SLR September 2025 Edition

CRACKDOWN

More arrests in crime purge

VAPING PROGRESS

85% using rechargeables

DESTINATION STORE

WE ARE PEOPLE

TOO

Coca-Cola campaign reminds consumers of something they’ve forgotten

Premier Dunbar profiled

NEWS

08 Politics SGF sets out its key priorities for the next Scottish Government ahead of the Scottish General Election in May.

09 Retail Tech Girish Jeeva rolls out age-verification kit to restrict access to his Glasgow store’s beer cave.

10 Extended Trading Mo Razzaq installs vending machines outside his Blantyre store to capture 24-hour sales.

12 Vaping Eighty-five per cent of regular vapers in the UK are now using reusable devices, says Elfbar.

13 Crime Day of Action sees 11 arrests as Police Scotland and Retailers Against Crime target Glasgow.

14 News Extra Disposable Vapes Shocking figures reveal that confusion around the vape ban is rife.

24 Product News Cadbury launches the ‘Giveaway Give Away’ and Kellogg’s adds some muscle to STV’s breakfast club campaign.

26 Off-Trade News Fosters unveils a new darts-based promo as Magners receives a packaging makeover.

INSIDE BUSINESS

18 Advertising Feature The launch of Vuse Ultra heralds a new dawn for the vaping category

28 2 Minutes of your Time Rob Long Highland Spring’s Category Controller explains what the brand is doing to boost the bottled water category.

30 Store Profile Premier Dunbar See the store that claimed both Off-Trade Retailer of the Year and New Store of the Year titles at this year’s SLR Awards.

32 Advertising Feature Bestway celebrates 50 years of vision, values and impact at the Royal Albert Hall

34 Spar Scotland Trade Show SLR takes an 18-page deep dive into this month’s upcoming event.

54 Hotlines The latest new products and media campaigns.

78 Under The Counter The Auld Boy stumbles upon a confectionery-based cure for his chronic heartburn.

FEATURES

56 Fascia Focus Could it be the right time for a fresh start with a new symbol partner that better meets your specific needs?

64 Big Night In Stocking the right range of products can get consumers spending a little more on a Big Night In.

74 Breakfast From healthy to hearty, retailers can offer a breakfast to suit every customer and keep them coming back for more.

CJ Lang & Son cuts tobacco prices

CJ Lang & Son has announced a major investment in reducing and matching the wholesale price of 106 tobacco lines to help Spar Scotland retailers achieve improved margins. The move is expected to encourage greater purchasing loyalty and make Spar Scotland stores more competitive. The investment follows a series of successful tobacco trials and promotional stunt deals, which delivered strong results for retailers.

Card spending grows 1.4% in July

Consumer card spending grew 1.4% year-on-year in July, up from -0.1% in June, but remained below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 4.1%, according to the latest data from Barclays. Essential spending declined by 0.7% from 28 June – 25 July 2025 versus 29 June – 26 July 2024, while discretionary spend rose by 2.4% – an increase from June’s 0.8% growth.

Parcel locker surge

More than 115 million parcels were delivered or returned via parcel lockers in the UK over the past year, according to new research from InPost and Retail Economics. This includes 87 million outbound deliveries (7% of all online orders) and 28 million returns (12% of all online returns). Two in five UK adults – equating to 21 million people –used a parcel locker in the past year, whether to collect, return or send a parcel.

PayPoint unveils ‘barcode cash deposit’ service

Lloyds Bank customers can now pay in up to £300 a day in notes and coins at PayPoint locations, using a ‘barcode cash deposit’ app feature. Customers simply go to the ‘Everyday’ area in their app to generate a barcode, which will remain valid for two hours. This can then be scanned at over 30,000 PayPoint locations across the UK, with over 94% of sites open seven days a week.

SGF reveals Scottish Election manifesto

e Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has unveiled its Scottish Election manifesto and plans to host a hustings for retailers and Scottish convenience representatives in spring 2026.

Ahead of the Scottish General Election on 7 May 2026, SGF has set out key priorities for the next Scottish Government and is calling for MSPs to champion local stores and protect these lifeline services from retail crime.

More resources to tackle retail crime top the election agenda for the trade association, with 83.5% of members reporting an increase in violence toward shop workers and the average cost of retail crime skyrocketing to £19,673 per store in 2024/25 – up 38% from the previous year.

COMMUNITY RETAILING

Tighter restrictions across several product categories also feature heavily, with the cost of business undermining growth potential for many retailers. Increasing costs for providing vital local employment, and a realterms reduction in support for business rates, similarly mean less reinvestment in local services and

higher prices for customers also facing a crisis in living standards.

SGF President Graham Watson, who runs Watson’s Grocers in Moniaive, said: “Our Scottish Ministers have a duty to ensure that sta and businesses can work in safety and free from the fear of abuse and threatening behaviour, as well as working with the UK Government to ensure new regulation supports – rather than hinders – our good, well-meaning businesses, rather than pulling the rug out from under them.

“ at is why we are asking the new government, whatever its political outlook, to take a serious look at how detrimental business rates and overregulation are impacting small businesses and local shops.”

Retailers to the rescue as Storm Floris rages

Storm Floris left thousands without power last month, but c-stores that weren’t directly impacted were ready to assist.

Spar Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands saw hot food sales soar 50% after the storm hit, when neighbouring villages suffered a power cut.

“They had no power, so they descended upon Dornoch,” said John Murray, who runs the store with daughter Nicole. “People were able to claim back £30 [from their power supplier] because they had no power for two days, so we were selling lots of coffee, bacon rolls, breakfast rolls and hot food.”

Bourtreehill Supermarket in Irvine, North Ayrshire, also broke records. “That week was my best Snappy Shopper turnover for the whole year – we got an extra £1,500 in sales. Our drivers took the risk, so our customers could stay safe,” said owner Imran Ali.

Up in Fraserburgh, a four-hour power cut put Whytes of Pitsligo temporarily out of action, but once the store was back up and running, kindly store owner Julie-Ann Whyte was quick to offer help to locals who might still be struggling. “For anyone still without power, we can give you hot water, microwave, or a bosie,” she said.

Low Pay Commission remit for NLW rates welcomed

e Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has praised the UK Government for taking a “sensible approach” with the publication of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC’s) remit for minimum wage recommendations in 2026.

is year’s remit con rms that the Government has asked the Commission to ensure that the National Living Wage (NLW) rate

does not drop below two-thirds of median earnings.

e current central estimate for two-thirds of median earnings is £12.71 per hour, which would mean an increase of 4.1% next year. However, the Commission has stated that there are challenges with predicting this gure accurately, so has predicted a range of between £12.55 and £12.86 per hour.

e Commission has also been instructed to take into account the cost of living; in ation forecasts between April 2026 and April 2027; the impact on the labour market; business and competitiveness; as well as wider macroeconomic conditions.

e LPC will make its nal recommendations to Government by the end of October 2025.

SGF President Graham Watson

Girish Jeeva invests in age verification technology

Glasgow-based retailer Girish Jeeva has installed new age veri cation kit at his Barmulloch Premier store and expanded his eet of home delivery vehicles to six to keep up with astronomic sales growth of over 30% month on month.

Having already seen positive results from age veri cation devices at till points – which he claims have boosted sta con dence and signi cantly improved safety and e ciency – Girish has invested in an extra age veri cation system at the entrance to his beer cave to boost security and deter shopli ers.

“ is new layer of security adds a proactive step: customers are now veri ed before even entering the beer cave,” said Girish.

“ is not only reinforces age restrictions but also acts as a

strong deterrent to anyone with bad intentions. By requiring veri cation via camera at the entrance, potential shopli ers know they’ve already been seen and recorded – making it much harder for them to act unnoticed.

“It’s still early days, but we’re excited about the impact this could have.”

Meanwhile, the store’s home delivery service is booming since becoming a 24-hour operation in February. “It’s proven to be one of the smartest decisions we’ve made,” he said. “Since then, we’ve reached milestones we never imagined… including breaking into six- gure territory!”

To keep up with demand, he has invested in three additional delivery vehicles, bringing the total

NATIONAL LOTTERY Retailers from Lanark and Glasgow hit jackpot

Two Scottish National Lottery retailers win £15,000 with Allwyn

Twenty- ve independent National Lottery retailers have shared £158,000 in prizes as part of Allwyn’s ‘Share the Win’ initiative – including two Scots.

M Akmal of Shop Smart in Lanark was a gold tier winner, picking up the top prize of £10,000, while silver tier winner Ayesha Ameen of Nisa Way in Glasgow was awarded £5,000.

e scheme, which launched in November 2024, recognises retailers who sell high-tier (£50,000 or more) winning National Lottery tickets or scratchcards. e amount awarded to each retailer is linked to the size of the player’s win.

Twelve retailers were awarded £10,000 for selling winning tickets worth £1m or more, four scooped the £5,000 silver tier prize, and a further nine won the £2,000 bronze tier prize.

Winning retailers will also receive new in-store activation kit – including a special ‘Big Winner Made Here’ poster and wall plaque, and for gold tier winners, a gold ‘Millionaire Made Here’ Playstation.

With more awards forthcoming, Allwyn advises retailers to head to the National Lottery Retailer Hub to ensure they’re opted in.

to six. e new vehicles feature striking purple and yellow wraps, with cartoon avatars of Girish.

“A huge thank you to our amazing partners at Snappy Shopper – they truly back retailers with vision and drive. We couldn’t have done this without their support,” said Girish.

APPOINTMENTS

Harper named CJ Lang COO

CJ Lang & Son has promoted Sonya Harper to Chief Operating Officer, placing her in charge of day-to-day operations and positioning her as deputy to CEO Colin McLean.

Harper joined the business in 2019 and has held senior roles at Scotmid, bringing over 20 years of retail experience to the role. She will continue leading Central Operations while overseeing Company Owned Stores Director Frank McCarron and Independent Sales Director Brian Straiton.

Meanwhile, Lorraine MacPherson has been appointed Recruitment and Sales Manager. She joins from UWS, and JW Filshill before that. With an extensive background in convenience wholesale, MacPherson will lead recruitment strategy while driving sales growth.

Disappointing summer for Scottish high streets

Scotland has endured subdued summer footfall, according to the latest SRC-Sensormatic data, dropping 1.3% year-on-year (YoY) in the four weeks from 06 Jul to 02 Aug 2025 – up from -3% in June. Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 0.1% in July (YoY), up from -1.8% in June, while Retail Park footfall increased by 0.4% in July (YoY), up from -3.7% in June.

Spar Scotland Tradeshow 2025 sells out

Exhibition space for Spar Scotland’s 2025 tradeshow in Aviemore has sold out. Bringing together more than 800 delegates from across the Scottish convenience retail sector, the show has reached a new milestone with 210 suppliers confirmed to exhibit. This marks a record number of participants and underlines the event’s status as the largest convenience retail tradeshow in Scotland.

Mark Aylwin chairs Wholesale Group

Mark Aylwin has been appointed non-executive Chairman of The Wholesale Group. Previously Unitas Chairman, he brings more than 35 years of senior experience in the UK food and drink industry. The Group has also restructured its Executive Board. Jess Douglas is now Managing Director for People and Operations, Tom Gittins is MD for Retail, and Coral Rose is the new MD for Foodservice.

LTCT Undergraduate

Bursary applications open Applications for The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust (LTCT) 2025/2026 undergraduate bursaries have opened and will run until 15 October. University students whose parent or carer is employed in convenience retailing, or is a supermarket store worker or pharmacy technician, can apply to receive up to £3,000.

Minister praises anti-proxy purchasing campaign

The ‘It’ll Cost You’ campaign, which aims to tackle youth drinking by warning consumers of the dangers of proxy purchasing, has been praised by Scottish Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown MSP. Brown attended the latest rollout of the campaign – which is now in its 10th year – at a Scotmid store on Gorgie Road, Edinburgh.

JW Filshill appoints new east coast RDM

Renfrew-based wholesaler, JW Filshill, has recruited Hazel Lee as Regional Development Manager for Fife and east coast. Kirkcaldy-based Lee joins the business after three years with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners as Regional Development Manager. She will report to Elaine Feeney, Filshill’s Sales Manager for the east and north of Scotland territories, including the islands.

Spar Scotland donates £10k to Dundee charity

The Yard Dundee, which creates play opportunities for disabled children and young people, has received a £10,000 grant as part of Spar’s Community Cashback campaign. Now in its fourth year, the campaign saw Spar Scotland step up to support even more causes north of the border. Launched in April, the initiative invited shoppers to nominate local charities, voluntary groups and good causes making a real difference in their communities.

Allwyn begins Wave terminal rollout

Allwyn has started installing more than 30,000 Wave terminals across its retail network, replacing Altura machines. The rollout follows a major software upgrade completed in early August. Wave terminals offer faster transactions, improved reporting and enhanced functionality. Thousands more units will be deployed weekly from this month.

Blantyre store installs external vending machines

Mo Razzaq has installed vending machines outside his Premier store in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, to capture extra sales when the shop is closed. e machines are on a sixmonth trial and would cost £23,000 to purchase.

“We wanted to make the shop 24-hour, but didn’t want to open up because energy costs are so high,” Mo told SLR. “ en we thought of a vending machine and how we could use that outside the store.”

Customer research revealed demand for energy drinks, Peperami sticks, Dairylea Dunkers, pies, sausage rolls and crisps. One machine is stocked with confectionery and so drinks like Pepsi, Coke and Monster; the other with sandwiches, food-to-go items, bread and milk.

Mo acknowledged vandalism was a concern but explained that he has four cameras outside to deter criminals and the other external machines had never been damaged. He was therefore hopeful the vending machines would

HEALTHY EATING Filshill supports families during school holidays

KeyStore gives away meal kits with Healthy Living Programme

As part of its 150th birthday celebrations, wholesaler JW Filshill teamed up with the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s Healthy Living Programme to give out meal kits to KeyStore shoppers.

e campaign supported families during the school holidays with free kits containing two cans of Napolina chopped tomatoes, Napolina penne pasta, an onion, a wooden spoon and a recipe card for Tomato Pasta.

Princes Group, owner of Napolina, provided all the stock free of charge, so all retailers had to contribute was the onion – making the initiative virtually cost-free for KeyStore retailers to take part.

Gillian Edgar, Field Manager for the Healthy Living Programme, said: “ e Tomato Pasta recipe is nutritionally balanced and approved by the Scottish Government’s Parent Club, and we’re working with KeyStore outlets on estates and those with a strong community focus where we know there will be good local engagement.”

Craig Brown, Filshill’s Chief Sales and Marketing O cer, said: “When Gillian and her team approached us about doing something special this summer to help support retailers and their customers in our 150th anniversary year, we felt that o ering free meal kits would be really appreciated by families and give them a boost during the holidays.”

remain unscathed, especially since they don’t contain alcohol.

Prices match those in store. Mo had the option to charge more a er 10pm, but rejected it. “We’ll still make a decent margin – we don’t need to make a killing.”

SHOPPER TRENDS Top five most chosen Scottish FMCG brands unveiled

Scottish brands have bounced back, with 52% seeing gains in 2024, up from 36% the year before, according to Worldpanel by Numerator’s Brand Footprint report.

Irn-Bru retained the top spot with a 3% rise in spend and 1.1 million shoppers, led by its full sugar variant.

McGhee’s came second, driven by strong sales of soft white rolls and potato scones.

Third-placed Graham’s had the highest penetration at 55%, led by Gold Smooth milk and protein yogurts.

Tunnock’s came fourth, reaching 1.4 million shoppers, with growth in biscuit bars and teacakes.

Bells secured fifth place with a 4% rise in spend and 98,000 new shoppers.

THE WAIT IS NEARLY OVER.

85% of vapers now use reusable devices

e majority (85%) of regular vapers in the UK are now using reusable devices since the single-use ban, according to an El ar survey of 6,000 UK vapers and smokers conducted by Opinium in July 2025.

Of the 1.5 million UK adult vapers using El ar or Lost Mary reusables once a week or more, 84% say they have purchased re lls – demonstrating widespread reuse of the products. Only 8% say they buy a new kit each time, e ectively using it as a single-use device.

For those surveyed who switched from single-use to reusable vapes, the top reasons cited were similar price (33%), familiar design (31%), ease of use (30%) and similar quality (30%), followed by sustainability (26%).

Awareness of responsible disposal is high, with 77% of reusable users recognising that used pods and devices should not be thrown in a normal waste bin.

TRENDS

is understanding is re ected in the data, with 37% of respondents saying they collect used devices and pods to return to a recycling point, 23% returning used items to locations that accept vape waste, and 16% taking them back to the store where they shop.

However, 18% admit to throwing them away in household bins, another 18% in public bins, and 12% say they have tried to return used items to the point of purchase but found no in-store bin available.

Although there are over 10,000 vape recycling points UK-wide and mandatory take-back obligations for retailers, many surveyed feel access remains inadequate. Over half (52%) would like more collection points in accessible locations, and 49% want all retailers to provide in-store bins.

Flavours remain critical to helping people quit smoking, with 57% of vapers choosing fruit or sweet options, and 63% saying avour variety helps them stay o tobacco.

Iced coffee sees 70% sales growth in Scotland

Scottish take-home sales of chilled coffee have soared in recent weeks, according to the latest research from Kantar Worldpanel by Numerator. Traditional store-cupboard coffee declined sharply, falling by 21.5%, while chilled coffee saw growth of 70.3%. Soft drinks also performed well, with sales up by 3.1%. Broader changes in drinking habits saw total alcohol volumes decreasing by 7.9%. In contrast, low- and no-alcohol alternatives recorded a modest increase of 1.5%, reflecting an ongoing shift towards moderation and health-conscious choices.

Scotland’s food hygiene pass rates revealed

e best and worst places in Scotland for food hygiene pass rates have been revealed in a new report from online training provider High Speed Training.

e report, which analysed Food Standards Agency data for over 240,000 food businesses across the UK, found that in Scotland, the average pass rating across all food establishments in 2025 was 92.2%.

e top spot in Scotland went to South Ayrshire, with an impressive pass rate of 99.00% from over 500 premises – although this was a decrease of 0.81% from 2024.

