Inside Business

GroceryAid Scotland

The help you’ve earned Industry charity GroceryAid has fully rebranded to put retail workers front and centre and to remove the stigma of accepting help, as CEO Kieran Hemsworth explains to SLR. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

HOW CAN YOU HELP? You can play your part by scanning the QR code here and ordering your FREE independent retailer pack. The pack includes: Q 1 x A4 All Services Poster Q 1 x A4 Financial Services Poster Q 1 x A4 Emotional Services Poster Q 1 x A4 Practical Services Poster Q 10 x A4 Employee Introduction Leaflet Q 10 x A5 Double-sided All Services Leaflet Q 10 x Wallet Cards

I

ndustry charity GroceryAid has unveiled a brand-new identity that, for the first time, puts workers from across the entire independent retailing and grocery spectrum front and centre, and champions the people who make the industry what it is: vibrant, diverse and something to be proud of. At the heart of the rebrand is a drive to communicate to workers in this sector that GroceryAid support isn’t a handout, but a service earned by grocery workers through their hard work and dedication. “We fully appreciate that the term ‘charity’ can have some negative connotations and our research shows clearly that workers in the retail sector don’t consider themselves charity cases in any sense, and they’re absolutely correct,” explains GroceryAid CEO Kieran Hemsworth. “They work long hours, they’re fabulously committed and they have earned the right to support through their contribution to an industry that serves millions every day. So what the new identity will help communicate is that this isn’t about charity in the traditional sense. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes and workers in this sector have more than earned that help.” Hemsworth says the updated visual identity was developed through extensive

consultation with colleagues across the sector to tell a consistent story: GroceryAid provides confidential financial, emotional and practical support for every challenge workers may face. From financial grants for lower-income households who may have experienced an unexpected drop in income, to emotional support for all those going through tough times, GroceryAid is there when it matters most. The refresh is being supported by a full marketing campaign to raise awareness and reach even more people. This includes a trade and consumer PR and out-of-home campaign that highlights the positive impact of accessing help before reaching crisis point and challenging the stigma that can surround it. GroceryAid hopes that the brand refresh will enable them to reach a new younger and more diverse demographic, given its more modern and contemporary feel. The rebrand will enable GroceryAid to grow its awareness within the industry and is part of its strategy to more quickly reach more people who need help. Despite helping more than 22,000 grocery colleagues with financial, emotional and practical support, totalling more than £6.5m last year, GroceryAid hopes the refreshed brand will connect with even more grocery workers who need support.

“Independent store workers have earned the right to support through their contribution to an industry that serves millions every day.” Visit groceryaid.org.uk for more information on GroceryAid’s free financial, emotional and practical support.

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

SLR Awards Winner’s Profile | Premier Drongan

BOLD INVESTMENT PAYS OFF IN STYLE Ian Mitchell’s major investment in a full refit of his already successful Premier store in Drongan has paid off handsomely and provides a poignant lesson for other retailers considering refitting their stores. BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Re fi t of the Y e a r WI NNER

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www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

Premier Drongan | SLR Awards Winner’s Profile

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ll good local retailers in Scotland know the vital importance of investing in your business to keep it in line with modern consumer tastes but the decision to actually commit hundreds of thousands of pounds to refitting your store is always a nerve-wracking one – especially if the store is already flying, and has been for decades. That’s precisely the challenge that faced longstanding Premier retailer Ian Mitchell when he first started seriously thinking about a major refit for his store in Drongan in Ayrshire. The store had been trading for the best part of 30 years and, not to put too fine a point on it, was a wee goldmine. Over those three decades Ian and his team had built up in a fantastic relationship with the local community in the largely residential area around the store. That meant the store was the hub of the local community and was permanently busy and permanently profitable.

ALADDIN’S CAVE The problem was that Premier Drongan was, by modern retailing standards, “a bit tired” in Ian’s words. Without wishing to be too critical, that description is probably a little generous. The store was a bit of an Aladdin’s cave with a quirky layout, jammed to the gunwales with stock and not particularly easy to shop, even when you knew where to find everything you were looking for, as the majority of Ian’s shoppers did. It was in dire need of a refit and, to Ian and his team’s credit, they decided to commit to one. It might have taken him a while to make the decision, but when he did, he committed 100% to the project. This was not going to be a tweak around the edges. This was to be a full-scale, noholds-barred refit of epic proportions. All told, it cost Ian more than £450,000 but the results are there for all to see. Most impressive, of course, is not the simple fact of throwing money at what was more or less a knock down and rebuild but the quality of thought and planning that went into creating a fantastic, ultra-modern refitted store that will easily see Ian through the next decade and beyond.