Meanwhile, Highland ranked 32nd with the lowest pass rate in the country at 77.88%.

North Lanarkshire had the biggest yearon-year improvement in ranking, climbing 10 places to 7th. Angus saw the biggest drop, falling 12 places from 12th in 2024 to 24th. e most signi cant improvement in pass rate was seen in the Shetland Islands, which improved by 3.60% to achieve a pass rate of 78.31%.

Edinburgh is ranked 26th with a pass rate of 89.68%, one place above Glasgow in 27th with a pass rate of 88.47%.

11 arrested in retail crime crackdown

A Day of Action in Glasgow city centre, Drumchapel and Partick on Monday 4 August saw Police Scotland and Retailers Against Crime (RAC) work together to tackle retail crime and make 11 arrests.

In addition, six entries were made to the Scottish Intelligence Database, and there were four Recorded Police Warnings and one Anti-Social Behaviour Order given. Six positive stop searches took place and three proactive visits were made to premises o en targeted.

e o ences varied from shopli ing, breach of exclusions, drug possession and tra c o ences, and the teams were supported by Apex Radio Systems.

In addition, numerous items of stolen property were recovered and will be returned to the stores they were taken from.

Intelligence was also gathered in relation to retail crime in the area and this will be progressed with key partners and policing teams for further actions.

O cers taking part in the Day of Action engaged with local stores to o er crime prevention advice and reassurance to those working and shopping within.

Sergeant Ian Cooper-Cairns said: “We recognise that shopli ing is not a victimless

crime, and the impacts can be devastating and far-reaching.

“ e results from the Day of Action speak for themselves, however it is important to note this type of work occurs daily as part of our ongoing commitment to tackling retail crime.”

RAC shared feedback from a retailer who was involved with the operation, who commented: “As always, police allowed us to take the lead in detecting and stopping shopli ers and were quick to step in when needed.

“Each time, we’re continuing to build a stronger working partnership with Police Scotland and the response from o cers was excellent. It’s always encouraging to see familiar faces in attendance – o cers who are clearly there to make a real di erence.”

Illegal cigarettes and tobacco worth £3.5m seized in Dumfries

A joint operation between Police Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Trading Standards uncovered illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco worth approximately £3.5m.

Police officers executed four warrants in the town centre on Wednesday 23 July after around 500,000 cigarettes, 103kg of hand-rolling tobacco and approximately £7,000 in cash were seized. The recovery is believed to represent a potential loss of more than £350,000 in duty and tax.

Inspector Anna Boyd said: “This is a significant recovery, and we will continue to work with our partners to deter and detect this type of criminality.”

Three men, aged 25, 28 and 31, have been arrested in connection and enquiries are ongoing. The investigation is now being progressed by HMRC.

Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “This operation is part of Operation CeCe Scotland – a nationwide partnership between Scottish councils and HMRC together with Police Scotland to tackle the retail sale of illegal tobacco products – and the recovery of these illicit goods is an important achievement in ensuring our communities remain safe and is a great example of successful partnership working.”

CRIME

Scottish Grocers’ Federation

Convenience Matters with the SGF

In last month’s column we discussed the challenges of proposed restrictions to foods High in Fat, Salt or Sugar, along with welcome news about the reduced scope of measures and UK alignment.

One reason for the rush to regulate by autumn is that, in eight months, we may have a new Scottish Government. SGF is already engaging with MSPs and party leads, and has widely shared our election manifesto.

Retail crime is first, second and third on our list of priorities. We’ll be watching closely to see which parties make meaningful pledges. Crime costs our sector tens of millions annually, and the impact on staff safety and wellbeing is unacceptable. The best way to reverse this tsunami is sustained, targeted resources for Police Scotland and our justice system.

Unsurprisingly, this is followed by the cost of doing business and the everincreasing regulatory burden –with concerns about the rising cost of employment added for good measure. Both Edinburgh and Westminster know that they will be judged on economic growth. So, it’s a matter of bewilderment that they expect businesses to invest, create employment, and grow, while at the same time being strangled by higher costs and tighter restrictions. Particularly frustrating for Scottish retailers, business rates are also worth an honourable mention. Scottish retailers not only miss out on the 40% rates reliefs south of the border but have gradually seen a real-terms reduction in support available for small business. What solutions will our new parliamentarians offer?

For more details, see the full SGF 2026 manifesto published on our website.

Disposable vapes still regularly requested at half of Scottish indies

Shocking figures reveal confusion around the vape ban is rife.

Two months on from the disposable vapes ban, 49% of retailers were still regularly being asked for single-use vapes, research has revealed.

A survey conducted by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) showed that just over 31% of respondents said sta were being asked for single-use vaping products at least once a day, while a further 18% reported it happening at least once a week.

Retailers were also concerned that product identi cation had become an issue, found the survey, with a variety of new compliant vape product designs entering the market since the ban. SGF has made a renewed call to its members to doublecheck that stock in their stores meets the new legal requirements in order to avoid any unintended issues with police or trading standards.

While the Scottish convenience sector is very experienced in dealing with age-restricted products such as alcohol and tobacco – with established checks such as Challenge 25, till prompts and refusal registers – there is less con dence that other outlets are complying with the new rules, stated SGF.

Head of Policy & Public A airs, Luke McGarty, said: “Before the ban, SGF raised concerns about the lack of public awareness and clarity around the changeover to re llable and rechargeable vapes, and while the vast majority of products will be compliant, it’s not always easy to tell by looking at them.

“It’s clear that many members of the public do not realise that the ban on disposable vaping products is now in force. So, it’s unfortunate that retailers have been le with the job of explaining to customers the new rules, and we are urging our members to doublecheck

that all their stock is compliant with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).”

In fact, over a quarter (26%) of consumers who used disposable vapes before the single-use ban have either turned to illegal vapes, started smoking more, or returned to tobacco, according to new El ar research. e proliferation of illicit products – which now includes single-use devices – continues to be a signi cant issue, found the survey of 6,000 UK vapers and smokers, conducted by Opinium in July 2025.

e UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) claimed it was “no surprise” that one in four vapers who previously used disposables had returned to smoking or switched to illicit products since the single-use ban came into e ect.

UKVIA Director General John Dunne said: “Successive governments have made huge play about how they need to bring down smoking rates to achieve a smoke-free UK, but they seem to completely overlook the vital role that vaping can play here.

“Vaping is by far the best way to help adult smokers quit and the single-use devices were the most popular vaping products to help them do so.

“It never made any sense to us to ban this entire category – and now we have concrete evidence that more than a quarter of vapers have either resumed smoking, increased tobacco use or purchased illicit products since the ban.

“Any one of those outcomes would be bad enough –but all three combined should be deeply worrying, and urgent action must be taken to reverse this trend. If these are the numbers we are seeing a er two months, then I dread to think where we will be in a year’s time.”

BORN TO MIX

THE CAMPAIGN WE’VE LONG BEEN WAITING FOR

I’m not in the habit of praising ad campaigns by major brands, but the new one from Coca-Cola – which graces the cover of this month’s issue – is a little special and deserves some column inches.

If you’ve seen it, it’s the ‘Bosses’ one that follows six local retailers across GB, including our very own Sophie Williams in Edinburgh, and digs a little deeper into their lives to show they’re more than just shopkeepers. On the face of it, it’s just another community engagement campaign. But from a different angle, it’s actually the first major campaign I’m aware of that does something that badly needs doing: it humanises the people who work behind shop counters. It shows they have lives outside of work – they have families, kids, hobbies, hopes, fears and dreams, just like everyone else.

Why does that matter? Because over the last five or six years, shopkeepers have been dehumanised. And what do I mean by that? Well, any crime survey will show you that an increasingly large number of people in our society don’t really feel like they’re doing anything wrong when they steal from a shop or abuse a shopworker. Shopworkers aren’t ‘real’ people, after all – they’re just the faces of ‘a business’. It’s the classic and deeply flawed ‘victimless crime’ mentality. If you work in this sector, you know this sort of behaviour is anything but victimless.

For as long as I’ve been writing SLR (nearly 25 years), we’ve been reporting on the plague of retail crime – yet the way the Government and the police tackle it hasn’t changed in any meaningful way. Expecting different results from doing the same thing over and over is a classic definition of insanity.

One potential solution is to talk directly to the society that appears to be losing its way. Communicate directly with consumers to nudge them towards behaving a little more humanely towards their fellow human beings. That’s why the new Coca-Cola campaign matters. It’s a first step in a positive direction, and it might just prompt a few conversations among consumers – encouraging them to see the people behind the till as real people, just like everyone else, and maybe be a little kinder next time they visit a store.

This may, of course, be the triumph of optimism over experience on my part –but if you don’t have hope, what do you have?

That consumer-facing comms job should, of course, be done by the Scottish Government, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that hap pening any time soon. So fair play to a global and hugely influential brand like Coca-Cola for sticking its neck out and starting what I hope will become a trend. And who knows – maybe we can learn to look after each other a little better in future.

ANTONY BEGLEY, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

EDITORIAL

Publishing Director & Editor

Antony Begley abegley@55north.com

Deputy Editor

Sarah Britton sbritton@55north.com

Features Editor

Gaelle Walker gwalker@55north.com

Web Editor

Findlay Stein fstein@55north.com

ADVERTISING

Sales & Marketing Director Helen Lyons 07575 959 915 | hlyons@55north.com

Advertising Manager Garry Cole 07846 872 738 | gcole@55north.com

DESIGN

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

EVENTS & OPERATIONS

Events & Circulation Manager Cara Begley cbegley@55north.com

Scottish Local Retailer is distributed free to qualifying readers. For a registration card, call 0141 22 22 100. Other readers can obtain copies by annual subscription at £50 (UK), £62 (Europe airmail), £99 (Worldwide airmail).

55 North Ltd, Waterloo Chambers, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6AY Tel: 0141 22 22 100 Fax: 0141 22 22 177 Website: www.55north.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/slrmag

DISCLAIMER

The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of 55 North Ltd.

Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher.

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

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

Scottish Local Retailer is produced monthly by 55 North Ltd.

THE ULTRA EXPERIENCE

The launch of Vuse Ultra heralds a new dawn for vaping – and retailers should seize a special opportunity to profit from the premium product.

THE NEXT LEVEL IN VAPING

Vuse Ultra is more than just a device — it’s a fully connected vaping experience that gives adult consumers a level of personalisation and control not seen until now.

Advanced features like Flavour AutoTune™, CloudControl™, and seamless integration with the MYVUSE App make Vuse Ultra a game changing innovation for those who won’t settle for less than premium.

e app adds extra value by allowing users to monitor performance and engage with the brand — increasing loyalty and repeat purchases. Users can adjust avour and power, by toggling between three intensity levels. Vuse Ultra doesn’t disappoint on avours either, bringing back established favourites, such as Chilled Mint, alongside new options such as Mango Calamansi and Dragon Fruit Pomegranate.

ink you know the vaping category? Well, it’s time to think again – the new Vuse Ultra is really going to shake up the norm, delivering an elevated vaping experience for adult nicotine consumers who are on a premium journey.

As the #1 Global Vape Brand* Vuse relished the responsibility to transform the category again with Ultra – and invites retailers to come along. at means product innovation, premium support and a new range of standout unitary display option to make the most of Ultra.

‘VIP’ TREATMENT FOR RETAILERS

A group of retailers representing stores across the UK got a memorable rst – and lasting –impression of the next-level Vuse Ultra.

To get a rst-class insight into the premium new vaping product, as well as the rewards and returns it can bring, the select retailers were guests at a series of exclusive brand-led events held at standout locations in eight major cities across the UK.

Four events in London were followed by others in Cardi , Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and nally Edinburgh.

e impressive agenda included drinks and entertainment on arrival, before the retailers were given a bespoke trade presentation on Vuse Ultra.

ey were then given their own gi box containing the new Vuse Ultra – to open together. A dedicated product Q&A then followed to help give retailers more of the ne detail of product. Ultra goody bags completed an event designed to be a comprehensive showcase of a product that is the culmination of 11 years of vaping innovation.

e event was hailed by participants as an exceptional experience — professional, premium, and perfectly aligned with the product’s development.

Vuse has created something special with the Ultra – and it’s now up to all retailers to get up close and unlock a special future in store and with customers.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE FUTURE?

Retailers now have a prime opportunity to go to the next level of vaping. ey can deepen relationships with loyal customers and attract new ones by stocking the latest Vuse device, supported by the strong brand recognition and long established consumer trust they’ve come to expect from the Global #1 vape brand*.

For retailers ready to future-proof their vape range, Vuse Ultra delivers innovation, customer satisfaction and a clear path to growth.

Speak to your local BAT representative and allow your customers to discover Vuse’s most advanced vape yet while you discover greater footfall, sales and ROI.

Find out more about Vuse Ultra by contacting your local BAT Representative or visit vapermarket.co.uk/vuse_ultra/ , where you can ll in a short enquiry form for us to get in touch.

THE CAMPAIGN WE’VE BEEN CRYING OUT FOR…

A major new campaign from Coca-Cola celebrates and recognises the community role that local retailers play but more importantly launches a timely new salvo in the battle against abuse and violence in-store.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

One thing that became abundantly clear over the last four or ve years in the wake of the chaotic Covid-19 pandemic is that customers have short memories. It wasn’t all that long ago when local retailers were being treated as community heroes, literally risking their health and lives to keep communities across Scotland the rest of the UK supplied with the daily essentials they needed to feed themselves and their families.

Many of you will remember customers lining up outside stores to clap for the owners and sta , just as they did every ursday night for NHS workers. Hell, even the Scottish Government got in on the act, o cially designating convenience store sta as Key Workers alongside the emergency services and NHS sta .

Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) Chief Executive Pete Cheema was frequently heard referring to retailers as the “fourth emergency service” – and he was justi ed.

Fast forward a few years, however, and the vast majority of the respect for shopworkers that was earned or reinforced during Covid has been lost. Abuse of store sta has literally

MEET THE ‘BOSSES’:

Q Sophie Williams, Premier Broadway, Edinburgh

Q Sunita Aggarwal, Spar, Leicester

Q Bobby Singh, BB Superstore & Post Office, Pontefract

Q Keith Tomes, Costcutter, Swanage

Q Kaual Patel, Nisa Local, Catford

Q Bay Bashir, Go Local Extra, Middlesbrough

never been worse with one crime survey a er another highlighting yet another ‘record level’ of recorded abuse. And all towards people just trying to do their job and provide communities with an invaluable service.

While there has been much gnashing of teeth and anguished demands that “something should be done about this,” almost literally nothing has been done about this. Yes, MSP Daniel Johnson’s Protection of Shopworkers Act promised a new dawn, but even Johnson himself admitted onstage at an SGF event that, much to his distress, the Act hadn’t made all that much of a di erence at all.

REAL PEOPLE

So, it’s refreshing to see Coca-Cola step into that void with a really quite powerful campaign to tell the “untold story of corner shops and the real people behind the counter” and to ag up the vital role they play in building communities across Scotland and the rest of GB.

e campaign is, on the surface, a communityengagement piece but at its heart is an equally powerful message: shopworkers are people too. ey have families, they have lives, they have hobbies. ey’re just like you, Mr Serial Shopli er. ey are actual, living, breathing people.

It’s a timely and brave campaign in many ways and, in some senses, it’s even a little disheartening that it gets le to big suppliers to step in and do what clearly needs done and to do what governments and the police should be doing.

For my money, it’s long been obvious that we’ve never had an e ective solution to retail crime and abuse. For as long as we’ve been doing SLR – almost a quarter of a century – we’ve been writing about the ‘scourge of retail crime’. And nothing has changed. We’re trying to sort the same problem with the same solutions that have been proven not to work.

Was it Einstein that said doing the same thing over and over and expecting di erent results is the de nition of madness?

A new approach has long been needed and, in my opinion, that approach has to be based around communicating directly with shoppers, with real people, with families who use convenience stores. We have to humanise shopworkers again because – let’s be brutal –we’ve been dehumanised over the years.

Shouting abuse at a store worker happens because shopworkers aren’t really considered as actual people. ey’re just the front-end faces of ‘a business’. A society where abuse of store sta or stealing from stores isn’t even considered a big deal is a society that has lost its way, that’s losing the ability to tell the di erence between right and wrong.

And we won’t solve this problem with policing or legislation or even with smart tech and AI. e problem lies clearly and squarely with society. e only way we will x it, as Tony Blair might put it, is through ‘education, education, education’.

at’s why the new Coca-Cola campaign is so welcome. It’s part of a celebration of the brand’s 125th year in GB and while it’s unlikely to move the dial and have organised criminals and drunken, drug-addled shopli ers mending their ways overnight, it’s a start.

It’s actually more than that. To have a brand as big and in uential as Coca-Cola putting its head above the parapet and nudging consumers back in the right direction is the sort of thing that might just encourage others to get on board. e campaign itself focuses on six ‘Bosses’ and their families, all well-known local retailers across the country who play active roles in their communities and are just decent people trying to make a living. From raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, acting as an uno cial department of the Citizens Advice Bureau, xing church roofs, launching

UP & COMING STAR

The latest Coca-Cola campaign is not the first time Sophie has been recognised as a star of the future. She was also recognised last year at the SLR Above & Beyond Awards where she was named Up & Coming Star – and if you watch the Coca-Cola video closely, you might even catch a glimpse of Sophie’s award certificate.

And don’t forget to look out for the launch of next year’s SLR Above & Beyond Awards in next month’s issue.

Women in Retail groups and running for mayor, to setting up TikTok creator stations in-aisle, the series’ protagonists have proven themselves pillars of the local community.

SOPHIE’S STORY

Among them is Sophie Williams of Premier Broadway in Oxgangs in Edinburgh, daughter of veteran retailers Linda and Dennis Williams. Sophie stars in a six-part photography and docu-series that digs into Sophie’s personal multigenerational family story, the local community and the journey the family has been on over the last 40 or so years.

is being a Coca-Cola gig, they’re not messing about. e videos are shot by multiaward-winning director Ross Bolidai and the photos are by National Portrait Gallery photographer Serena Brown. So everything is beautifully shot but feels nice and natural, rather than overworked which helps with the core ‘re-humanising’ messaging. As the o cial press release for the campaign poignantly puts it: “We’re pulling the curtain back on the people we see every day, but perhaps don’t really see.”