LET THERE BE LIGHT The refit saw the floor space more than double from 1,200sq ft to 2,500sq ft with the new purpose-built shell creating an almost perfect rectangle of glorious, bright, spacious shopping environment. The front of the store was opened up and glazed to both make the store more inviting from outside and ensure an abundance of natural light inside. All aisles were widened to create more space for shoppers and the entrance to the store was www.slrmag.co.uk

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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Inside Business

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SLR Awards Winner’s Profile | Premier Drongan

www.slrmag.co.uk

Inside Business

Premier Drongan | SLR Awards Winner’s Profile

moved to improve access and make it far easier for deliveries to be brought inside, massively improving store operations. Funky lighting, new closed-door chillers, some smart new shelving and some nifty décor touches make the store look thoroughly modern and a pleasure to shop.

REWORKED RANGE The refit also permitted a full rework of the range and merchandising, with a beer cave added as well as an increase in range across every category, including more than 500 new fresh and chilled lines and over 200 new frozen lines. A free-to-use ATM and a vape station were also added, as was a new Refresh Zone featuring Costa Coffee, Fanta and Coke Frozen, Snow Shock and Jolly Rancher slush. The focus on high margin, self-serve products is paying off handsomely. If you ever saw Premier Drongan in days gone by, you will undoubtedly agree that the store is basically unrecognisable – and unmissable – thanks to Ian’s crowning glory, the big clock he fitted at the very top of the building, visible from miles away. Best of all, and despite Ian’s reservations, the refit has indeed made a huge impact on the bottom line with sales up over £12,000 a week. Which just goes to prove that the old adage about investing in your business is true. Ian could easily have saved himself £450,000 and just carried on taking the profits but his bold and courageous decision has left him with a busier, more profitable store that is future-proofed for many years to come. That’s a valuable lesson for any other retailers out there wondering if a refit is really worth it.

www.slrmag.co.uk

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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Hotlines

Product News & Media Watch

Grenade Creme Egg Protein Bar Mondelez Protein brand Grenade has a limited-edition Creme Egg flavoured bar ahead of Easter. Available until April, the lnon-HFSS Grenade Soft Core Creme Egg Protein bar features over 13 grams of protein and just two grams of sugar. The 45g bar (RSP £2.50) is Grenade’s softest protein bar yet, made from light protein dough with a yolkcoloured Creme Egg flavoured filling, coated in milk chocolate.

Boost dips toe in functional water category

Chocolate Haggis Simon Howie Simon Howie’s Chocolate Haggis dessert is back for Burns Night with an updated recipe that – thanks to collaborations with Walker’s Shortbread and Mrs Tilly’s – now includes chunks of all-butter shortbread and fudge. With an RSP of £5, the limited-edition chocolate brownie has won listings in Scotmid, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Asda. It will be off shelves after 26 January.

Boost Drinks has launched Boost Water+, a trio of zero-sugar electrolyte waters that bridge the gap between flavoured and functional water. The convenience-exclusive range is designed to offer shoppers functional benefits in a ready-to-drink format at an accessible price point. Boost Water+ is available now in Cherry, Citrus and Strawberry & Peach flavours, in 500ml PET bottles (cases of 12), price-marked at £1. The launch will be backed by a heavyweight influencer campaign to reach 18–34-year-olds, supported by a full suite of point-of-sale materials to drive trial and educate shoppers. Boost encouraged

Sourdough Pizzas East Pizzas

Ben & Jerry’s new flavours Unilever

Edinburgh-based East Pizzas has launched its first retail range featuring 72-hour sourdough pizzas, bases and doughballs. The dough is made using only flour, water and salt. In wholesalers now, the products are supplied fresh and can be refrigerated or frozen for up to three months. RSPs are £2 for a 250g sourdough dough ball, £3.50 for a 12-inch sourdough pizza base, and readytopped pizzas range from £7.50–£9.

Churrifically Churros-y combines caramel and sweet cream ice creams with cinnamon sugar pieces, chocolatey swirls and churros-style chunks. Strawberry Doughnut-eee features strawberry and sweet cream ice creams, white chocolate chunks, jammy strawberry swirls and doughnut-style dough chunks. Both new SKUs are made with Fairtrade Certified vanilla, sugar and cocoa, and have an RSP of £5.75.

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retailers to merchandise Boost Water+ beside flavoured water in the chiller, where shoppers will expect to find it. The range performed strongly in consumer research, with 94% of respondents saying they loved the taste and more than 90% saying they would buy it. The water category is worth a staggering £1.8bn, with flavoured water up 14% year-on-year in symbols and independents. Functional water is one of the fastest-growing segments in soft drinks, up 43% yearon-year and 121% versus three years ago, with 30% of functional water shoppers choosing electrolytes – presenting a profitable trend for stores.

Korean Style Teriyaki BBQ Sauce Kikkoman The new sauce is additive-free, vegan-friendly, and crafted from naturally brewed soy sauce blended with ginger, garlic and sesame oil. A touch of apple adds a sweet, tangy authentic Korean-style flavour. It is available in a 250ml bottle with an RSP of £3.35. The launch is backed by a digital recipe campaign aimed at inspiring consumers to explore the taste and versatility of the new sauce.

Shirgar Cheese Sticks Millbrook Dairy Made in Wales from premium Welsh milk, the individually wrapped 20g sticks are available in three varieties: Shirgar Mature Cheddar, Shirgar Mild Cheddar and Shirgar Red Leicester. Each stick contains 5g of protein. With a 90-day shelf life and packed 50 per case, the products provide reliable rotation and minimal waste. For more information on listings, contact Millbrook Dairy at hello@millbrookdairy.com or call 01237 871370.

www.slrmag.co.uk

Product News & Media Watch Oreo Creme Egg Mondelez

Juul 2 Peach Juul Labs UK

Almost three years after it teased shoppers with an April Fool’s Oreo Creme Egg biscuit, Mondelez has launched the real deal, which features the flavour of Creme Egg in an additional layer of yellow filling. Oreo Creme Egg (157g, RSP £1.50) is available from now until Easter. The launch is being supported with in-store activations and a playful marketing campaign that is set to appear across out-of-home advertising and radio, alongside organic social media activities.

The new flavour rolls out across the UK from this month, through major retailers, wholesalers, and convenience stores. Two-pack pods will be sold across all channels, with four-packs available at select key accounts (RSP: Starter Kit £9.99, Device Kit £6.99, Refill Kit 2-pack £6.99, Refill Kit 4-pack £13.99). Retailers can contact their Juul Labs representatives for point-of-sale materials.

Radnor Hydrate Radnor Hills

Celsius New Flavours Suntory Beverage & Food

The new soft drink combines 60% tropical juice with 40% natural spring water, and is positioned as a straightforward option for healthy hydration. Flavours include Summer Berries, Apple & Raspberry and Tropical. The 250ml Tetra Paks come in cases of 24, with an RSP of 75p per drink. The Hydrate range is HFSS compliant, with a 12-month ambient shelf life.

The functional energy drink brand has launched four new zero sugar, fruit-forward flavours: Sparkling Raspberry Peach, Sparkling Mango Lemonade, Sparkling Kiwi Guava, and Sparkling Strawberry Watermelon. Supported by sampling, activations and high-impact POS, the launch has been timed to capitalise on New Year’s resolutions that focus on health and wellness goals.

Baileys Caramel Sauce The Flava People/CJ Lang

McCoy’s Salted £1.35 PMP KP Snacks

Launched in collaboration with Diageo, the alcohol-free sauce combines the taste of Baileys Irish Cream with the sweetness of caramel into a 200ml squeezy bottle (RSP £2) that can be used across a variety of items, including desserts, hot drinks, ice cream, and paired with both alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks. It is available in the convenience channel from Spar stores across Scotland.

Available from 26 January, the new SKU completes McCoy’s PMP flavour lineup and responds directly to consumer demand, with ‘Salted’ representing the number one flavour partition in CSN. The launch taps into the rising demand for this format, with PMPs representing 71% of all bagged snack sales in indies. McCoy’s is one of the top three CSN brands in pricemarked packs, with its PMP range growing at +11.1%.

Hotlines

 Catnapping Sheba has launched 4AM Stories, a campaign aimed at the owners of restless cats that features AI-powered bedtime tales and showcases the brand’s new Selections Filets range. Fronted by Emily in Paris star Lucien Laviscount, the activity spans digital and social channels and invites owners to personalise audio stories on Sheba’s website.

Nan-tastic The ‘Nan from Del Monte’, Pauline Crosby, has made her TV debut alongside her granddaughter and great-granddaughter in a new campaign from Fresh Del Monte. Crosby was chosen last year by public vote following a nationwide search for a modern replacement for the brand’s original 1980s Man from Del Monte character.

Funny turn Diageo has unveiled ‘Laugh,’ a new campaign spotlighting Smirnoff No 21 vodka across different decades in its 161-year history. A 20-second TV ad features protagonist Steve and his distinctive laugh travelling through time – from a saloon bar to an ’80s disco and a 2000s club – ending with the tagline: “Why change a good thing. Iconic since 1864.”

Winter warmer Mars Drinks & Treats has launched a £150,000 out-of-home campaign to drive awareness of its Galaxy Hot Chocolate range. The activity spans roadside billboards and point-of-sale panels, showcasing Galaxy Instant alongside Galaxy Light and Galaxy Drinking Chocolate. The campaign aims to tap into the seasonal demand for indulgent hot drinks.