Again, this being a Coca-Cola gig, there’s a decent budget to play with, so all six Bosses get

an unspeci ed ‘ ve- gure’ sum to donate to a local charity or good cause. Fair play to CocaCola. When they do things, they do them well. e videos are being shared widely, including on Coca-Cola’s own website and, just as importantly, Sophie and her fellow Bosses are gracing out-of-home posters around their local communities. It’s simple but it’s doing something in the real world that has a chance of resonating with real customers and that just might start some conversations and some self-re ection that could ultimately lead to better behaviour.

“It’s such an upli ing campaign in so many ways and I’m so proud to be involved in it with my mum and dad,” says Sophie. “We did the video and photos back in July and it was very intense, so I’ve been itching to see it launch. It

only went live yesterday but we’ve already had so much wonderful feedback from customers and other retailers and friends. I even got a message from a young female retailer in Motherwell yesterday who told me she’d seen the video, and it had totally inspired her and she thanked me because she said I’d helped pave the way for other young women in the retail trade. ings like that make it feel worthwhile.”

‘NOT JUST SHOPWORKERS’

Sophie also has wider hopes for the campaign, as she explains: “ e campaign is ostensibly a community engagement campaign and that’s brilliant. For 41 years, Premier Broadway has been more than a store, it’s been a cornerstone of our family and community. Our passion goes beyond transaction, embodying a belief that the shop does not just belong to us – but to everyone it serves.

“Additionally, however, the campaign also brings out the fact that we are people too, not just shopworkers. e six videos are really quite personal, and I think that they present us all as very human and very relatable. All six of us have interesting stories to tell, we all have lives outside of work, we all have families and private lives and hopes and fears and dreams and worries, just like everyone else. It would be nice to think that this might help some customers view us in a new light and maybe be a little kinder next time they’re in the shop.”

e whole process has also delivered a much more personal bene t for Sophie, a former theatre professional. “As part of the video, we revisited the theatre where I used to perform as a kid. I found it weirdly emotional and healing to get back on that stage and revisit my youth. I struggled for a while with the transition from theatre performer to store worker and trying to gure out what I wanted to do with my life and where I belong. I’m at peace with it all now but doing the video brought those two lives together and just gave me some sort of closure. It was quite emotional for me.

“We’re on cloud nine at the moment and we’ll have the video and photographs forever. Hopefully I can look back on them in 40 years’ time when the store reaches its 80th birthday and see how far we’ve reached by then.”

In the meantime, let’s hope the campaign does indeed deliver a little nudge or two in the right direction for some or our less-wellbehaved customers – and let’s also hope that other suppliers pick up the comms baton and get on board on a journey to a better society, where shopworkers are treated with a little more respect.

NIGHT IN? EVEN BIGGER PROFITS! – P64

CONFECTIONERY Shoppers have the chance to win £25,000 – for someone else

Cadbury winners must give away their prizes

Cadbury has launched a new consumer competition – the Cadbury Giveaway Give Away – which gives shoppers the chance to win big… for someone else.

ere are thousands of prizes up for grabs, including a top prize of £25,000, as well as 4 × £5,000, 30 × £1,000, 50 × £500, 1,000

CONFECTIONERY

× £100 and 1,000 × £50 for all the runnersup. As the competition’s name suggests, the ‘winners’ have to give away their prize to a friend or loved one.

e competition runs until 3 November and entry is via an on-pack QR code. It spans the full Cadbury portfolio, including Cadbury chocolate singles, duos, bags and tablets, hot chocolate, candy and biscuits, as well as other brands such as Sour Patch Kids, Maynards Bassetts and Trebor.

Mondelez is backing the promotion with a multi-channel campaign spanning outof-home advertising, radio, YouTube and TikTok.

New gingerbread reindeer leads Mars Wrigley’s Christmas 2025 lineup

Mars Wrigley has unwrapped a seasonal selection of new products for Christmas 2025.

Embracing a trend for traditional festive flavours, a new Gingerbread variant has been added to the Maltesers Reindeer range. It is available in three formats: single (29g), Maltesers Mini Reindeers Gingerbread (59g), and also included in the Maltesers Christmas Mix (240g).

The confectionery giant has also launched the M&M’s Crispy Santa Five Pack – “perfect for stocking fillers, workplace sharing or a seasonal self-treat”.

Also new is the Maltesers Assorted Truffles Advent Calendar (216g), which “combines rich flavours with daily anticipation”. Mars Wrigley’s selection boxes have also been overhauled, with bolder, more festive packaging.

OCB rolls out pack refresh

OCB has given its entire range of rolling papers a packaging makeover.

*Based on NielsenIQ RMS data for the Nicotine Pouches category for the 18-month period ending 31/10/2024 for the UK total retail market (Copyright © 2024, NielsenIQ). For more info, please visit velo.com

**This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, which is addictive. You should not use this product if you do not already use nicotine.

e modernised designs bring the range closer together, enabling clearer product di erentiation and brand recognition, allowing roll-your-own shoppers to more easily navigate which product suits their needs.

e OCB range comprises Premium, Virgin, Organic Hemp, Ultimate and Rice Papers, available in both Slim and Slim & Tips variants.

To request POS materials, retailers can contact enquiries@republictechnologies.co.uk.

Kellogg’s adds muscle to breakfast clubs

Kellogg’s is backing the STV Children’s Appeal’s Big Scottish Breakfast campaign by pledging to match every £1 raised to support school breakfast clubs across Scotland.

Five-time Scotland’s Strongest Woman and Britain and Europe’s Strongest Woman 2024, Nicola Ann Bennett, joined Scotland’s Strongest Man, Chris Beetham, to encourage people to host their own Big Scottish Breakfast in September.

e campaign invites people to gather with colleagues, classmates and friends to raise money for eligible Scottish schools. Funds go directly to breakfast clubs, helping children a ected by poverty start the day with a full meal and the energy to learn.

GROCERY

Mrs Elswood lifts lid on new easyopen jars

Consumers will soon find jars easier to open following the introduction of new lids by Empire Bespoke Foods.

The company is trialling new ‘Easy Open’ lids on selected Mrs Elswood lines, which require only 50% of the force needed to open traditional lids.

The new lids comprise of a central, floating panel that is vacuum sealed to the jar, and an outer ring that acts as the opening and re-closing device.

The design significantly reduces the amount of torque required to open the jars, making them twice as easy to open compared to standard twist-off lids.

lids.

Samworth Brothers launches new F2G range

Samworth Brothers – Food For Now has launched a new ‘made-in-house’ food-to-go selection.

Designed to help busy stores o er fresh options without signi cant operational costs or kitchen resources, the range is designed to deliver a ‘co ee shop quality’ experience.

e portfolio of fully prepped options includes sandwiches, baguettes, wraps and salads, as well as a ‘heat-to-eat’ selection of croque, ciabattas, toasties, paninis, wraps, and breakfast rolls.

Retailers also have the option to personalise the front of packaging with their own logo.

Convenience retailers can stock the new ‘made-inhouse’ range and order supporting POS by contacting the Samworth Brothers sales team on 0116 236 1640 or via email at hello@foodfornow.co.uk.

FOOD TO GO New range offers ‘coffee shop quality’

twist-off

Guinness Prem promo

Guinness has launched a new on-pack promotion giving shoppers the chance to win Premier League tickets, as well as thousands of other matchday prizes. Shoppers just need to scan the on-pack QR code and enter their details to play and enter the competition. The promotion is one of a number of the brand’s marketing activities under its Official Beer of the Premier League remit and runs until 23 October.

Vault City leaps into bother

The Portman Group has upheld a complaint against Vault City Brewing’s Radler Lemon, Grapefruit and Pineapple Beer. The Independent Complaints Panel found the packaging failed to clearly communicate its alcoholic nature, resembling a soft drink due to prominent fruit imagery. Vault City has since updated the label to emphasise alcohol cues, including the word ‘beer’, in line with the industry watchdog’s Code.

Cornish Orchards unveils Peach & Apple cider

Cornish Orchards has launched a new Peach & Apple cider, produced using 100% fresh pressed apple juice and natural fruit flavour. Available in 500ml bottles at 3.4% ABV, the cider is made from traditional bittersweet apples and is positioned for summer sales. Cornish Orchards packaged cider sells at an average price of £6.62 – 32% higher than the wider premium packaged cider segment.

Ford hails Glenmorangie’s new 25-year-old Glenmorangie has unveiled a new 25-year-old single malt, praised by actor Harrison Ford as a standout expression of the distillery’s signature style. The Altus 25 Years Old – named after the Latin word for “high” – is a permanent addition to the core range and Ford was among the first to sample it during filming for the brand’s campaign ‘Once Upon a Time in Scotland’.

BEER Competition seeks to boost sales of ‘amber nectar’

Foster’s builds on darts deal with new promotion

Foster’s has launched a new promo, o ering £180 in daily cash prizes until 31 October, plus the chance to win four tickets to the World Darts Championship.

e promo appears on select 10x440ml, 12x440ml and 18x440ml multipacks of Foster’s (3.7% ABV) and 10x440ml packs of Foster’s Proper Shandy (3.0% ABV). It’s designed to boost interest in the classic lager category and drive sales of the ‘amber nectar’.

To enter, shoppers scan the QR code on a promotional can, submit

Staropramen rides the dollycoaster

Staropramen is back on TV screens with a brand-new ad ‘The Dollycoaster’.

The ad stars Staropramen brand ambassador Orlando Bloom, who takes viewers on a journey through Prague on a wheeled cart used to mount movie cameras – known in the business as a ‘dolly’. Running across Amazon video-on-demand, the ad is supported by a full marketing campaign.

their details and the ve-digit can code, then play a digital darts game.

Foster’s became o cial beer partner of the Professional Darts Corporation in December. e brand holds a 32% share of the £790m o -trade classic lager segment and added £255m in value last year.

e World Darts Championship was the most-watched nal on Sky outside of football.

Earlier this year, Foster’s unveiled a rebrand, with refreshed packaging and a renewed focus on o -trade performance.

Convenience etailers can learn more at starretailer.co.uk.

Robbie backs Aussie alcohol-free

beer brand

Former Take at singer Robbie Williams has partnered with Australian alcohol-free beer brand Heaps Normal, becoming both an investor and creative collaborator as the company expands into the UK.

e singer, who has been sober for more than two decades, discovered the brand while touring Australia and was drawn to its ethos and cultural impact.

Founded in 2020, Heaps Normal is Australia’s leading independent nonalcoholic beer brand.

Williams will work with the brand on creative campaigns and new product ideas aimed at encouraging more honest conversations around drinking habits.

LOW/NO ALCOHOL Star will work on creative campaigns and NPD

Fresh new look for Magners

Magners Original Irish Cider has unveiled a modern new look that celebrates the brand’s heritage and cider-making tradition.

e contemporary design features re ned illustrations of the brand’s original cider vats and a bright red apple. A new strapline

– e Original Irish Cider Since 1935 – highlights Magners’ history as it marks its 90th year of cider making.

e new look will roll out across the full Magners portfolio, including cans, bottles, multipacks,

trays and all consumer touchpoints in both the on- and o -trade over the coming months.

e refresh follows the launch of Magners’ latest marketing campaign, Magnertism, earlier this summer. e seven- gure campaign – the brand’s largest investment in more than a decade – has spanned TV, outdoor, digital and trade activity.

e new look has also been applied to Bulmers cider in Ireland – the rst time both brands have been updated in unison.

CIDER Crumpton Oaks launches 90s-inspired marketing push

Aston Manor Cider has launched a new marketing campaign for its Crumpton Oaks brand.

‘Happy Applecore’ draws inspiration from 90s electronic music and aims to drive sales for retailers during the summer months, when cider consumption typically increases.

e campaign is expected to reach over nine million UK consumers and follows data showing that over a third of Gen Z are nostalgic for the 90s, and almost two-thirds of Millennials are nostalgic for their younger years.

An original track created by Happy Hardcore producer Hixxy features in a video airing across Sky, ITV and All4 in a three-month run, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. e campaign also includes out-of-home advertising.

To support retailers, Aston Manor reps are visiting 17,000 convenience stores nationwide to provide POS.

LIQUEURS

Daley’s bum returns

Malibu’s ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’ responsible drinking initiative has returned for 2025, again featuring Olympic diver and knitting enthusiast, Tom Daley.

The campaign highlights the increased risks of drinking near water in hot weather.

New for this year are Daley’s heatsensitive, knitted swimming trunks, designed in collaboration with Malibu and his knitwear brand Made With Love. The colour-changing trunks shift from coral below 20°C to yellow above, reminding wearers of the increased risks of drinking and unintentional drowning in hot weather.

As part of the ongoing initiative, Daley appears in The Daley Forecasts – a series of social videos showcasing his weatherman skills.

19 Crimes goes bold with UK-wide outdoor campaign

The 19 Crimes wine brand has launched its biggest-ever outof-home advertising campaign to date, targeting “culturally engaged consumers” with large format digital displays, digital roadside screens, digital vans, paid social media and in-store activities. With a media spend of more than £700,000, the campaign is forecast to be seen over 30 million times.

Glengoyne unveils sustainable new look

Glengoyne has given two of its single malts a sustainable packaging makeover. Glengoyne 18-Year-Old Highland and Glengoyne 21-Year-Old Sherry Oak whiskies now come in fully recyclable bottles made from 49% recycled glass. New fully recyclable boxes have a gatefold showing the view from the top of Dumgoyne Hill, the volcanic plug that towers over the distillery.

Supermalt

launches first alcoholic drink

Malt drink brand Supermalt has launched its first-ever alcoholic beverage – a 7.7% ABV stout. Available from wholesalers including Booker, Supermalt Stout comes in a 4 x 330ml glass bottle multipack, with an RSP of £8. Building on the brand’s heritage, and its close connection to Afro-Caribbean culture, the stout is aimed at consumers who enjoy Supermalt but seek something stronger.

BrewDog Distilling

Co launches Ron Bodega rum BrewDog Distilling Co has launched Ron Bodega – a new premium rum brand made entirely in Scotland. The initial lineup includes a 40% ABV White Rum (RSP £45) and a 46% ABV six-year-old Cask Aged Dark Rum (RSP £60), both potdistilled from molasses. Initially available direct-to-consumer, the rums offer bold flavour profiles including caramel, tropical fruit, dark berries, burnt sugar and vanilla warmth.

ROB LONG

With water now the fastest growing category in soft drinks1, we caught up with Rob Long, Category Controller at the UK’s number one water brand2, Highland Spring, to find out how its offer of something for all occasions is performing in local retailing.

FACTFILE

Rob Long has been Category Controller at Highland Spring for almost two years, helping to shape the water brand’s commercial and category strategy. In leading the Category Development team, his focus is on driving actionable insight for the brand’s retail partners, He has previously held a number of leadership roles including Category Development, Sales and Commercial Strategy for companies such as Johnson & Johnson, GSK and Mondelez.

HOW BIG IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTTLED WATER IN SCOTLAND?

Now worth £2bn in retail sales value and 3.4bn litres in volume, the water category is growing 2.5 times faster than so drinks1. Water is delivering the strongest value growth at 18.2%, underpinned by volume growth of 9.4%, vs a 5.8% value and 2.1% volume growth in so drinks3. In Scotland, the water category is growing at 9.8% value5.

HOW IS HIGHLAND SPRING PERFORMING IN THE SCOTTISH CONVENIENCE CHANNEL?

Holding an 18.9% share of value sales, Highland Spring is Scotland’s number one water brand5 – making it a powerful sales and pro t driver and a must-stock for retailers in Scotland. Stocking the category leader not only meets shopper demand but also boosts overall basket value, ensuring retailers maximise returns from the growing water category.

WHAT TRENDS ARE IMPACTING THE MARKET AND HOW HAS HIGHLAND SPRING RESPONDED?

e key trend that retailers should watch for is a proactive approach to health and hydration amongst consumers. Shi ing drinking habits, including a decline in the consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks, and a growing appetite for natural, locally sourced products, are also creating demand. Highland Spring caters for all these trends with its healthy hydration portfolio for every occasion4

WHAT NPD HAVE YOU LAUNCHED RECENTLY?

e launch of Highland Spring Flavours in 2024 was a major milestone for the brand. e range features three refreshing avours: Strawberry, Apple & Blackcurrant and Lemon & Lime. e range is available in 750ml and 1.25L single bottles. All are sugar free, combining fruity, natural avours with refreshing Highland Spring water drawn from the Ochil

Hills. e range brings choice and disruption to a category that has huge potential but has lacked brand choice until now.

HOW SHOULD LOCAL RETAILERS MERCHANDISE THEIR BOTTLED WATER FOR MAXIMUM APPEAL?

Firstly, build visibility by blocking water products by brand and give the right brands the right space. As the UK’s number one water brand, Highland Spring is driving value and volume growth ahead of other brands2 with its healthy hydration portfolio for every occasion. Secondly, ensure xtures are well-stocked all year round as sales in plain water especially are less impacted by seasonality due to an increased focus on health and hydration4. irdly, maximise sales by giving water more feature space in-store, especially as water is o en bought in addition to other drinks.

HOW ELSE CAN SCOTTISH CONVENIENCE RETAILERS MAKE THE MOST OF BOTTLED WATER?

Ensure chillers o er something for all occasions. Stock a mix of water products, such as Highland Spring Still, Sparkling and Flavoured Still in small and large bottles to meet di erent occasions. Secondary locations to consider are at till points to encourage incremental purchase, especially when coupled with promotions, as well as box stacks, FSDUs and clip strips.

WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF BOTTLED WATER WITHIN SCOTTISH CONVENIENCE?