Foxy lager Birrificio Angelo Poretti is back on TV screens with its ‘Welcome to the Lake’ campaign, set on a surreal Italian lakeside, featuring the brand’s signature foxes. The return of the advert, which also runs across digital, out-ofhome advertising and social media, seeks to encourage trial and increase sales in the off-trade.

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

JANUARY 2026 | SLR

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Feature

Smoking Alternatives

POUCHES PACK A PUNCH Oral nicotine sales are soaring in the wake of the disposable vapes ban. BY SARAH BRITTON

W

hile there’s no doubt that the ban on single-use vapes earlier this year was a blow for the convenience sector, certain subcategories have benefitted as disposable consumers sought out an alternative option. “Following the ban last summer, we know both tobacco smokers and vapers are entering the nicotine pouch category in growing numbers, with sales increasing accordingly,” says Prianka Jhingan, Head of Marketing at Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK. “Our latest data shows total UK nicotine pouch sales to be worth just under £188m and growing by 63% YOY in volume terms [IRI Marketplace, Value and Volume sales, w/e 28/09/25]. “Our latest data shows pouch volume sales have grown by 79% in the last 12 months in convenience stores, with our own XQS selling particularly well in this channel, where it is 38

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already the sixth-biggest-selling brand, with huge potential for further growth.” She claims there’s “no doubt” that the category will continue to grow both in size and significance, so retailers need to ensure they are stocking the right brands to maximise sales and profits. “For any retailers new to the pouch category, it’s sensible to start with a range including a mixture of well-established and newer brands, as they bring excitement to the category,” she advises. “They should also consider stocking a range of flavours and strengths to suit all tastes.” Ensuring that pouches – and particularly newer brands – are easy to spot in store makes all the difference, notes Jhingan. “Something that is key to driving purchase of next-gen products is visibility and how you display them in-store, so we believe that to really maximise sales of XQS it is best suited in multiple locations due to it still being a newer product in the category

that some consumers may still not be aware of. We currently offer a number of different display solutions to accommodate different-sized stores, which ensure maximum visibility to those entering, so retailers should speak to their local STG rep to find the best solution for their particular store.” One retailer who understands the importance of giving new oral nicotine brands their time to shine is Guna Sud, Retail Manager at Racetrack stores. Having developed his Vaped 4U and Snus Daddy brands and websites to encourage additional vape and pouch sales, Guna was keen to ensure that pouches were effectively highlighted in store. “We’ve been doing a lot of work with brands directly like Pablo and Killa and a lot of new and emerging brands, such as Fumi and XQS,” he says. “They would all require promotion space. And the problem I had before was that the pouches were mixed in with our Vaped www.slrmag.co.uk

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Smoking Alternatives

Image courtesy of Bengt Wiberg from Pixabay

4U offering and I wanted to make it more of a standalone feature.” He spent several months researching European trends, noting that many stores in Sweden and Norway offer chilled nicotine pouches. He put some pouches in a fridge and encouraged his staff who already consumed pouches to sample them. Feedback was extremely positive, with people perceiving the chilled pouches to provide a smoother, more flavoursome hit, so Guna set to work designing a chilled display. It was originally supposed to be just above head height, but Guna wanted it bigger, so they went up another tier, and it now stands at 3.6m tall! He has positioned it ahead of the vape stands in a prime spot by the tills and the beer cave entrance. He has added additional LEDs and a middle unit which acts as a promotional feature for any new brands or special offers. The promo area also has its own dedicated screen space. “We’ve been working with XQS and Fumi and Pouch Nurdz from America, he says. “They’ve got core space on the right of the fixture and then they’ve got extra space in the middle. There’s also space to keep samples on hand so that customers can try before they buy. I’ve also got the team to add some extra LEDs in the middle to make it even brighter.” So far the display, which is surrounded by neon lights and digital screens and holds nearly 40

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VALUE IN VAPES

200 SKUs, has helped pouch sales achieve double digit growth of 15% since the display was installed. Guna shares Jhingan’s confidence that there is further room for growth in 2026. “There’s more we can do to drive it a little bit more,” he says. Imperial Brands, which is home to Golden Virginia, Players and Embassy, as well as Rizla, and the Blu vape brand, also expects big things from the pouch category. With pouches proving popular with existing nicotine users for providing a discreet, effective, and affordable form of nicotine delivery, the category has significant growth potential in the UK, observes the firm. It highlights that 42% of nicotine pouch users say they are going to use more nicotine pouches in the next six months [Impact research (N=109)]. UK Market Manager Andrew Malm says: “With the category volume predicted to grow by 234% in the next five years [IBUK estimates Sept 2025], the opportunity to develop an alternative high-quality nicotine solution for the UK market was significant.” The firm has just entered the oral nicotine market with Zone, which is manufactured at Imperial-owned factories in Europe and uses high-quality raw materials. The product delivers fast-acting nicotine release and intense longlasting flavour, claims Imperial.

With rising cigarette prices and cost-ofliving pressures increasingly influencing purchasing decisions, Elfbar claims that value-for-money nicotine alternatives present an opportunity for growth. “Reusable vapes and their refills offer smokers a more affordable and less harmful alternative, says Angelo Yang, Associate General Manager, UK, Elfbar. “Research by the University of Edinburgh shows vapes are four times more profitable than cigarettes, highlighting the category’s strong returns.” He claims that sales for Lost Mary BM600 prefilled pod kits and their refills have grown by 9% in Scotland over the last 13 weeks [Circana data], driven by their low out-of-pocket cost for budgetconscious customers. “With refill pods accounting for 62% of BM600 sales, the data shows that shoppers are actively managing spend by choosing the more cost-effective refills over buying a new device each time,” says Yang. “Within the prefilled pod kit product category, high puff count devices are also growing in popularity and generate robust per-unit profit. While their upfront cost is higher for customers, their larger e-liquid quantities offer longer-lasting use and lower cost per puff, enhancing the value gained from refills and making them an appealing value proposition.” Racetrack Retail Manager Guna Sud is running strong deals to encourage vapers to buy into refillables. “We’re seeing an increase every week in refillables and nicotine salts,” he says. “We’ve got promotions running where for £5 you’ll get an Elfbar-branded device with a nic salt free of charge. So for £5 less than the cost of a disposable, you’ve got a device that’s going to give you 5,000 puffs in total. We’re selling hundreds and hundreds of those.” His expectation is that people will trade up to a more expensive device, but his main goal is to get them into buying regular refills. “We’re trying to push customers onto the cheaper solution. ‘Try the £5 device – it’s not meant to last forever, but if you’re happy with that then you can step up to a £15 or £20 device.’ My supplier is funding the price difference on the kit and the nic salt will be Pixl.” He explains that these types of deals are hugely beneficial to suppliers who can quickly gain customers’ loyalty. “If you’re a new customer on a [refillable] vape, usually you stick to the liquid that you get the first time if you’re happy with it.”

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GROW YOUR POUCH SALES WITH FUMI. FUMI delivers brilliant taste with professional brand activation support for your store.

FAST GROWING NICOTINE POUCH BRAND* 41% Growth since launch in July 2025

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Smoking Alternatives

ZYN REVEALS LOW NICOTINE VARIANT Philip Morris Limited (PML), the UK and Ireland affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), has unveiled its lowest strength nicotine pouch ZYN X-Low (1.5mg). The new pouch provides a suitable entry point into the category for adult nicotine users trying pouches for the first time, claims PML. ZYN X-Low is designed for less tingle and delivers a smoother flavour release. Spearmint, Black Cherry and Cool Mint 1.5mg are available in wholesale and on PMI Open, PML’s dedicated retailer platform. The launch will be supported by a nationwide ‘Be bold enough to take it easy with X-Low’ campaign.

JUUL IS JUST PEACHY

“Zone is the result of extensive research and product development to ensure our high-quality nicotine product matches the expectations of consumers, as well as providing a great businessbuilding opportunity for the retail trade,” says Malm. With nicotine pouches left in the mouth for up to 30 minutes, fresh flavours currently dominate the category, observes Imperial. Research indicates that mint is the current preference for flavour accounting for 70% of purchases [EPOS data Oct 21 – June 25], but fruit flavours are gaining traction among customers,” states the firm. Zone is available in Sweet Mint, Cool Mint, Watermelon Ice, Juicy Peach and Berry Blast flavours. As a growing category, 9-12mg strength products currently account for 43.4% of the nicotine pouch market [EPOS data Oct21-Jun25] and Zone will therefore be available in 10mg nicotine strength across four of its flavours. Cool Mint and Berry Blast will also be available in a higher 11mg nicotine strength variety. Each pack contains 20 nicotine pouches in a slim format for better mouthfeel and discreetness, with an RSP of £6.50 each. XQS is also tapping into demand for fruity flavours. “Nicotine pouch 42

SLR | JANUARY 2026

users are motivated by flavour more than anything, which is one of the reasons we feel so confident in the future growth of our XQS brand. The predominant flavour in the category is definitely mint but fruity flavours are proving increasingly popular with consumers. “Our current XQS bestsellers are the Tropical and Black Cherry flavours, which were two of the earlier flavours to launch, while other particularly popular ones to call out at the moment would be Arctic Freeze and Strawberry Kiwi. All of our XQS SKUs come in strengths of either 8mg or 11.2mg, apart from our bestselling Tropical flavour which also comes in 4mg and is sold exclusively online.” The latest additions to the XQS portfolio are Cola Lime and Fizzy Peach which are available to retailers through the Vape Supplier website, with a strength of 8mg and an RSP of £5.50. “Both new flavours are beverage-inspired, which is very much on-trend with consumers at present,” states Jhingan. With a host of innovative brands hungry for action and a wealth of flavours available, oral nicotine looks set to flourish over the coming months.