We are con dent that the total water category will continue to grow. is, combined with the water category being well placed to meet key long-term consumer trends of heath, hydration and quality4, creates excitement for the future. Working with Scottish local retailers, we can make it easier for people to drink more water wherever they are, whatever they are doing, increasing its relevance to more drinking occasions, and maximising retail sales.

5 UK HOUSEHOLDS*

STANDING OUT IN DUNBAR

When Shiva and Shanthi Kandaswamy decided to convert a former hardware store into a cutting-edge convenience store, they didn’t cut any corners, and they had the vision to build a true destination store – which won them two SLR Awards.

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Building a brand new, modern convenience store is not for the faint hearted these days. With customer expectations so high, it’s generally a case of go hard or go home. And there’s absolutely no debate about which route Shiva and Shanthi Kandaswamy took when they decided to convert a tried old 3,500sq hardware store in Dunbar into a thoroughly modern Premier convenience store.

e conversion cost the best part of £300,000, a huge investment, but it’s not the sum of money spent that impresses most: it’s the thought behind how that money was spent. So what can we learn from this epic t out that ultimately won Shiva and Shanthi not one but two SLR Awards this year, the O Trade Retailer of the Year Award and the New Store of the Year Award?

BE A DESTINATION

Shiva is no stranger to retail as he already owns another convenience store and a specialist olicence in the area. So he knows the importance of giving customers as many reasons as possible to pass competing stores and come to yours.

Working with Premier, he tapped into their experience of working with around 5,000 stores to ensure that his new store was packed with products and services that customers wouldn’t easily nd anywhere else in Dunbar.

Hence elements like the Beer Cave, hot food, local bakery, the extensive vaping o er and the Refresh Zone with co ee, shakes, hotdogs and Coca-Cola Frozen. All of these elements also boast high margin and minimal work from sta .

But Shiva pushed the concept further by adding a So Drinks Cave, one of the rst in Scotland. It adds theatre and range and again minimises manual handling for sta .

Plus he added a Scottish products section to appeal to the many tourists who visit Dunbar every year.

In other words, plenty of compelling reasons for customers to visit Premier Dunbar.

GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW

One of the standout parts of the store is the fantastic wine and spirits section that greets customers as soon as they walk through the door. A former sommelier, Shiva has extensive experience of wine and spirits and saw a gap in the market for a unique and higher-end range of wines. Not for him the standard range of bog standard, big brand, uninspiring wines found in most convenience stores and supermarkets. He enhanced that with some fantastic premium spirits, many of them local, and added a Havana cigar humidor for good measure. Unsurprisingly, the section has been a huge hit and he is seeing customers come from miles away. Plus, the rustic layout of the section adds some more theatre.

GO LOCAL

Locally and regionally sourced products add another layer and elevate the store’s o er to another level. From beers, spirits and ciders to biscuits, ice cream, meat and Indian ready-meals, there’s a local product for every occasion and that’s something that resonates with Shiva’s customers.

DO IT RIGHT

Customers are very demanding these days and their standards are higher than ever. ey expect stores to look and feel fantastic, so if you want to futureproof your store, cutting big corners is not an option. at’s something Shiva and Shanthi understood well, which explains the £300,000 investment. ey also used Vertex for the t-out, not the cheapest shop tting option on the market, but a company renowned for the quality of its work. And it shows. Every aspect of the store is on point from the top-notch refrigeration to the bespoke shelving, counters and lighting. Premier Dunbar just feels special, and it does it without feeling too clinical. It retains the charm of a community store but is utterly modern, spacious and bright.

MARGIN MATTERS

It’s all very well having a beautiful store that’s a joy to shop, but it has to make money – and that’s not something that was lost on Shiva. A very signi cant percentage of the store’s range is high value, high margin and good volume: premium wines and spirits, shakes, co ee, food to go, vaping, the list goes on.

Again, these lines tend to have high cash pro ts, not just percentage pro ts. You can’t take percentages to the bank, as the old adage goes.

BE WELCOMING

So, we’ve got an amazing store here that ticks every box – but what is arguably more noticeable than anything else in Premier Dunbar is the almost childlike enthusiasm of the team there when interacting with customers, and that includes Shiva himself. He interrupted our interview during the judging on at least a dozen occasions to talk at length to a customer, o er some advice or help, or simply check they the customer could nd what they were looking for. e entire team has ear-to-ear smiles and an easy con dence in striking up conversations with everyone who walks through the door. It’s old-school local retailing and it makes all the di erence.

Ultimately, what Shiva and Shanthi have done is turn a deep understanding of the market and the local customer base into a standout destination store that is unlike any other in Dunbar. None of it is rocket science but everything has been done really well. And that’s exactly why they have two SLR Awards sitting behind the counter less than a year a er opening.

BESTWAY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF VISION, VALUES AND IMPACT AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

In a dazzling tribute to one of the UK’s most inspirational business stories, Bestway Group marked its 50th anniversary with a glittering celebration at London’s Royal Albert Hall. e prestigious event honoured the company’s founder, Sir Anwar Pervez OBE, H Pk, and his extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to building one of the UK’s largest familyowned businesses.

Hosted by broadcaster Dermot O’Leary, the evening welcomed over 800 distinguished guests including dignitaries, parliamentarians, and close friends of the Bestway family. e event blended emotion, elegance and entertainment, with memorable performances from classical singer Katherine Jenkins OBE, the renowned Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, dynamic string quartet Escala, the Novello Orchestra, and a high-energy nale from classical fusion artist Okiem.

Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE SI (Pk), Chairman of Bestway Group and Sir Anwar’s nephew, paid tribute to the founder’s “grit, vision and purpose,” highlighting the company’s achievements in business and philanthropy.

“Sir Anwar’s journey is not just one of commercial success, but of social upli ment and community investment. It is our privilege to celebrate him and the 50 years of impact he has inspired.”

e event also saw a heartfelt message from former Prime Minister, e Rt Hon Lord David Cameron, who praised Sir Anwar as “a true British success story” and highlighted the enduring values of enterprise, generosity and service that de ne the Bestway ethos.

Central to that ethos is philanthropy. Since its founding in 1987, the Bestway Foundation has donated over £50 million to causes in the UK and abroad, focusing on education, healthcare and social mobility.

Sir Anwar, who arrived in the UK from rural Pakistan in 1956, started his career as a bus conductor before opening his rst retail store in 1963. In 1976, he founded Bestway. From its origins in retail and wholesale, the group has grown into a global enterprise spanning food, cement, pharmaceuticals, and banking, today employing over 50,000 people across multiple continents.

“Tonight is not only about looking back - it’s about looking forward,” Lord Choudrey said in closing. “Bestway’s story is still being written, and it is built on the legacy of a man who dared to dream bigger than circumstance.”

For retailers across Scotland, Sir Anwar’s journey remains a powerful reminder of how vision, family, and community can drive lasting success.

AND GOING STRONG AND GOING STRONG

16 depots open.

- 1995 - 2005

16 more depots open & acquires Batley adding 22 further Cash & Carry depots.

Within 1.5 years of opening, £12 million turnover is achieved.

Bestway launches their own label range 'Best-In' and establishes the Bestway Foundation.

The group launches Best-One, its convenience store symbol group for independent retailers.

Bestway receives The Grocer magazine award -

- 2015

14 more depots open.

Bestway received the coveted 'Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2012' in recognition of outstanding success as one of the UK's leading performers in food exports.

Bestway Wholesale is presented with 2 Grocer Gold Awards: Technology Supplier of the Year and Business Initiative of the Year.

2015 - 2025

Bestway Wholesale acquired Costcutter Supermarkets Holding Limited, trading as Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG), taking Bestway Wholesales annual turnover to almost £3 billion, alongside a symbol franchise and a company store retail estate of more than 3,795 stores in the UK.

"Best Wholesaler Award".

In a spectacular evening at the Royal Albert Hall, Bestway Group marked its 50th anniversary and the 90th birthday of its founder, Sir Anwar Pervez OBE, HPk, with a dazzling celebration honouring one of Britain’s most exceptional entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

Former Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Lord David Cameron paid tribute to Sir Anwar’s lifelong values of enterprise, generosity, and service – calling him “a true British success story whose influence spans continents and generations.”

First shop opened at Earls Court.

INSPIRING SUCCESS IN 2025

800+ attendees 210 suppliers 25 SEP Aviemore

All roads lead to Aviemore once again this month as the annual SPAR Scotland Tradeshow returns for the fourth time. After our stunning event in 2024 which encouraged our delegates to ‘Raise The Bar’, this year we will be ‘Inspiring Success in 2025’.

The Tradeshow is Scotland’s largest event in the convenience retail industry and brings together everyone in the SPAR family in Scotland: independent retailers and company-owned store colleagues; CJ Lang & Son colleagues from support functions; and suppliers to

THE DAY WILL INCLUDE:

future opportunities with SPAR in Scotland.

Attendees came away buzzing after last year’s event and this year’s Tradeshow promises to be even more enlightening and inspiring as we hear from key speakers and learn about which trends are impacting our sector and how SPAR is adapting and evolving to stay at the front of the pack in what is an extremely tough and competitive landscape.

The unveiling of Spar Scotland’s future plans for growth at business presentations to support the Tradeshow

Sold out exhibition space with 210 exhibitors – our largest to date

The Spar Scotland Awards

A gala dinner

Evening festivities including a live band, entertainment and dancing

SOLD-OUT AND BIGGER THAN EVER!

SPAR is promising another industry-leading Tradeshow in Aviemore this month with another winning mix of networking opportunities, a sold-out exhibition space with 210 suppliers on show, inspiring business sessions, sparkling awards and, of course, a spectacular Gala Dinner with bags of entertainment.

Colin McLean, CEO, SPAR Scotland said: “Our 2024 Tradeshow was a huge success and we we were blown away by how well it was received. Our 2025 event is set to raise that bar even further with more than 800 delegates set to descend on Aviemore for our biggest and best Tradeshow to date.

“The theme this year is ‘Inspiring Success’ and once again we will have a few surprises in store for those attending. Our Tradeshow and sold-out Exhibition will be supported by business presentations where we will share future plans for our continued growth. The SPAR Scotland Awards will return for a fourth year and, as has become tradition, we will round the event off with a fantastic Gala Dinner with live entertainment and plenty of dancing.

“With 210 suppliers exhibiting this year, this event promises handson networking opportunities like no other in the Scottish convenience retail market.”

NEW FOR THIS YEAR

PRESENTATION STATION

New for this year’s Tradeshow is a dedicated presentation area built in the middle of the Tradeshow marquee where suppliers have been allocated 15-minute slots to offer their insight into the key developments in their categories. Presentations will be given across the day by suppliers including: VSL

Red Bull Kepak

Warburton’s

Tennent’s

Philip Morris

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER…

2025 has undoubtedly been a challenging year but steady investment, vision and drive over the last five or six years ensures SPAR Scotland is in the perfect place to weather the storm and emerge stronger and fitter in the months and years ahead.

BY COLIN MCLEAN, CEO, SPAR SCOTLAND

Let’s face it, everyone in the independent retailing sector in Scotland knows that the last 12 months have been tough for us all – and it’s not something we at SPAR Scotland shy away from. From spiralling energy bills to big hikes in minimum wage and National Insurance, from epidemic levels of retail crime to seemingly neverending legislative challenges, it’s been a hard year.

But at SPAR Scotland, we know this sector and we know what we’re doing. And it’s not all bad news. Far from it. Yes, the market is tough but we also know that we are in the right market. Convenience is the place to be, as you can see from all the supermarkets and other big businesses trying to get a foothold in this market. But we also know that delivering great convenience stores, on that shoppers want to visit on a daily basis, is a tough job and it’s one that requires experience, investment, great people, strong business models and vision.

That’s why I believe SPAR Scotland is in the perfect place to meet all of the current challenges head on and come out the other side stronger and fitter with a very bright future ahead of us in the years to come.

CLEAR VISION

We are very clear on our plans. We’ve got lots going on and we know what we’re doing. It’s time for a calm, steady approach with a clear vision and defined roadmap to the future. We have all of that and more at SPAR Scotland.

Critically, all of the investment and drive over the last five or six years to create an unparalleled business in Scotland is paying off. We are in a great position to deal with the challenges that have been thrown at us. We are stronger, fitter and more robust than we’ve ever been which makes it easier to cope with the tough times we’re currently experiencing. So, if the last 12 months have been tough for SPAR Scotland stores, imagine how hard they have been for some of our competitors?

BUILDING SUCCESS

And that’s why I’m thoroughly looking forward to welcoming everyone to Aviemore this year. It provides us with the perfect opportunity to bring everyone in the SPAR Scotland family together to reflect on the last 12 months and discuss how we can bring our collective expertise, energy and experience to bear for the next 12 months as we trade our way out of the tough times.

The theme this year is ‘Inspiring Success’ and it couldn’t be more apt. We are bringing together more retailers and more suppliers than ever before. It’s our biggest Tradeshow to date and it is a must-attend event which will definitely help inspire success in 2025 and beyond.

The event will feature our familiar programme of business briefings, inspiring presentations, our biggest ever exhibition, the SPAR Scotland Awards and, of course, our spectacular Gala Dinner.

It’s the biggest event of its kind in the Scottish convenience calendar and I don’t think I’m wrong when I say it’s also the best event of its kind in Scotland. And that’s exactly as it should be. SPAR Scotland is a genuinely Scottish business and that’s something we are very proud of.

And let’s be very clear on the point of the Tradeshow: it may be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a great day and evening with industry colleagues, but the core purpose of the SPAR Scotland Tradeshow is to deliver ideas, insight, innovation and inspiration that will help our retailers grow sales and profits over the next 12 months and well into the future.

The event is also an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate to all delegates that nobody can help you deliver success in the future quite like SPAR Scotland. Whether you are a retailer or a supplier, SPAR Scotland is uniquely and strategically placed to help you grow your business in Scotland.

From tri-temperature deliveries and timed delivery slots to tobacco price guarantees and market-leading availability, from Barista Bar coffee and our awardwinning own-label range to exclusive new products, the modern SPAR Scotland is truly there for you.

I look forward to seeing you all in Aviemore and I’m confident you will leave fully inspired to deliver yet more success in the future.

RAISING THE BAR

From investments and appointments to donations and events, Spar Scotland continues to level up. Here we hone in on key highlights from the past 12 months.

SEPTEMBER 2024

SUCCESSES CELEBRATED AT ANNUAL TRADESHOW AND AWARDS

Aviemore was abuzz on 26 September 2024, when more than 800 attendees, including over 200 suppliers, gathered at the MacDonald Hotel and Resort to review retail technological innovations, share best practice and celebrate success at Spar Scotland’s annual Tradeshow and Awards.

OCTOBER 2024

BIG DEALS OF CHRISTMAS RETURNS

Spar Scotland’s national brand campaign, Big Deals of Christmas, launched in stores from 17 October, featuring more promotional offers than ever before.

The initiative was supported by a national media plan, including TV advertising on STV, in-store POS displays, digital screen promotion, social media support, and an e-blast collaboration with the Scottish FA. In addition, a Spar lorry specially wrapped to promote the campaign travelled all over Scotland.

DECEMBER 2024

CHRISTMAS ARRIVES EARLY AT SPAR GREENOCK

To celebrate the return of Big Deals of Christmas, Spar Scotland held a Christmas party at Spar Greenock on Friday 6 December. The well-known convenience store on the town’s South Street was proud to return to Spar following a recent modernised makeover.

The event included face painting, giveaways, product sampling and the chance to walk away with vouchers for a CJ’s breakfast or hot drink. In addition, a £500 presentation was made to the Ardgowan Hospice and animal charity Underheugh Ark.

SPAR SCOTLAND DONATES MORE THAN £175,000 TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN 2024

In 2024, Spar Scotland donated in excess of £175,000 to local communities across the country. This incredible figure highlights the group’s commitment to nurturing neighbourhoods and supporting causes that make a real difference to people’s lives.

The donations have supported a wide range of initiatives, including contributions to Spar’s national charity partner Marie Curie, support through the 2024 Spar Community Cashback campaign, and individual donations to countless local charities, groups, and events throughout Scotland.

JANUARY 2025

SPAR SCOTLAND LAUNCHES FROZEN FORTUNE CAMPAIGN

CJ Lang & Son launched the Frozen Fortune digital game campaign in partnership with fellow Spar wholesalers AF Blakemore & Son, Appleby Westward and James Hall & Co. After playing the Ice Breaker game three times, Spar customers could unlock the Fortune Maker game, where they could spin a wheel to win a guaranteed reward. A grand prize of £10,000 was up for grabs from each of the wholesalers.

BARISTA BAR BRINGS JOY ON BLUE MONDAY

On 20 January aka Blue Monday –allegedly the most depressing day of

the year – Spar Scotland stores brought cheer with a coffee promotion. Barista Bar customers were smiling from ear to ear when they were treated to triple stamps on their loyalty cards for every hot drink purchased.

SPAR

CLYNE CONDORRAT PLEDGES TO INSTALL LIFE-SAVING KIT AT 31 SCHOOLS

Whitelees Primary in Cumbernauld was the first of many schools to receive new life-saving equipment thanks to Spar Clyne Condorrat.

In collaboration with Hazkit, an awardwinning safety equipment supplier, the store financed the installation of LifeVac devices in 31 schools throughout Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.

LifeVac is a regulated, non-invasive suction medical device with a patented one-way safety valve designed to dislodge choking obstructions in children when first aid fails or cannot be performed.

SPAR IRVINE HOSTS VALUE DEALS PARTY

On Friday 31 January, Spar Irvine highlighted Spar Scotland’s new product lines and unbeatable savings by throwing a big bash to celebrate the symbol group’s Value Deals campaign. The event gave customers the opportunity to sample key offers while enjoying a range of activities and giveaways.

The campaign offered shoppers a range of value-driven promotions featuring both branded and Spar own-label products, including milk, bread, eggs, and bacon.

MARCH 2025

RENFREW CUSTOMER WINS

£10,000 IN SPAR’S FROZEN FORTUNE CAMPAIGN

Spar Scotland awarded a £10,000 prize to Spar Renfrew customer, Abby McNicol, as part of Spar’s Frozen Fortune gaming campaign. She was one of four grand prize winners across Great Britain who took part in the free-to-play digital games. Overall, Spar recorded 1.23 million plays of its daily Ice Breaker game, plus 325,000 plays of its Fortune Maker game.