Juul Labs UK has expanded its JUUL2 system flavour portfolio with the launch of the new Peach flavour. Two-pack pods will be sold across all channels, with four-packs available at select key accounts. A Starter Kit with Virginia Tobacco & Crisp Menthol has an RSP of £9.99, while a Device Kit retails at £6.99. A Refill Kit 2-pack has an RSP of £6.99 and a 4-pack is RSP £13.99.

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WHEN FLAVOURS MEET. New fresh look.

18+ ONLY. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT RISK-FREE AND CONTAINS NICOTINE, AN ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE. FOR ADULT NICOTINE CONSUMERS ONLY.

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Fascia & Franchise Focus | Premier

PREMIER BIGGEST AND BEST Why not start 2026 by joining Premier, by far Scotland’s largest symbol group? Premier retailers benefit from a fantastic promotional programme, group exclusives, access to Jack’s and Euro Shopper own-brand products and unrivalled levels of support.

P

remier is the UK’s largest symbol group with almost 5,000 stores across the UK with around 600 of these in Scotland, making it the biggest symbol operator in Scotland and the consistent success of Premier retailers at the SLR Awards demonstrates the high standards of modern Premier stores. Backed by Booker, the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, Scottish Premier retailers benefit from delivery at cash and carry prices and the convenience to top up at any of our 22 branches in Scotland to maximise availability. Premier retailers gain access to a fantastic promotional programme covering all categories and backed by a comprehensive EDLP programme. The programme drives footfall and increases cash profit with our Mega Deals giving POR of over 15% and most of our core deals offering at least 20% POR. Our dedicated Scottish promotions each period also offer a real point of difference from the competition. Premier is committed to helping Scottish retailers reduce costs and supporting both retailers and shoppers alike. Key incentives include: Q Reducing energy consumption with efficient LED lighting, Beer Caves, walk-in Soft Drinks area and refrigeration units. Q Extending our spend and save scheme to include vape products, earning retailers up to 5% rebate. Q Access to our new low-cost Scoot home delivery platform with ZERO commission on home delivery sales of over £5k a week. Q Linking up with Healthy Scotland to support communities and children across Scotland. Q Food donation points in store via Fareshare. Scottish retailers have access to over 600 own-brand products through the Tesco family mid-tier Jack’s range and the entrylevel value Euro Shopper range. Both exclusive ranges come in PMPs and offer strong PORs. Premier’s store development teams help design and implement our latest thinking in stores including Soft Drinks walk-in refrigeration units, Beer Caves, Refresh Zones, lunchtime ‘Mega Meal Deals’ and local Scottish bakery line-ups, whilst ensuring stores are as energy efficient and sustainable as possible. Some Scottish stores who have invested over £200k have seen this pay back within 12 months and Premier’s small store format model means that now any Scottish stores from 300sq ft+ can benefit from the Premier model.

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MORE FOOTFALL MORE PROFIT The support from Booker, combined with the strength of the Premier brand, has helped us grow year after year. It’s not just about supply, it’s about partnership. Srijeekasikaran Kandiah, Premier Queensway, Wellingborough

SCAN TO DISCOVER HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS

It’s FREE to join the UK’s Largest Symbol Group

Call us today on 0808 178 8644 or visit JoinPremier.co.uk • Up to 5% Spend & Save discount*

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Exclusive NPD Access to reduced Tobacco Pricing* Free Store layout plans & merchandising support Everyday low price deals Access to sustainability initiatives Free fascia & window imagery Specific support for small format Free POS & personalised leaflets stores Enhanced fresh, chilled & frozen range New rapid grocery • Food to go solutions delivery platform

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Fascia & Franchise Focus | Londis

MAKE 2026 A YEAR TO REMEMBER WITH

LONDIS

L

ondis enjoyed another fantastic year of recruitment in 2025 with more than 160 stores joining the Londis family. Londis now has well over 2,500 members with most of these stores joining from other symbol brands – and for good reason. The unique strength of our offer was recognised recently at the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards where Londis was named Symbol/Franchise Retailer of the Year 2025. This is testament to our commitment to continually develop our own brand, offer the best possible value to shoppers and the strongest possible margins for our retailers. At the heart of the Londis model is our mantra: Make More and Save More on Added Value Services. Londis operates a zero-cost model and is simple to do business with because we know that’s what matters to retailers. Being part of a bigger group give us the power to offer more than most of our competitors with exclusive new products and deals and our promotions remain some of the strongest in the sector. 46

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Londis continues to excel and grow in Scotland and across the UK thanks to its unique model and offer and its relentless commitment to keeping business simple and focusing on helping retailers make more and save more.

This power allows us to deliver more Group Exclusives, first to markets and exciting NPD than ever before, keeping Londis retailers ahead of the game. To keep life simple for our retailers, we provide as standard a range of time and money-saving benefits like free recycling and heavy investment in our infrastructure and also continuing to develop our exclusive added-value service deals to help everything from crime prevention to innovative food- and drinks-to-go areas. Our promotions remain the best in the market and our margins some of the strongest. To stay ahead of the competition, we have a laser-like focus on putting our retailers first. Everything we do ultimately benefits all Londis retailers including initiatives like our Store Of The Future which showcases all our latest thinking including digital screens, new-look POS, a beer cooler and merchandising efficiencies throughout the store. These investments help us continually learn and raise the bar, providing us with learnings and insight which can then be passed onto all Londis retailers.

We continue to add extra SKUs to our hugely popular Jack’s own-brand range – a great-quality range that is proven to drive shopper loyalty. We have also introduced more and bigger promotions to drive sales further, including new key promotions on Chilled & Fresh lines. New for this year is our fantastic low-cost delivery platform Scoot. Extremely easy to use for both retailers and stores, Scoot helps you Make More and Save More by offering a ZERO commission model on home delivery sales of over £5,000 a week. We are investing record amounts into technology to ensure Londis remains easy to do business with and that we are fit for the future. We have brokered exclusive deals with a number of ESEL companies with reduced charges, interest-free credit and extended warranties as well as a huge range of other Value Added Services, using the strength of a bigger group to negotiate exclusive discounts for our retailers. With Londis, you WILL make more and you WILL save more. There’s never been a better time to join Londis. www.slrmag.co.uk

JOIN THE UK’S FAVOURITE SYMBOL GROUP

“Sales are constantly on the up with our Jack’s own-label brand. Customers are delighted with the large range of high quality, great value products, especially the chilled products.” Harry Singh, Londis Carstairs Junction

Call us today on 0808 178 8644 or visit Joinlondis.co.uk • 100% Cost free model • Earn up to 5% discount* • Group Exclusives & First to Market NPD Great quality products • Forecourt Partner • Free Marketing Support and fascia installation package

• Unrivalled Group Buying Power & Exclusives • Innovative Customer Journey/Store Format • Bigger group, exclusive NPD, access to Tobacco Club delivering higher margins • Over 190 EDLP deals including Milk & Bread

• Fantastic promotional package with over 100 offers every 4 weeks, including cross the road WOW and Mega deals • Great margin boosting wholesale deals New rapid grocery delivery platform *Terms and conditions apply.

SCAN TO DISCOVER HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS

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Fascia & Franchise Focus | SPAR Scotland

NOW IS THE TIME TO DISCOVER

SPAR SCOTLAND As the new year gets underway, it’s the perfect time to Discover SPAR Scotland and its unmatched offer after years of heavyweight investment and growth.

S

PAR Scotland is, quite simply, unique in the Scottish independent retailing sector. After years of heavyweight investment and huge growth, SPAR Scotland is perfectly placed to help you grow your business. Our offer is unmatched - which helps explain why SPAR Scotland has been named SWA Symbol Group of the Year for three consecutive years. We are a uniquely Scottish business and 100% of our effort and commitment is spent supporting SPAR retailers throughout Scotland with our outstanding and market-leading offer. So is it time you joined the hundreds of independent retailers already growing their business with SPAR Scotland?