MAY 2025

SEVEN SPAR SCOTLAND STORES ACHIEVE HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMME PREMIUM STATUS

In an incredible achievement, which reflects the group’s commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting local, Spar Scotland saw seven stores attain Premium Status within the Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s Healthy Living Programme Retailer Development Plan (RDP).

The seven Spar stores that have achieved Premium status include: Spar Scotland company-owned Stores: Bo’ness, Crosshouse, Garthamlock and Hillfoot Road; and independent Spar stores: Blantyre, Condorrat and Renfrew.

APRIL 2025

DISCOVER SPAR SCOTLAND CAMPAIGN UNVEILED

Launched in April, Discover Spar Scotland is a six-month initiative designed to highlight the benefits of joining Spar and working with CJ Lang & Son. The campaign aims to drive awareness, engagement, and business growth opportunities among independent retailers who have yet to partner with Spar Scotland.

To support the campaign, Spar Scotland launched a new lorry livery featuring independent Spar retailer Saleem Sadiq of Spar Renfrew.

SWNT STARS CELEBRATE SPAR SCOTLAND’S BARISTA BAR PARTNERSHIP WITH PINKIE FARM VISIT

Barista Bar is fast becoming a household name thanks to Spar Scotland’s exclusive partnership with the premium coffee-to-go brand. To celebrate its success, Scottish Women’s National Team (SWNT) players Emma Watson and Martha Thomas visited Pinkie Farm on Monday 26 May to meet shoppers and sample the Barista Bar drinks range. The players joined store owner Dan Brown to discuss the product range available and why the Barista Bar offering is such a hit with local shoppers.

LORRY LIVERY LAUNCHES AFTER MAJOR AWARDS WIN

Spar Scotland revealed a new lorry livery, highlighting that it had won Symbol Group of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Wholesale Association Achievers Awards for the third year in a row. The livery also supports the wider Discover Spar Scotland retailer recruitment campaign.

SCHOOLGIRLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBERS

The final of Spar Scotland’s Future Stars tournament took place on 3 June at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld. Braidhurst High School were crowned national champions in both S1/S2 and S3/S4 competitions.

Now in its fourth year, Spar Scotland’s Future Stars initiative, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Football Association, saw a record-breaking 282 teams register, up 30% on 2024’s figure of 218. Approximately 3,000 girls aged 12 to 16 competed in the regional qualifying rounds held throughout Scotland.

SPAR SCOTLAND TO MOVE TO LARGER LADYBANK STORE

Spar Scotland purchased new premises over the road from its existing Ladybank store in Fife. The new store, which is due to open at the end of the year, will feature a new food to go offer from CJ’s and a Barista Bar machine, as well as an enhanced chilled offer and a bigger range of Scottish produce.

JUNE 2025

BIG DEALS OF SUMMER CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

Spar Scotland launched its Big Deals of Summer campaign at the beginning of June. The vibrant multi-channel initiative ran for three months, featuring a range of headline summer deals across all core convenience categories.

The creative was proudly Scottish, leaning into the nation’s shared summer humour with the message that no matter the weather, Spar is here to bring the fun and great-value deals.

SPAR SCOTLAND DONATES £2,500 TO LOCAL AVIEMORE CHARITY

Ahead of its annual Tradeshow in Aviemore on 25 September, Spar Scotland donated £2,500 to local charity Badenoch and Strathspey Community ConnXions (BSCC). By returning year after year to the stunning Highlands setting, Spar Scotland is proud to invest in and give back to the local community that has become home to this industry-leading event.

JULY 2025

CJ LANG & SON APPOINTS SONYA HARPER AS COO

Sonya Harper was appointed Chief Operating Officer at CJ Lang & Son, taking responsibility for the day-today operations of the business and deputising for CEO Colin McLean in his absence.

Under the new structure, Company Owned Stores Director Frank McCarron and Independent Sales Director Brian Straiton will now report directly to Harper, who will also continue to oversee the Central Operations Team.

ASHLEIGH MACPHERSON JOINS CJ LANG AS BDM

CJ Lang & Son strengthened its Independent Sales Team with the appointment of Ashleigh MacPherson as Business Development Manager.

MacPherson takes on the role as Business Development Manager for Area 4: Glasgow, Central Belt, Ayrshire and Dumfries.

AUGUST 2025

CJ LANG APPOINTS LORRAINE MACPHERSON AS RECRUITMENT AND SALES MANAGER

CJ Lang and Son named Lorraine MacPherson as its new Recruitment and Sales Manager.

With an extensive background in wholesale convenience, Lorraine brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Prior to joining CJ Lang, she held a senior sales role with United Wholesale Scotland and spent time at Filshill before that.

CJ LANG & SON INVESTS IN WHOLESALE TOBACCO

SPAR SCOTLAND SELLS OUT OF EXHIBITION SPACE FOR 2025 TRADESHOW

Exhibition space for the Spar Scotland Tradeshow completely sold out in August. The forthcoming event reached a new milestone, with 210 suppliers confirmed to exhibit, marking a record number of participants and underlining the event’s status as the largest convenience retail tradeshow in Scotland. Held in Aviemore, the event brings together more than 800 delegates from across the Scottish convenience retail sector.

PRICE CUTS

CJ Lang & Son helped Spar Scotland retailers to make higher margins, with a significant investment in reducing and matching the wholesale price of 106 tobacco lines. The move was designed to strengthen retailer margins, encourage greater purchasing loyalty and reinforce Spar Scotland’s competitive positioning in a challenging market.

COMMUNITY CASHBACK CAMPAIGN SEES DUNDEE CHARITY AWARDED £10,000

The Yard Dundee, which supports disabled children and their families, was given £10,000 by Spar Scotland through Spar’s annual Community Cashback campaign.

Now in its fourth year, the campaign continues to grow in both reach and impact, with Spar Scotland stepping up in 2025 to support even more causes north of the border.

SPAR SCOTLAND AWARDS TO RECOGNISE SOME OF THE BEST OUTSTANDING STORES

CJ Lang’s Spar Scotland Awards recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding contributions in SPAR Scotland company-owned and independent stores

One of the many highlights of this year’s SPAR Scotland Tradeshow will be the SPAR Scotland Awards, now in their fourth year. The awards will once again honour those who demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence across a host of categories, including:

Independent Community Store of the Year

Company Owned Community Store of the Year

Independent Store of the Year

Company Owned Store of the Year

Supplier of the Year (multiple categories) Future Stars

The Independent Community Store of the Year will go to a Spar store that engages, empowers and supports their community, making an especially strong, effective contribution to its local area.

Independent and Company Owned Store of the Year awards will be given to two retailers adhering to the highest standards, with teams who are truly passionate about their work and embedded within their local communities.

Supplier of the Year awards will be given to companies based on product supply, NPD and promotional support activity.

Working in partnership with the Scottish FA, the Future Stars award is designed for CJ Lang & Son colleagues based at the distribution centre and head office in Dundee.

Winners are selected by a panel of CJ Lang & Son Area Managers and Executive team members, as well as category sponsors.

Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to once more recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions within SPAR in Scotland.

“The SPAR Scotland Awards underscore our commitment to celebrating innovation, excellence, and the community spirit within SPAR, and we look forward to honouring the remarkable individuals, stores, and suppliers who drive positive change and inspire others.”

EVENING AGENDA

6.00 PM Doors Open to Osprey Arena

6.30 PM Drinks reception Foyer, main conference centre

7.00 PM Take your seats for dinner Osprey Arena

7.15 PM Formal proceedings commence including the SPAR Scotland Awards presentation

8.30 PM Dinner service commences

10.30 PM

Evening entertainment & dancing commences

12.45 PM

Last orders at the bar

1.00 AM Evening Ends

LEADING THE LINE WITH FUTURE STARS

SPAR Scotland’s flagship schoolgirls’ football tournament attracts record participation from across the country.

Now in its fourth year, SPAR Scotland’s groundbreaking Future Stars schoolgirls’ football tournament has proven to be a massive hit across the country, with the recent SPAR Scotland Future Stars Cup attracting record participation.

Delivered in partnership with the Scottish Football Association, the event continues to go from strength to strength and saw a record-breaking 282 teams register this year. That’s a huge 30% increase on 2024, with around 3,000 girls aged 12 to 16 competing in regional qualifying rounds held throughout Scotland.

The 2025 SPAR Future Stars Cup concluded in style on 3 June at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, where Braidhurst High School was crowned national champion in both S1/ S2 and S3/S4 competitions.

A total of 420 players across 35 teams had the privilege of participating in front of a noisy and enthusiastic audience at the Cup finals.

Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “SPAR Future Stars continues to grow and we are proud to see such strong momentum behind it. This year, more than 3,000 girls from across Scotland

took part – a remarkable milestone that shows just how much appetite there is for opportunities like this.

“We welcomed over 60 more teams than last year, with some schools registering interest within days of the 2024 finals. It’s clear that this tournament has become a much-anticipated fixture on the school sports calendar.

“Our goal has always been to create a positive, inclusive platform where girls can enjoy the game, develop their skills, and represent their schools in a supportive and competitive environment. As we look ahead to 2026, we are committed to building on this success – helping even more young people stay active, feel connected, and be part of something bigger in their communities.”

“We are committed to building on this success and helping even more young people stay active, feel connected, and be part of something bigger in their communities.”

COLIN MCLEAN, CEO

Shirley Martin, Head of Girls & Women’s Football at the Scottish FA, added: “SPAR Future Stars is a great opportunity for schoolgirls to play in a fun and friendly environment, with their friends, while representing their schools. We are delighted with the growth of this competition and proud to see teams from every corner of Scotland reach the national finals.

“Encouraging young girls into football is vital for the growth of the game. Initiatives like this by SPAR Scotland play an important role in nurturing a lifelong love of sport, building confidence and creating pathways to future opportunities.”

Registration is now open for the 2026 SPAR Future Stars Cup, with the finals due to be held in next June.

FUTURE STARS IN NUMBERS…

282 teams registered 30% increase on 2024

3,000 girls took part

SPAR SCOTLAND –THERE FOR YOU

SPAR Scotland understands the Scottish market like no one else, which is why we run a year-round series of unique activities to help SPAR retailers meet modern consumers’ demands and tackle key challenges throughout the year.

As a proudly Scottish business operating exclusively north of the border, SPAR Scotland brings over 100 years of experience in this market. That heritage gives us a unique insight into the Scottish local retailing market and Scottish consumers and retailers.

And that’s why we are able to understand their needs so well and drive unique activity that meets the needs of modern consumers while simultaneously helping boost retailers’ sales and profits.

Our Frozen Fortune promotion is a great example. This instant-win gamification initiative was conceived to fuel footfall, sales and engagement in SPAR Scotland stores in the typically quieter winter months of the year.

All consumers had to do was play our Ice Breaker game on their device by tapping virtual ice until it cracked to reveal if they were a winner. After playing the Ice Breaker game three times, players unlocked the Fortune Maker game, where they could spin a wheel to win a guaranteed reward. A prize pool of over 400,000 awards was on offer.

The results were spectacular. In just four weeks of January, almost 100,000 customers across GB played the game with over 74,000 redemptions recorded, an average redemption rate of 24.7%.

Not only did Frozen Fortune achieve a superb redemption rate, it also grew sales for retailers across a host of major categories in a month when sales were typically softer after the Christmas and New Year period.

The campaign was proudly emblazoned on SPAR Scotland trucks as they made their way across the country, spreading the word about this unique competition.

‘FROZEN

FORTUNE’ IN STATS

99,000 customers played the game 74,023 redemptions

Average redemption rate of 24.7%

PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE

Another example of SPAR Scotland understanding the Scottish market and giving SPAR Scotland retailers the power to stay ahead of the competition is the recently launched investment in wholesale tobacco prices to strengthen retailer margins. The initiative sees SPAR Scotland reducing and matching the wholesale price of 106 tobacco lines. The investment follows a series of successful tobacco trials and promotional deals which delivered strong results for retailers.

“This strategy is about listening to our retailers and responding to the market,” said Brian Straiton, Independent Sales Director. “Retailers told us we needed to review our tobacco offer to remain competitive and this price investment aligns us with activity from key competitors. By being proactive, we are helping retailers maintain margins and drive growth in a very challenging category.”

NEW APPOINTMENTS SET TO INSPIRE FUTURE SUCCESS

CJ Lang & Son continues to focus on inspiring success in the future with some key appointments.

Retail is a people business and without great people around you, no business can reach its potential. That’s why CJ Lang & Son continues to evolve and develop its team and create a business that’s more than ready to inspire future success in 2025 and beyond.

Among those new appointments is the promotion of Sonya Harper to the role of Chief Operating Officer, taking responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the business and deputising for CEO Colin McLean in his absence.

Under a new management structure, Company Owned Stores Director Frank McCarron and Independent Sales Director Brian Straiton will now report directly to Harper, who will also continue to oversee the Central Operations Team.

CJ Lang & Son has added considerable experience and expertise to its team with the recent recruitment of Lorraine MacPherson — and her daughter Ashleigh.

Lorraine joins as Recruitment and Sales Manager while Ashleigh joins as a Business Development Manager.

Prior to joining CJ Lang, Lorraine held senior sales roles with United Wholesale Scotland and JW Filshill. In her new role, Lorraine will contribute to the recruitment strategy while also driving growth through expanded sales efforts and customer relationship management.

“Lorraine brings a rare blend of recruitment insight and sales acumen,” said Brian Straiton, Sales Director at CJ Lang & Son. “We’re confident she will play a key role in advancing our strategic priorities and enhancing the value we deliver to our customers new and old.”

Meanwhile, Ashleigh takes on the role as Business Development Manager. She will be responsible for Area Four, which takes in Glasgow, the Central Belt, Ayrshire and Dumfries.

Straiton commented: “Ashleigh brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and leadership. This is a great addition for us as a business. It strengthens our team and she joins us at a very exciting time as the business is continually moving forward with energy and pace.”

EXHIBITORS LIST 2025

LICENSED

Vinarchy Ltd E04

Asahi UK Ltd F09

AU Vodka F03

Australian Vintage Ltd E01

Bacardi – Martini Ltd F01

Bibendum Off Trade / Yealands C12

Brewdog plc F13

Broadland Drinks Ltd E09

Budweiser Brewing Group UK & I (AB InBev UK Limited) G05

Budweiser Budvar UK Ltd F11

C&C Group plc (Tennent’s) G06

Campari UK F05

Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company F14

Casella Family Brands Europe Limited E06

Cider Of Sweden (Kopparberg) D15

Concha y Toro UK/ VCT Europe E11

CVH SPIRITS

E16

Damm 1876 Ltd F08

Diageo Great Britain F04

Differentiator Brands C14

Disaronno International UK F02

Fortitude Drinks (ICB) C15

Hatch Mansfield E02

Heineken UK F15

Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd E14

International Beverage Holdings Ltd (Inverhouse Distillers) F06

J Chandler & Co (Buckfast) Ltd C13

Molson Coors Beverage Company F12

Nice Wine E10

Off Piste Wines E05

Pernod Ricard UK Ltd E15

Proximo Spirits UK E17

Red star Brands - Four Loko D14

Sazerac UK E12

Scotbrew - Cold Town Beer G04

SHS Drinks D16

Thatchers Cider Company Ltd C16

The Glen Turner Company (Trading as LMB UK) E13

The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company F10

Treasury Wine Estates EMEA E03

Whyte & Mackay Ltd

Williams Brothers Brewing Co. F07

SHS Sales & Marketing

Grenade

FTG BREAD & CAKES

D09

Brownings the Bakers J10

Asher’s Bakery Ltd J09

Europastry Benelux BV J03

Grupo Bimbo UK J02

Samworth’s I05

Hovis O01

McGhee and Sons Ltd J11

Kepak Foods I08

Rollover H01

R T Stuart Ltd J13

Cambusnethan Slush Limited I02

CUPCAKES BY SOPHIA LTD J06

Tri Star Packaging K13

Pladis (McVitie’s) J08

Murphys Home Bakery J04

Howells Bakery J15

Rich Products I01

SFC WHOLESALE LTD Vehicle outside

FrozenBrothers -

Tango Ice Blast/Slush Puppy I03

Warburtons Ltd J16

Vicky Foods J14

Country Choice Foods H02

iSqueeze Ltd I04

Nisbets L19

Barista Bar J01

RATIONAL UK Ltd I07

Fresh Fill Ltd I06

McAllister Bakery Company Limited T/A The

Bread Guys Bakery J07

Simply Doughnuts Ltd J05

CONFECTIONERY

Anderson Veitch O06

Bazooka candy brands international M12

Bobby’s I09

BIP Candy and Toy N19

Crunchy Clouds M11

Dunhills Pontefract Plc (Haribo) O05

EuroFoodBrands N23

Ferrero UK M15

Golden Casket N18

Lindt & Sprungli UK Ltd O03

Mondelez International N21

Tilly Confectionery Ltd M14

Nestle Confectionery O04

Perfetti Van Melle (PVM UK)

N20

RA Trading Ltd (UK distributors for the NESTLE DAMAK brand) O07

Ritter Sport I11

Swizzels Matlow Ltd N22

Storck UK M16

Kervan Gida Uk Ltd M13

Hamilton Imports ltd T/A 3DTRADING I10

CRISPS & SNACKS

Kellanova A07

Kettle Foods Ltd B12

Olly’s B11

KP Snacks B10

Taylors snacks A05

PROPER Snacks A08

PepsiCo UK (Walkers) B01

Tayto Group Limited A06

Grupo Bimbo UK - Takis B13

SOFT DRINKS

A G Barr A01

Capri Sun B08

Carlsberg Britvic A03

Coca Cola Enterprises A04

Suntory B09

Red Bull Company Limited L01

Vimto Soft Drinks (Nichols PLC) A02

VITHIT B04

Nutrabolt UK Ltd - C4 Energy B07

Actiph Water B06

Get More Vits B02

Sneak Energy B05

Fever Tree B03

CHILLED

Alpro UK Ltd / Danone M01

Grahams Dairies Ltd O02

LSI Germany (Jack Links / Peperami) N05

UFIT N03

May & Raeburn Ltd/ Fordham M05

Lectalis UK & Ireland N06

Norseland Ltd N14

Pilgrims Europe N01

Tropicana Products Uk Ltd N02

Compleat Food Group N04

Strathmore Foods LTD

/ OTHER

INTRODUCING OUR SPONSORS…

Thank you to our Tradeshow and SPAR Scotland Awards Sponsors…

HEADLINE SPONSORS

RED BULL

Inspired by functional drinks from East Asia, Dietrich Mateschitz founded Red Bull in the mid-1980s. He developed not only a new product but also a unique marketing concept, launching Red Bull Energy Drink in Austria on 1 April 1987. A completely new product category was born – energy drinks.