DISCOVER WHAT YOU CAN ONLY ACCESS WITH SPAR SCOTLAND Q Award-winning SPAR own-label range – a unique point of difference Q Exclusive partnership with Barista Bar hot drinks Q First-to-market access to NPD – like Prime, Feastables and MAS+ Q The only Scottish wholesaler to regularly advertise on STV Q Not just a wholesale partner, we’re a retailer with stores across Scotland Q SWA Symbol Group of the Year – for three consecutive years

DISCOVER THE BEST SUPPORT NETWORK IN SCOTLAND Q A one stop shop from the moment you onboard to the SPAR family of retailers Q A local brand with a national and global support network Q Market-leading business development team Q Regular multi-temp deliveries – ensuring stock when you need it most Q Championing Scottish produce, with over 50% of our lines sourced in Scotland Q Retailer-specific website

DISCOVER FANTASTIC PROMOTIONS, PROFITS AND EVERYDAY VALUE Q Up to 6% rebate Q Three-weekly promotions Q Seasonal event activity driving additional footfall Q Digital and gamification activities Q Strong value package on everyday staples – bread, milk, eggs, bacon and more 48

SLR | JANUARY 2026

SWA Symbol Group of the Year for three consecutive years

To find out more, call 01382 512 000 or email discover@sparscotland.co.uk

www.slrmag.co.uk

? Why

Why settle for less? Discover how SPAR Scotland can help your business thrive. Why SPAR Scotland? Truth is, SPAR has become a major part of our lives. It's more than just running a shop. It's a way of life. From the tradeshow to the conferences, we have made friends for life: • The people. We have the nicest people both as retailers and at CJ Lang & Son. We feel like a part of something much bigger than just us. It's like an extended family. • Great margins. • High quality own brand products. • Great range. • We have the easiest ordering system. • Punctual deliveries. • Amazing helpdesk that's fast and efficient. • The best backup and support. Mohammed Razzaq (Zak). SPAR Retailer for over 7 years

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

UTC

NEDS NEED NOT APPLY

TEA-RIFIC A keen whisky aficionado, Under The Counter was excited to see that Glengoyne – the closest Highland distillery to SLR Towers – has just released a new ‘Teapot Dram’ expression inspired by an old distillery tradition. Never heard of a ‘Teapot Dram’? Prepare to think you’ve picked the wrong career. Back in the day, distillery workers received three fingers of whisky three times a shift. That’s almost two whole hands’ worth. And what if you have fingers like bananas? You’d soon have a liver like a walnut, that’s what. Some of the younger workers – what was wrong with these kids? – chose not to get absolutely hammered at their work and poured their share into a communal teapot to help older colleagues fan the flames of their functioning alcoholism.

However, those days are sadly long gone now, staggering to a hazy halt sometime in the 1970s. Probably when a half-cut cooper set fire to themselves trying to light a candle during one of the decade’s many blackouts. Under The Counter is no stranger to drinking whisky from a teapot, or indeed blackouts, which goes some way to explaining why he is always so keen to make a brew for his colleagues. And why said brew has notes of oak sherry butts and quiet despair. If you’re thirsty, Teapot Dram Batch No. 011 has been stewed to an eye-watering 59.7% ABV and is available from the Glengoyne website for £125. Disappointingly, though, it comes in a bottle, not a teapot.

Under The Counter was shocked to discover that UK DMO had appointed two neds to its board. Turns out his concern was misplaced, however, as the neds in question were actually non-executive directors and not a brace of antisocial Burberry brand ambassadors. With nearly five decades of experience between them in all sorts of important-sounding stuff that will no doubt make the Deposit Return Scheme run like a well-oiled clockwork greyhound, it’s fair to say Juliet Sotnick and Lynda Heywood are unlikely to be found hanging about causing bother outside c-stores of an evening. It remains to be seen how much bother the Deposit Return Scheme will cause inside stores though. If it even happens, that is. Scotland’s version has already been booted down the road more times than UTC’s retirement date. Anyway, the pair’s appointment got the Auld Boy thinking that the Deposit Return Scheme was hoovering up abbreviations like a demented Dyson on steroids. There’s DRS for starters, run by UK DMO and tripped up in Scotland thanks to UKIMA wrangling. Suppliers are up to their oxters in EPR and PPT, while stores taking back bottles (PET, not HDPE, obviously) will need an RVM clever enough to swallow every SKU in sight — and probably a forest of POS to explain the whole palaver to shoppers. FFS. Image: Wikimedia Commons/The Arches

TRASHED PANDA Staff at an off-sales in the US were stunned to find the store wrecked overnight by a masked intruder – later discovered lying face down in the bog, sleeping off a booze-fuelled orgy of destruction. The culprit – a raccoon, as it turns out – had crashed through a ceiling tile and presumably couldn’t believe its luck at landing in a shop full of bevvy. Fully embracing its ‘trash panda’ nickname, the furry felon then roamed the aisles tipping over boxes, smashing bottles and getting completely and utterly melted on the hard stuff.

“Lightweight,” scoffed Under The Counter, after seeing a photo of the hapless beast sprawled next to a toilet bowl, no doubt enjoying the coolness of the floor tiles between waves of nausea. Why the criticism? Well, the Auld Boy has been drunk as a skunk on more than one occasion. He has never, however, went doon like a raccoon.

Images: Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter 50

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