Red Bull Energy Drink is appreciated worldwide by top athletes, students, and professionals in highly demanding roles, as well as during long drives. A cold can of Red Bull makes an excellent partner for busy, active lifestyles. Each can contains 80mg of caffeine per serving and 27g of sugars. It also includes taurine – an amino acid naturally occurring in the human body – and B-group vitamins B6, B12, Niacin (B3), and Pantothenic Acid (B5). Available in 4-packs, 12-packs, 24-packs, and Variety Packs. Red Bull Energy Drink comes in an aluminium can, one of the few food packages that can be almost completely recycled.

VAPE SUPPLIER (VSL)

Established in 2017, with over 40 years of combined management experience in the vape sector, Vape Supplier – better known as VSL – has rapidly grown to become the leading category partner for many of the UK’s wholesalers and retailers in the vaping and nicotine pouch space.

They specialise in optimising their customers’ ranges every quarter, using true data-led recommendations from their 30,000 distribution points across the UK. Alongside CJ Lang, key customers include Tesco, Morrisons, MFG, Booker, Dhamecha, Bestway, and 20,000 independent retailers.

Range, NPD, price, and speed of delivery are the most common reasons why customers

continue to shop with VSL. With over £250m in revenue and more than 300 employees, VSL is one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK.

Their mission is not only to supply topperforming products and display unitry, but also to equip customers with the latest insights, trends, and innovations in the ever-evolving vape industry – ensuring they consistently stay ahead of the curve.

CHILLOUT ZONE SPONSORS

WALKERS

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Every day, millions of people in the UK enjoy our snacks.

Our portfolio includes some of the nation’s best-loved snacks like Walkers, Doritos, Cheetos, and Quaker.

Doritos was awarded “Food Brand of the Year” at The Grocer Gold Awards 2025. This recognition followed our £290 million reformulation, making Doritos non-HFSS (High in Fat, Sugar, and Salt). Doritos has also announced a groundbreaking multiyear agreement that will see us become an Official Partner of the sport until 2030. In 2027, the Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be the first edition of the tournament to be held in South America.

PepsiCo is a global sponsor for the 2026 and 2027 World Cups and is also deeply involved with UEFA Women’s Football, extending our sponsorship through 2030.

Quaker Oats is now an official partner of Team GB, supporting British athletes on their journey to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

BARISTA BAR

Barista Bar, Scotland’s fastest-growing coffee-to-go brand, is now proudly available in over 140 SPAR Scotland stores – and expanding rapidly.

As Northern Ireland’s No.1 coffee-to-go offering and a leading brand across GB, Barista Bar brings premium quality coffee and modern convenience together in one sleek, self-serve experience.

Exclusively available through CJ Lang & Son Ltd. in Scotland, Barista Bar delivers a full coffee shop experience at the push of a button.

Our signature blend offers a rich, smooth taste that keeps customers coming back. With a broad menu of hot and iced drinks (in selected stores), there’s something for every taste and season.

Since switching from a leading competitor brand, stores have seen a +37.5% uplift in cup sales – clear evidence of Barista Bar’s strong consumer appeal and commercial impact.

Our popular loyalty programme drives repeat visits, while our purpose-built units integrate seamlessly into the SPAR store environment.

Backed by compelling results, standout branding, seasonal campaigns, and overwhelmingly positive retailer feedback, Barista Bar is quickly becoming a firm favourite among Scottish shoppers.

Get in touch today to discover how Barista Bar can drive footfall, margin, and customer loyalty in your store.

Let’s brew success together.

HOT FOOD ZONE SPONSORS

COUNTRY CHOICE

Country Choice is the UK’s leading supplier of in-store bakery and retail foodservice products.

In addition to a wide range of high-quality

frozen, chilled and ambient products, customers enjoy access to on-site training, equipment, and marketing support.

So if you’re a convenience store or forecourt needing advice on how to introduce a bakery or hot food-to-go, Country Choice can supply and support you with everything you need to make your business a success.

ROLLOVER

At Rollover, we love good food that’s hot to go. To us, it’s all about enjoying the moment, hands-on, all-in, and messy in a good way. Since making our first sausage in 1991, we’ve been bringing that joy to people across the country: from convenience stores to forecourts, stadiums to cinemas, and everywhere in between.

While Hotdogs are our claim to fame, we’ve expanded our range to include Burgers, Nuggets, and more, making Rollover the ultimate lunchtime pick-me-up for people on the go.

OUR PRODUCTS

Hotdogs: Original Hotdog, Chilli Cheese Hotdog, Veggie Hotdog, Halal Hotdog, Breakfast Sausage.

Burgers: Chicken Burger, Beef Burger, Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger, Sausage & Egg Breakfast Muffin.

Snacks: Chicken Nuggets, Jalapeño Cheese Poppers.

New Products: Boneless Chicken Wings, Chicken Tender Baguette, Bacon & Sausage Baguette, Bacon Cheeseburger, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Muffin

As well as an extensive product selection, we offer an unbeatable range of equipment to suit any occasion and all the brand support you’ll need to make your venture a success –all backed up by our award winning service.

SPAR SCOTLAND AWARDS SPONSORS

CCEP

CCEP is a global business with a local footprint. We are one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies, known for our brands like Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Monster.

Great brands. Great people. Great execution. Done sustainably. Our aim? To refresh our customers and consumers and make a difference. We’re in a privileged position to make iconic drinks that people love, while getting creative with new innovations, flavours and exciting new categories.

Our people are dedicated to delivering these drinks through world-class service to every single one of our customers.

At every step along the way, we’re working to reduce the environmental impact of our making, moving and packaging – and offering consumers more choice with less sugar.

Our portfolio is built on our core brands, but we’ve been expanding into new categories where we see growth opportunities, like coffee and alcohol ready to drink. We also like to keep things fresh and exciting, with flavour innovations like Fanta Halloween special editions, while offering low and zero sugar options so consumers have even more choice.

SAMWORTH BROTHERS – FOOD FOR NOW

At Food For Now, we’re redefining food-togo with fresh, delicious options from some of the UK’s best-loved brands – including Urban Eat, Leaf & Loaf, Cornwall Pasty Co., Real Wrap Co., and SPAR’s own-label range. As part of the Samworth Brothers family, we bring decades of chilled food expertise and innovative thinking to every fixture, every day.

We manufacture, market and distribute a complete range of food-to-go solutions across retail, offering everything from chilled sandwiches and snacks to hot grab-and-go options. With trusted third-party partnerships and a portfolio of high-performing brands,

we’re proud to be a one-stop solution for food-to-go.

Our service is simple, stress-free and riskfree:

Direct delivery to your store – fast and reliable

No risk on unsold stock – we’ll take it back and credit you

Hands-off order management – we keep your shelves stocked

Backed by a national 7-day delivery network and deep category insight, Food For Now ensures your customers always have access to fresh, high-quality food. Whether you’re a convenience retailer or a grab-and-go outlet, we’re your expert partner in food-to-go.

IMPERIAL BRANDS

Imperial Brands, headquartered in Bristol, UK, is a global consumer goods company and the world’s fourth-largest international tobacco firm by market share. Originally founded in 1901 as Imperial Tobacco Company to counter American competition, it rebranded to Imperial Brands in 2016 to reflect its evolving focus beyond traditional tobacco.

The company operates in over 120 countries, employing around 25,000 people and generating £30 billion in annual revenue. Its core tobacco portfolio includes brands like Regal, Richmond, Golden Virginia and Rizla – the world’s leading rolling paper.

Imperial Brands is also a major player in next-generation products (NGP), offering e-cigarettes (blu), heated tobacco (Pulze), and nicotine pouches (Zone, Skruf). Through its subsidiary Logista, it runs one of Europe’s largest logistics networks, distributing tobacco and non-tobacco products.

Committed to harm reduction, the company aligns its ESG strategy with commercial goals, focusing on sustainability and innovation. Listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 100 constituent, Imperial Brands emphasises a challenger mindset, leveraging its diverse portfolio and global reach to adapt to changing consumer

preferences and regulatory landscapes –while driving long-term shareholder value.

SPAR UK

SPAR is the leading convenience group in the UK, with around 2,300 SPAR and EUROSPAR stores and more than 40,000 colleagues. The group’s combined turnover in the UK exceeds £3.6 billion.

SPAR UK produces and develops the national own-label products, benchmarking each one to ensure the highest quality standards, great taste and encourage repeat purchase. Over 900 products – including multi award-winning lines – are curated to meet the needs of convenience shoppers.

HOVIS

At Hovis, we’ve been providing strength† to the nation since 1886. While many things have changed since then, our expertise and choice of carefully selected ingredients remain – baking the delicious taste of Hovis into every bite.

Hovis bread (which typically contains a minimum of 8.1g protein per 100g or 13% of the energy value of the bread) is a source of protein that contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass if eaten as part of a healthy lifestyle and balanced, varied diet.

AG BARR

Established over 140 years ago in Scotland and now operating across the UK and internationally, AG Barr have been creating and building great tasting brands that people love and our business has grown as a result. Employing 860 people across 9 UK locations, we are proud to be a responsible business that listens to our consumers, builds lasting customer relationships, takes care of our employees, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.

GRAHAM’S THE FAMILY DAIRY

Graham’s The Family Dairy produces an award-winning home-grown range of high-

quality food and drink. The family-run business was founded in 1939 by Robert Graham in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, where he reared 12 cows, milked them by hand, then made all deliveries by horse and cart.

Today Graham’s Family Dairy produces a diverse selection of award-winning dairy products including the Gold Top and Organic ranges of products, milk, cream, butter, spreadable butter, ice cream, cottage cheese, quark, yogurt, Kefir and protein-rich products. All products are made using the finest ingredients from 100 specially selected Scottish farms.

Graham’s The Family Dairy has grown through three generations and today 70% of households in Scotland and 30% of the UK’s households buy Graham’s The Family Dairy products, making Graham’s The Family Dairy Scotland’s No.1 dairy brand.

blu box kit

Imperial Brands

The blu box kit offers 1,000 puffs of flavour per prefilled, replaceable pod. The device includes Imperial’s third-generation mesh coil technology and features a 560mAh battery with USB-C port, a brushed metallic finish, visible liquid level detection and security lock. The kits (RSP £5.99) include a rechargeable vaping device and a pod in one of Strawberry Ice, Lemon Lime or Mint flavours.

Protein Milkshake Arla Foods

Each 200ml shake offers a thick and creamy texture and provides 20g protein, is lactose free, has no added sugar, is 182 calories or lower per cup, and is available in two flavours: Vanilla Fudge and Chocolate Brownie. Arla said this was the first protein shake to launch in a convenient cup and straw format, so that consumers simply had to extend the straw, insert and enjoy anytime, anywhere.

Hula Hoops Flavarings KP Snacks

Mondelez lifts shroud on Halloween range

Mondelez has launched its 2025 Halloween seasonal offering, with a line-up of chocolate and confectionery designed to help retailers make the most of the key trading period.

Cadbury Treatsize Sharing Selection was the top-selling SKU last Halloween and now Mondelez seeks to build on that momentum with new product inclusions. This year’s pack includes 12 treatsize units across Buttons, Crunchie, Twirl and Freddo.

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo & Friends sharing pack also returns, as well as the Cadbury Fudge treatsize pack.

Sour Patch Kids has launched a new treatsize sharing pack, featuring Watermelon and Strawberry flavours.

Signature Action 17-pack STG UK

The Maynards Bassetts brand has received a playful Halloween-themed makeover, with Wine Gums renamed Spooky Gums and Liquorice Allsorts becoming Black & White Liquorice Mix. Biscuit brand Oreo is also channelling its inner ghoul with the returning Oreo Spooky, which features Halloween-inspired cookie embossing and orangecoloured cream.

Nicole Partridge, Senior Brand Manager, Halloween at Mondelez International, said: “Our seasonal products offer something for every Halloween occasion – whether that’s handing out treatsize Cadbury Freddos to trick or treaters, hosting a party with Sour Patch Kids Strawberry & Watermelon or simply enjoying Oreo Spooky at home.”

Juice Burst Tropical Sour Purity Soft Drinks

Relaunched Hula Hoops Flavarings are available from Booker in Big ‘n’ Beefy and Spicy flavours in 90g £1.75 PMPs. Crispy, light and with a melt-in-the-mouth texture, Flavarings retain Hula Hoops’ familiar shape but with bolder flavours. The relaunch responds to what KP says is “increasing consumer appetite for snacks that deliver bigger, bolder and more tangy flavour experiences”.

The new format complements the existing two 10-packs, offering consumers the same menthol flavour that has been synonymous with the brand since its launch in 2020. With an RSP of £9.89, including a price-marked version, the new 17-pack is, in the words of STG, “the most competitively priced option in the market,” offering “an attractive margin for retailers”.

This new limited edition combines chocolate, fibre and the brand’s signature blend of five wholegrains. Available until December 2026, the new snack sees two crunchy belVita biscuits sandwiched together with a smooth, chocolate hazelnut filling. It comes in a 5 x 2 pack format (253g) with an RSP of £2.99.

Available now in a 100% recyclable 330ml bottle format, the NPD brings the on-trend sour flavour profile to the fruit juice category. The launch is backed by social media and out-ofhome activities.

Like all Juice Burst SKUs, Tropical Sour provides consumers with one of their five-a-day in every bottle, with no added sugar or artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.

belVita Duo Crunch Choco Hazelnut Mondelez

Monster Ultra Fantasy

Ruby Red CCEP GB

Vibrant pink in colour, Monster Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red boasts a grapefruit flavour that balances sweetness and tartness with a fresh citrus taste – alongside the usual Monster Energy blend. It is available in plain and price-marked single 500ml cans, and four-can multipacks. Retailers should visit My.CCEP.com to request supporting POS materials and download digital assets.

Walkers Sticky Teriyaki/ Walkers Masala Chicken PepsiCo

More than a year in development, the two new globally inspired and non-HFSS flavours come with Tikka Masala continuing to gain popularity and demand for Japanese flavours in the salty snacks segment rising by 60%. Both flavours come in 6-pack multipacks (RSP £2.15), 45g grab bags (RSP £1.10) and 70g price-marked packs (RSP £1.35).

Ufit Protein Cereal Range

Weetabix Food Company

The range is available now in Morrisons, with a wider rollout to follow. The line-up includes cereal hoops, granolas and porridge pots. All offer 15g of protein per serving and come in Chocolate, Toasted Oats with Honey, and Caramelised Biscuit flavours. Boxed cereals have a £3.99 RSP, and the porridge pots are priced at £1.50. Promotional prices start at £1.

Chupa Chups x StrangerThings

Perfetti Van Melle

Two themed packs mark the launch of the final season of Stranger Things. Each contains various mystery flavours inspired by the show. These are a 16-unit bag (five flavours, RSP £2, Sainsbury’s only) and a 10-unit bag (four flavours, RSP £1.50, Morrisons, Asda, Co-op, and cash & carry). A 50unit display of single lollipops is also available (RSP 25p per unit, cash & carry).

That’s better

Sensations Limited Editions

Barr Soft Drinks

Both Sour Sensation Apple & Cherry – a vibrant fruity fusion with a zesty sour kick – and Cool Sensation Blue Razz – fruity blue raspberry with a smooth, cooling finish – will be available for 12 weeks from this month. Both come in 500ml £1 price-marked packs and twolitre plain packs (RSP £1.99). A range of impactful, eyecatching PoS is available to create theatre and drive sales.

Soy & Ginger Sticky Rice

Chinese Special Fried Rice

Tilda

Cathedral City has launched ‘Makes It Better,’ a new £7m campaign to remind the nation of the cheese brand’s versatility and commitment to elevating everyday occasions. Airing now across TV, video on demand, out of home and social media, the campaign is expected to reach 97% of all adults aged 25-65 during its 21-week run.

Pickles with punch

Empire Bespoke Foods has unveiled a new advertising campaign for its Mrs Elswood gherkin brand that aims to grow the pickle category, especially among younger shoppers. The six-figure campaign runs across more than 330 outdoor sites across the UK and is expected to reach 15% of all adults and serve up 31 million opportunities to see.

First dates to blind tastes

First Dates star Fred Sirieix is fronting a new campaign for Boursin Plant-Based that challenges consumer preconceptions around dairy-free products. The PR-led campaign centres on blind taste tests, where participants sampled the plant-based cheese alternative without knowing it was non-dairy. The results showed that most couldn’t tell the difference.

Taste of summer

Pepsi Max has unveiled ‘Bring Out The Flavour,’ a new campaign fronted by social media creators Emma Johnson, Formz and Luke Vernon. Designed to boost awareness of the brand’s Cherry, Lime and Mango flavours, a 20-second advert is running across TV and digital platforms, supported by social content and out-of-home placements across the UK.

Available in 250g packs (RSP £1.25) and ready in two minutes, Tilda’s new ready-to-heat flavoured rice pouches landed in Sainsbury’s last month, with wider distribution to follow. Soy & Ginger Sticky Rice combines soft, sticky rice with soy sauce and ginger, while Chinese Special Fried Rice blends soy, Chinese spices and a vegetable medley.

Dornan dives in

Jamie Dornan has returned as the face of Diet Coke, diving into cold-water swimming in the brand’s latest ‘This Is My Taste’ campaign.

A new tongue-in-cheek advert sees the Irish actor sipping a Diet Coke before taking an icy dip and meeting a bird watcher, a radio-controlled boat, a brass band and a paddleboarder along the way.

FRESH TIME FOR A START?

It’s been a tumultuous year yet again so it makes sense to keep on top of your options as you focus on maximising sales and profits in your business – so could it be the right time for a fresh start with a new symbol partner that better meets your specific needs?

BY ANTONY BEGLEY

Let’s be perfectly honest: the last four or ve years have been pretty horrendous on lots of fronts. e bumper sales and pro ts of the otherwise horri c Covid years are a distant memory and all we’ve had since then is wave a er wave of pretty brutal challenges.

Aside from the fact that we’ve had to cope with fundamental shi s in the way consumers shop, we’ve also had a steady stream of business cost challenges to deal with. Take your pick: rocketing energy prices, minimum wage and National Insurance hikes, epidemic-level shopli ing, rampant in ation, a cost-of-living crisis, chronic recruitment and sta ng issues… the list goes on and on.

And that’s before the new and proposed legislative changes around issues like vaping, HFSS, DRS, business rates and more. It’s little

wonder the sector is in turmoil and, worst of all, there’s no sign of things getting better any time soon. So, just how exactly are you supposed to plan for a better future when you don’t know what’s happening next week, never mind next year?

FOCUS

e simple answer to this question is to focus on what you can control and keep an eye on the many things you can’t.

Most major symbol groups now o er a menu of tried and tested ‘modules’: a food-togo solution, a vaping solution, a beer cave and so on. All retailers then have to do is select the modules they feel are right for their store.

And yes, that leads to standardised store formats but there’s a reason for that – it works. Nobody criticises Tesco or Aldi for all their stores looking pretty much identical and carrying pretty much the same range.

Only by truly working hand-in-hand with your symbol group will you fully exploit the many opportunities that exist.

One factor more or less with in your control is investment. Yes, getting your hands on cash to invest can be challenging for many retailers but the reality is that today’s shoppers are so used to high retail standards that they’re less and less likely to accept untidy, messy shops. ey’ve gotten so used to clean, neat, orderly, precise retail that they expect the same standard – or similar – of their local convenience store.

Identikit stores may lose out on that quirkiness and uniqueness that characterises the local retailing channel, but they tend to gain sales and pro ts. Which would you rather have?

So it takes a clear eye and an honest view of your own business to decide whether the grass is indeed greener. Key here is rst identifying the areas of your own business that aren’t performing the way you want them to. Whether that’s margins, stock levels, sta ng, admin, pricing or something else. A new symbol group can’t x all of these problems for you on day one. ey can help on lots of fronts, but they can’t wipe the slate clean for you in an instant.

But it’s not all about investment. If you don’t have the cash to spend £150k on a full re t, there can still be major gains to be had from working with a symbol group, franchise partner or similar to take your store to the next level.

Once you’ve identi ed the weak areas, then it’s time to analyse the various options on the table, trying to establish which groups are most likely to be able to help you with the weaknesses you’ve already identi ed.

It doesn’t always necessarily mean investing huge sums, but it does mean keeping on top of how your store is presented and trying to see it through the eyes of your shoppers. at’s a message that’s clearly understood by many retailers already, as demonstrated on the shortlist for this year’s SLR Awards. We’ve had two or three years of really quite signi cant investment in stores, way beyond what we would see during our judging rounds in days gone by.

All symbol groups have access to a wealth of insight and experience that only comes with working with huge numbers of stores over many years. Tapping into that can only be a positive. And it’s not all about pricing and range. Sure, they’re vitally important but of most importance is one thing: the cash pro t your store delivers. And yes, it is cash that matters most. You can’t take percentages to the bank, as the old retail motto has it.

Comparing symbol groups is a complex task and some would say that there is no completely reliable way to analyse how good a symbol group is until you’ve signed on that dotted line and actually started trading.

Yes, we’re obviously seeing some of the best stores in our awards judging but the clear risk is being le behind. If you don’t invest, sales fall. So you don’t have the money to invest, so sales fall again. And the cycle repeats.

It doesn’t always necessarily mean investing see it through the eyes of your shoppers. at’s in stores, way beyond what we would see during and it’s easy to understand why. Working with

e key point here is that 95% of the major investment we saw during the months of judging was in stores that are part of symbol groups –and it’s easy to understand why. Working with a major partner that understands retail and has the experience of working with hundreds or even thousands of other stores to inform their vision clearly holds some attraction.

Your symbol group can help you learn from other stores in the group and make sure that your store is t for the modern consumer in every way. e one complaint I hear from awards judges on this front is that “all the stores are starting to look the same”. And yes, many symbol groups’ stores are starting to look more standardised, making use of a sort of modular approach to laying out a store.

It works pretty simply: your symbol group says, ‘Here’s a list of stu we know works in stores like yours,’ and it’s then up to you to use your knowledge of your store and your customer base to t as many items from that list into your space.

Joining another symbol group, however, is not a silver bullet that will x all of your problems in one fell swoop. It can be, but it’s certainly not a given. ere is a strong case to be made that one group may mesh with your own business model and vision better than another – but a lot of the success retailers enjoy as part of a symbol group is attributable to the way they approach the partnership. It takes two to tango.

Symbol groups are, in my experience, far more selective in choosing retail partners these days. ey want to work with retailers who will truly work in partnership and deliver bene t for both parties. ey also want retailers prepared to invest in their business.

A partnership, by de nition, involves both partners pulling their weight, working closely together and meeting the challenges and exploiting the opportunities together. At the end of the day, the groups rely entirely on partner stores as the public face of their business, so wanting to drive standards up is something that all parties should welcome.

So, the rst thing to ask yourself when looking at a new partner is a simple question: would my business be better, stronger and more pro table with a di erent symbol or franchise partner? And if so, why and how? And are you prepared to truly commit to the partnership?

Talking to other retailers is a great way to learn more about the nitty gritty of what lies under the bonnet of each of the major groups but, once again, tread carefully and don’t take everything you hear as indisputable fact. All you’re hearing is one person’s subjective view of what it’s like to work with this or that symbol group. If another retailer feels like they had a bad time with a particular group, that doesn’t mean you will too.

But, a er all that, if you are still keen to test the waters, we have produced a brief guide to some of the leading symbol groups in Scotland and across the UK. ere are some very clear di erences between the groups, but the key is not to judge a symbol group on just one or two factors like delivery charges, promotional pricing or claimed availability levels. Try to judge each group in the round and try to establish what each group could bring to your speci c store with your particular customer base.

OPTIONS GALORE

Recruitment activity is as aggressive as it’s ever been, and more and more groups are targeting Scotland. If you are looking to change group, you’ll have a long line of suitors at your door but be prepared for some tough conversations, even from groups desperate to grow in Scotland.

In return for the enormous support that symbol groups can o er local retailers, they will be looking for commitment and drive from their retail partners. ere are very few quick wins in this game and only by forging a strong, positive partnership with your symbol group can you maximise your returns over the longer term.

PREMIER IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN

Premier is Scotland’s largest symbol group – and for good reason. 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.

Premier is the UK’s largest symbol group with more than 4,900 stores across the UK, of which almost 600 stores are located in Scotland. 38 of these have been added in the rst half of 2025, making Premier the biggest symbol operator in Scotland and by some margin.

Backed by Booker, the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, Scottish Premier retailers bene t from delivery at cash and carry prices and the convenience to top up at any of our 23 branches in Scotland to maximise availability.

Premier retailers gain access to a fantastic promotional programme covering all categories which is backed by a comprehensive Every Day Low Pricing scheme. e programme drives footfall and increases cash pro t with our Mega Deals giving POR of over 15% and most of our core deals o ering at least 20% POR.

Our dedicated Scottish promotions each period also o er a real point of di erence 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 e cient LED lighting, Beer Caves, walk-in So Drinks area and refrigeration units.

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 great quality Tesco family Jack’s range and Euro Shopper brand. Both exclusive ranges come in PMPs and o er strong PORs.

Premier’s store development teams help design and implement our latest thinking in stores including So 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 e cient 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 400sq + can bene t from the Premier model.

•

•

Arun Ehamparam, Premier Talbot Stores, Bournemouth

LONDIS: FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Londis has had yet another fantastic year of recruitment with over 100 stores joining the Londis family. Londis now has over 2,400 members with most of these stores coming from other symbol brands. e unique strength of our o er was recognised recently at the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards where Londis was named Symbol/ Franchise Retailer of the Year 2025.

is is testament to our commitment to continually develop our own brand, o er 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 o er more than most of our competitors with exclusive new products and deals and our promotions remain some of the strongest in the sector.

is power allows us to deliver more group exclusives, rst to markets and exciting NPD

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.

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 bene ts 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 rst. Everything we do ultimately bene ts 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 cave and merchandising e ciencies throughout the store. ese 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 and fresh lines to drive sales.

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 o ering a zero commission model on home delivery sales of over £5,000 a week.

We are investing record amounts into technology to ensure that Londis remains easy to do business with and that we are t 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. ere’s never been a better time to join Londis.

“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

• 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

and

BESTWAY RETAIL – YOUR PERFECT PARTNER

At Bestway Retail, we do more than just supply products — we empower retailers to succeed. With a robust national delivery and collection network, multiple supply chains, and competitive rebate terms, we offer a simple operating model backed by a structured promotional program, helping our retailers stand out in a competitive market.

BY JAMIE DAVISON, RETAIL DIRECTOR AT BESTWAY WHOLESALE

OUR FASCIAS AND STORE FORMATS

Costcutter retailers bene t from access to 2,000+ Co-op own-brand products, a 14,000 SKU range, Direct to Store, and loyalty rewards on qualifying Bestway purchases. Support includes a Business Development Manager, Shopper First growth programme, and expert digital marketing guidance.

best-one o ers a simple trading model with dedicated BDM support, helping independent retailers grow pro ts. e My Rewards rebate scheme further rewards loyalty and performance.

Bargain Booze provides an award-winning alcohol range, national and local marketing support, a managed EPoS solution, and sevenday operational and HR support for franchisees.

Hybrid Stores combine multiple fascias and supply chains for a tailored solution, o ering specialised alcohol ranges, planogram and range support, plus market and digital insights to maximise pro tability.

Partnering with Bestway Retail means access to exible formats, strong supply chains, and tailored support to help your business thrive.

SUPPORT FOR OUR RETAILERS

At Bestway Retail, supporting our retailers is at the heart of everything we do.

We’ve built on the success of our Bestin range, now with over 300 SKUs o ering generous 30%+ margins, smaller case sizes, and strong value to consumers. Weekly and 24hour promotions, refreshed every 3–4 weeks, drive footfall and deliver market-leading value through both depot and delivered channels.

We o er a exible supply model with delivery or depot collection, helping retailers save time, reduce costs, and stay well-stocked 7 days a week. Our diverse product range supports all store formats with PMPs, impulse, alcohol, and early access to NPD, helping stores stay fresh and competitive.

Retailers bene t from a robust chilled and fresh o er, including long-life products like ready meals and pizzas, plus access to over 2,000 Co-op own-label lines through Costcutter. We also work with suppliers to o er equipment solutions that help reduce carbon footprints and energy costs.

Our category planners use insights to tailor

ranges and planograms by store size, optimising sales, margins, and footfall. We also o er Groupwide NPD launches, exclusive to Bestway fascias and wholesale, supporting innovation-led growth.

We’ve invested in Socio Local, a leading digital marketing platform, to support retailers in managing social media across multiple platforms with branded content and easy scheduling. IT investments include our CPoS EPoS system, self-checkout trials, age veri cation tech, and upgraded websites to improve functionality and access.

We also host Retailer Forums for networking, insight sharing, and feedback, plus our annual Retail Showcase – a face-to-face event featuring 100+ suppliers, tastings, live demos, and expert guidance to help retailers grow and connect.

Together, we are driving innovation, pro tability, and success.

EXTENSIVE PRODUCT RANGE

We o er a wide and diverse range of Impulse and Alcohol SKUs across all depots to support every store format. Our pack formats, including PMPs, are tailored to price-sensitive markets. We lead with exciting new product development (NPD), bringing innovations from top suppliers to retailers rst — keeping shelves fresh and shoppers engaged.

FRESH & CHILLED OFFER

We support chilled through central distribution and Direct to Store (DTS) suppliers with simple, central invoicing. With an expanded range of fresh and long-life products like pizzas and ready meals, we help retailers reduce waste and meet shopper demands. Our Costcutter stores bene t from access to 2,000+ Co-op own-label lines and a strong national brand presence.

PROMOTIONS THAT DELIVER

Our dynamic promotions refresh every

3–4 weeks (depending on fascia) and are benchmarked to stay competitive, driving footfall and pro t.

EXPERT MERCHANDISING & SUPPORT

Our category planners use insights to create store-speci c planograms and category guides, helping retailers maximise sales and stay ahead of trends. ese are readily available online. Whether launching a new store or growing an existing one, our Business Development Managers provide personalised, local support to help your business thrive.

FLEXIBLE SUPPLY MODEL

Retailers can choose between delivery and collection, ensuring exibility and reliable availability 7 days a week.

CRITERIA FOR BECOMING A MEMBER

Trading with Bestway has never been easier and we are o ering more exibility than ever before. With our multiple delivered supply chain options available via Bestway Retail, and our Cash & Carry network located throughout England, Scotland and Wales, (coupled with multiple brands and the propositions that underpin them), our priority is to work with retailers to help them grow their business.

COSTS OF BECOMING A MEMBER

Outside of the minimum weekly spend, there is no cost of becoming a member for best-one and Costcutter. e membership costs for Bargain Booze is £1,650 per year.

READY TO SIGN UP?

ere is a minimum spend commitment for retailers to join our symbol group, alongside the need to have a fascia, good store standards and the run the agreed promotions.

If you’re interested in signing-up, simply visit www.bestwaywholesale.co.uk to nd out more.

Anand Cheema - Costcutter Falkirk

Anand Cheema - Costcutter Falkirk

STAYING IN AND TRADING UP

Stock the right range of products and consumers can easily be persuaded to spend a little more on a Big Night In.

BY SARAH BRITTON

There is no doubt in Anila Ali’s mind about the potential for Big Night In within Scottish local retail.

“I think it’s totally a big opportunity for incremental sales,” says the owner of Ali’s Convenience Store in Muirpark, Midlothian. “Post Covid there are a lot more Big Night Ins. People would rather spend extra buying their snacks or drinks and staying at home because it’s still cheaper than going out.”

e store has a Big Night In xture with POS from Booker, which hosts an array of snacks and dips. Sharing snacks are a winner for Anila: “We do Jimmy’s American popcorn, which sells really well. Also Jimmy’s nachos, big bags of sweets, and sharing bags of crisps.”

Stuart Graham, Head of Convenience and Impulse, KP Snacks. At nearly twice the size of its nearest branded competitor, Butterkist enjoys a 33% market share [Nielsen IQ, Total Coverage, Total Popcorn Value, MAT 14.06.25].

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT

Big Night In is more than just a rolling sales opportunity, states Red Star Brands: “It gives retailers the chance to really capture customers’ imaginations and tap into the occasion (and beyond) through creative cross-merchandising of complementary products, special BNI deals and limitededition offerings to create a buzz and build shopper loyalty,” says Clark McIlroy, Managing Director, Red Star Brands. To help make the most of Big Night In sales, he advises:

Q Understand your customers’ needs – gain insight into their preferences and purchasing motivations. This will help you effectively cater to your target market. Keep the range refreshed and use EPoS and category data to ensure you’re supplying what’s in demand.

Q Friday nights and weekends are generally Big Night In occasions, although retailers should also keep an eye on upcoming key calendar dates, major sporting events or even the dates when new TV series are due to drop, so that they can strategically merchandise stocks to boost sales.

Q Make the most of supplier POS material to direct footfall to key displays and popular products. Keep your website updated to clearly communicate best sellers, NPD and promotions.

Q And finally, review your social media channels. Social media can be a powerful and real-time way to communicate NPD, offers and deals to your customers. segment in CSN and growing at important to have a range of types of sweets from hard to so to appeal to all shoppers.”

At £2bn, sharing is the largest segment in CSN and growing at +2.7% MAT [Nielsen IQ, Total Coverage, Total Sharing Value, MAT 14.06.25], states KP Snacks.

“Consumer demand for sharing products is on the up and snacks are a hugely important part of a memorable sharing occasion,” he adds. is aligns with Mondelez International’s thinking. “Shoppers like sharing moments, and the evening occasion is the key time of day for sharing with tablets and bags being the most convenient and popular format for the consumer,” says Trade Communications Manager Susan Nash. “At this time of day, consumers want to treat themselves and indulge. Shoppers want variety so it’s important to have a range of avours and in candy di erent types of sweets from hard to so to appeal to all shoppers.”

“ e importance of the popcorn category shouldn’t be underestimated within the sharing occasion,” says

One of the group’s latest new avour innovations is Cadbury Dairy Milk Bisco 350g block.

Cost of living pressures have also seen a move by consumers to ‘eat in’ more, again providing opportunities in convenience retailing for Meal For Tonight and Big Night In o ers as consumers see staying in with friends and family as a coste ective alternative to going out, states Nash.

“We also see a continued focus on value, with price-marked pack sales increasing in convenience at a total level [Lumina Intelligence April 2024].”

Product a ordability resonates with the majority of convenience shoppers, concurs Bobby’s. “ e snacking category is a great example of adapting to price constraints, with more grab-bag formats o ering fair portion sizes at sub-£1 price points,” says Marketing Manager Carmelina Mancini.

“Stocking up on price-marked packs is a great way to expand basket spend for shoppers on a budget. Displaying a clear statement of value for money, PMPs are essential for driving impulse sales and building trust through clear, visible pricing.”

Bobby’s supports retailers with a full PMP snacking range – from 65p impulse snack bags to £1.25 share-bag savoury snacks and bagged sweets.

GOLDEN WONDER-FUL NPD AND PACK MAKEOVER

Crisp brand Golden Wonder has welcomed two new flavours and a pack revamp.

Salt & Chilli Chicken is inspired by the Chinese takeaway favourite, which is particularly popular in Scotland, while Chip Shop Curry is returning after a hugely successful limited-edition run in 2022.

The refreshed range will be supported by a significant consumer marketing push in Scotland including radio, YouTube and social media advertising from August to November, reaching over 80% of Scottish adults, and product sampling at key events like The Edinburgh Fringe and Oasis at Murrayfield.

Packs have also been given a major update – the first in a decade – bringing a modern new look that perfectly reflects the brand’s bold personality.

The new design brings to life the brand’s ‘More Punch Per Crunch’ message, with eye-catching packs that shout flavour and crunch from the shelf.

The new packaging heroes a simplified Golden Wonder logo supported by bright, engaging colours and crisp photography.

The new look will roll out across impulse, multipacks and £1 PMP sharing formats, giving standout shelf presence across all channels.

TRADING UP

But PMPs aren’t the only way to please Big Night In shoppers. Lauren George, External Communications Manager at Mars Wrigley, explains that consumers still want to treat themselves. “While value remains important, don’t underestimate your customers’ desire for indulgence and emotional satisfaction during Big Night In occasions,” she says. “ ey’re not scaling back – they want to elevate these moments with bold avours, fun formats, and products that feel special.” e rm has recently relaunched White Maltesers a er a 10-year hiatus, available in single packs, treat bags and pouches.

St Pierre Groupe agrees that enabling the opportunity to trade up is central to making Big Night In a success. “Our attitudes to dining in have shi ed due to the cost-of-living crisis, with people using food and drink to make themselves feel good in the comfort of their own homes, reserving nights out for major celebrations. Hence, the Big Night In is a major opportunity for retailers,” says Rachel Wells, Commercial Director at St Pierre Groupe, commenting on behalf of the St Pierre brand.

“ e key occasions driving the Big Night In are spontaneous gatherings and intimate get togethers. Individual tastes vary widely, but almost everyone buys bakery, making it one of the most important Big Night In categories. Shoppers are increasingly looking for products that deliver simple indulgence, and retailers can easily cater for this by providing ranges that allow customers to ‘upgrade’ from traditional staples. Brioche is a key way to enable customers to do this, and St Pierre’s brioche range is an ideal base for elevating the ‘everyday’ and enhancing a host of popular at-home recipes.”

Hot dog rolls are big sellers for Big Nights In all year round, she notes, adding that bold avours and fusion bakery, such as St Pierre’s Spicy Chilli Brioche Bun, can also help to capture the imagination of the Big Night In customer.

Josh Corrigan, Customer Development Director, UK, at St Pierre Groupe, commenting on behalf of the Baker Street brand, adds that hot dogs’ popularity as a Big Night In meal is driven, in part, by the rise in ‘Americana-style’ dishes on menus across the UK, as well as the trend towards ‘fakeaway’ favourites.

“For maximum linked purchases with burger buns and hot dog rolls, it’s important to merchandise a tasty selection of sauces and relishes nearby, but you can go a stage further in promoting spur of the moment impulse purchases with imaginative food and drink pairings,” he says.

Kepak concurs that the popularity of fakeaway is boosting the Big Night In occasion, with 74% of consumers saying they are ‘convenient’ and 70% saying they are ‘good value’ [Savvy Shopper Panel Survey – 1006 grocery shoppers, June 2023].

“ is presents an opportunity for retailers to use Rustlers and other key Big Night In products such as alcoholic drinks, which 73% of consumers said they would expect to be included in a fakeaway, to enable consumers to recreate their favourite takeaway in the home,” says Ross Davison, Head of Convenience at Kepak (Foods Division), which owns Rustlers.

HARNESSING HOME DELIVERY

across the range unpricemarked so they’re maybe spending up to £8 or £10 a bottle.

“When they compare it to if they were actually going out for a night, they would end up spending a lot more, so they’re actually just treating themselves to a bit more expensive wine and you know, they don’t mind spending on treats because overall it costs less than if they were going out.”

And it’s not just wine where premium options can encourage trade up: “Premium lager remains one of the biggest opportunities of the Big Night In occasion for convenience store retailers,” says Robert Hobart, Marketing Director, Asahi UK. “In fact, premium lager is the only value segment of the beer market that is in growth, up by +3.7% year on year (YoY), as total lager continues to decline (-0.8%).

“ e economy segment is down by -6.6% [Nielsen GB | Tot Cov L52W | w/e 18.01.25].

Asahi UK is in a strong position with our highperforming portfolio of premium brands, which includes Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Asahi Super Dry, Meantime, Fuller’s London Pride and Cornish Orchards.”

BREAKING DOWN BIG NIGHT IN WITH BREWDOG

BrewDog has identified four key occasions which drive the Big Night In missions in-store for craft beer and premium lager, and help identify key products and ranges to include:

Q Night In (63%) – this might be alone or a meal as a couple, a chance to wind down and relax at the end of the day or spend quality time with someone, generally involving food. This is an opportunity to highlight 4-packs along with meal-for-tonight solutions.

role at the premium end of the lager category and are therefore a must-stock format for

Q Regular/everyday drink (34%) – as before, this could be relaxing at home alone or with a partner or spouse, but more habitual rather than a special event. This is a key occasion for alcohol-free, where shoppers are looking for a drink to unwind with nightly, but wanting to moderate mid-week.

to a single designated area. “We

Of course, linking alcohol and other Big Night In lines instore is trickier in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK as the display of alcohol is restricted to a single designated area. “We can’t bring the wine or beer into the snacks [display] … so we were discussing [at a recent event] whether you can bring the snacks beside the [beer] fridge,” says Anila.

“As we have a beer cave we’re not sure how well that would sit with customers because everything’s going to be too cold. We’ve got our Big Night In xture close to our beer cave and we’ve got our pizza deals highlighted in store with Big Night In stickers on the fridge doors.”

She thinks taking Big Night In online holds the key: “We do home delivery through the Snappy Shopper app. Creating a Big Night In category online would mean it’s so easy to bundle things rather than doing it in store.”

Another Big Night In opportunity Anila has latched on to is the chance to encourage consumers to trade up.

“We’ve seen a di erence in people picking up a more expensive bottle of wine now because they’re not having to pay pub prices or restaurant prices anymore,” she says.

“Normally, we used to sell a lot of pricemarked £5.99 wines. We now sell everything

Cans are playing an increasingly important role at the premium end of the lager category and are therefore a must-stock format for Big Night In shoppers, says Hobart: “ e format has been growing its share of lager in recent years, reaching a value share of almost 64% in the latest year, up from 59.5% in 2022 [NIQ Scantrack | Total Coverage | Lager | 52 w/e 28/12/24].”

growing its share of lager in recent years, reaching a value

latest year, up from 59.5% in typically sees consumers

Q Planned social occasion or BBQ (39%) – relates to a bigger gathering at someone’s home, a more upbeat get-together with friends on a weekend. To cater for a bigger group with different tastes, larger multipack formats and BrewDog’s mixed pack are ideal for this occasion, maybe linked to sharing-style snacks.

friends

e Big Night In occasion typically sees consumers gravitate towards larger packs of beer and cider than they would normally purchase, in preparation for hosting friends and family at home, or to treat themselves to something extra special, states Heineken UK.

packs of beer and cider than they would

Q Party Mood (36%) – this can simply be drinks before going out or a party at home with friends and family – the emphasis here is on fun. Where a 4-pack is the perfect accompaniment to pre-drinks, larger multipack formats and BrewDog’s mixed pack are best in

placed for larger parties.

“Especially during a time as much disposable income to spend on trips to the pub – so having an exciting beer and cider range in than ever,” comments

“Especially during a time where people may not have as much disposable income to spend on trips to the pub or bar, a Big Night In will appear even more appealing as they try and bring some of that excitement indoors – so having an exciting beer and cider range in store is more important than ever,” comments Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director at Heineken UK.

PACK A PUNCH

In the channel, small packs of beer and cider are worth £862m, mid-sized packs worth nearly £375m, and large-sized packs worth nearly £43m [Nielsen IQ – Full Year 2024 – Impulse Channel].

such as Cruzcampo, Birra

“As such, retailers can capitalise by stocking small- and mid-sized packs of more recent beer and cider launches, such as Cruzcampo, Birra Moretti Sale di Mare and Strongbow Strawberry, to drive interest to the xture when customers are hosting, where bigger multipacks might be warranted, and people are more likely to buy something new to impress guests,” says Wilson. “Stocking new lines like this also suggests to consumers that a store is up to date with trends, and they can rely on them to o er the latest innovation in the beer and cider category – perfect for when hosting people at home.”

drinking occasions and the Big Night In.”

EASTERN PROMISE

without the added expense of going out, we’re seeing Four Loko’s core target

In 2024, 76% of alcohol sales in the UK were in o -trade settings including supermarkets and o -licences [Alcohol Consumption and Harms Dashboard], re ecting the preference for take-home purchases, cites Aston Manor Cider.

“In Scotland, consumers are looking for a ordable ways to treat themselves –and the Big Night In provides a perfect opportunity for indulgence without the high price tag,” says Natalie Marshall, Trade Marketing Manager at Aston Manor Cider. “Cider is a popular choice among consumers looking for an a ordable, great-tasting drink to enjoy at home and Scotland is currently the only region in the UK which is seeing growth in the cider category [TWC, Region performance, Value last 13wks to 26.01.2025].

e rm’s Knights Cider is the second-biggest cider brand in the UK convenience channel [TWC, Cider, Brand Volume, Last 13 Wks to 15.06.2025].

Big Night In consumers are being inspired by the on-trade trend for cocktail shots and miniature drinks, according to Paragon Brands. “Known as ‘Baby drinks’, they combine multiple spirits in one shot-sized drink,” says Managing Director Chris Jones. He explains that they are on the rise, with 49% of Brits now preferring cocktail shooter shots to traditional shots.

Licor 43 has been at the forefront of this revolution with one of the UK’s hottest shot trends, he claims: “Christened the ‘Baby Beer’, the fun serve is a combination of Licor 43 topped with cream liqueur, perfectly resembling a miniature pint of beer. We know the drink is part of a real-life high-tempo drinking moment that is a lively talking point during at-home

Another on-trade trend re ected in the o -trade is the demand for bar-strength drinks: “With many consumers recognising that the Big Night In provides an opportunity to socialise without the added expense of going out, we’re seeing Four Loko’s core target audience trading up for bar-strength RTDs that replicate cocktail experiences while maintaining convenience,” says Clark McIlroy, Managing Director, Red Star

Kingsland Drinks claims Big Night In wine consumers can be adventurous in their tastes.

McIlroy, Managing Director, Red Star

“Flavour variety and bold branding are key drivers, with shoppers looking for convenient, exciting, shareable, and social-friendly drinks.”

Four Loko is performing strongly in the RTD category, driven by top-selling avours like Four Loko White, Pink Melon, Dark Berry Burst and our latest addition to the range, Hawaii.

AG Barr is also getting creative on the avour front by expanding its KA brand into RTDs. e four-strong KA Remix range o ers Black Grape, Fruit Punch, Pineapple and Karnival Twist variants, all mixed with Caribbean white rum.

Lucy Henderson, Marketing Director of AG Barr, says: “Long drinks are a booming part of the RTD category and we know mixing an iconic so drink will help deliver pro ts for retailers – bringing new shoppers into the category, as well as delivering a hit of nostalgia for existing RTD drinkers.”

e 300ml drinks have an ABV of 6% and an RSP of £2.79.

PREMIUM RTDS

Premium priced RTDs have grown faster than any other segment in the last two years with an increase in spirit-based offerings and higher ABV product launches. This offers retailers some great opportunities to maximise their RTD offering in line with current consumer demand, especially for occasion-led sales such as the Big Night In.

“Not wanting to miss out on experiences and trends dominating the on-trade, consumers are still exploring different categories and recreating those experiences in the home,” says Jo Taylorson, Head of Marketing and Product Management.

One area she believes they are keen to explore is Eastern European wines. “This year we expect Eastern European wines to become much more prevalent in the UK as consumer interest in under-discovered varietals and wines from emerging regions grows. Guests want to turn up to dinner parties offering a bottle with a story and point of difference, and this region brings just that.”

Four Loko is performing strongly in the RTD category, driven by top-selling flavours like Four Loko White, Pink Melon, Dark Berry Burst and the latest addition to the range, Hawaii. “We’re seeing steady market share growth, strong consumer appeal, and high retail sell-through rates, supported by innovative launches and effective marketing strategies that keep us ahead in the category,” says Clark McIlroy, Managing Director, Red Star Brands.”With its unique and innovative flavour combinations, unmissable packaging and a well-earned reputation for really delivering on taste, Four Loko rapidly becoming the ‘go to’ choice of RTDs for the Big Night In.”

Four Loko has seen double-digit sales growth in the last 12 months across the independent channel and is now one of the fastest growing RTD brands in the UK, delivering +28.1% growth in the last 52wks, with 760 cans sold every hour (IRI FAB Total Market, 18.05.25).

GOING SOFT

Soft drinks are becoming a credible alternative to alcohol during Big Night In occasions, claims Red Star Brands. “We’re seeing growing numbers of consumers turning away from traditional Big Night In beer and cider SKUs, instead choosing innovative zero-alcohol options such as Sparkling Ice flavoured sparkling water, or lowcalorie drinks, over ‘full fat’ carbonated soft drinks – still seeking out enjoyment but remaining on trend with a strong nod to overall health considerations,” states Managing Director Clark McIlroy.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Senior External Communications Manager Kate Abbotson says: “As consumer habits evolve, the Big Night In has cemented itself as a key occasion in the weekly routine for many UK households, offering a unique opportunity for retailers to cater to demand for indulgent yet convenient drinks that enhance the at-home experience.”

The recent launch of Fanta Zero Apple, Fanta Zero Raspberry and Fanta Tutti Frutti Zero Sugar gives consumers even more choice in the zero-sugar segment.

ALCOHOL-FREE GROWTH

At the other end of the spectrum, low- and noalcohol drinks continue to gather pace. IWSR expects considerable growth over the next few years, particularly driven by low-alcohol beer but across the category, claims Kingsland Drinks. “Lower and no ABV wines and spirits are earning their place on xtures and consumers are responding by integrating them into their shop,” says Taylorson. “ ey’re becoming a must-have item to have stocked at home and ready to go for those evenings in where consumers want to ‘unwind’ with a drink that o ers complexity, but don’t necessarily want to consume alcohol or for consumers who are following the ‘zebra striping’ trend, alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to avoid overindulging and to moderate their consumption of alcohol.”

Ali’s Convenience Store has a dedicated low and no section in store but “it’s not something we get a lot of support on,” says Anila. She recently attended a Heineken event, which addressed Big Night In opportunities. “We talked about top [no and low] lines, which I didn’t even know existed, so I went to Booker and bought those. We talked about how they can play a part in Big Night In because drinking has changed, especially for the youth; they’re more health conscious, some choose not to drink, but they still want to be included.”

e KAM No and Low Conference in June 2025 revealed that 70% of adults say health

is the main reason they are reducing alcohol consumption, followed by tness goals, saving money and avoiding the negative a er-e ects of alcohol, notes Paragon Brands’ Jones.

“Moderation is now a part of the everyday drinking culture,” he says. e rm’s Caleño range of tropical non-alcoholic spirits aims to be the leading non-alcoholic rum brand.

With more consumers focusing on moderation or even abstention, particularly mid-week, 43% are reducing the alcohol content of the drinks they consume, and this does not show signs of slowing [Vypr Consumer Research – July 2024], observes BrewDog.

“ is has led to a generational shi , with almost 40% of 18-25s not drinking alcohol at all vs 22% in 2019 [Bespoke Consumer Research – August 2024],” says Customer Marketing Manager Georgia Ladbrook.

“Moderation is now mainstream with three in four of us moderating our alcohol intake to some degree and the number of people looking to moderate alcohol consumption is similar in size to the number who consume alcohol once a week (77%) [Vypr Consumer insights, KAM research 2024].

“As a result, while beer sales are in slight decline, alcohol-free sales are up +18% value YoY [Circana Total Impulse MAT w/e 25.05.25].

“Ensuring you have a quality range of low & no products to meet the Big Night In occasion, alongside alcoholic options, is vital.”

MAKE THEIR MORNING

BIG BREAKFAST BONANZA

Imran set himself a challenge of hosting six Big Breakfasts for local schools. “My target for the end of the year was to have hosted breakfast at every primary school in Irvine,” he explains. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the Healthy Living Programme. It was great to engage with the kids and then in return, the kids engage with the parents as well. So when we went down, we’re talking about different breakfast options, and we let kids try different breakfast options that we’ve not tried before. A lot of kids tried honey, banana and wholemeal bread and then days later in the shop, parents came up to me and said that their kids were asking for it at home.”

Children are also offered free fruit, so they can grab a banana on the way to school if they’re hungry. “I’ve changed my chillers in store now too, so fresh products are the first thing you walk in to, and we have a kids’ stand with free fruit at the front as well,” he says.

From healthy to hearty, by catering for a range of needs, retailers can offer a breakfast to suit every customer and keep them coming back for more.

BY SARAH BRITTON

Nothing sets you up for the day like a decent breakfast. is is true for both consumers and convenience stores.

“Breakfast is important because it’s a big part of what convenience stores do, providing the rst meal of the day,” says Imran Ali, who owns Bourtreehill Supermarket in Irvine.

When asked if they could change their breakfast routine, what they would do di erently, 21% of respondents said they’d try di erent breakfasts instead of eating the same thing every day, according to a recent Weetabix poll of more than 2,000 people aged 16+.

e good news is that convenience retailers can do just that with an array of di erent products to suit every taste. “One of our top selling products in the morning are fresh morning rolls with Lorne sausage and potato scones sourced from local suppliers,” says Imran.

e store has cultivated a partnership with the local butcher, so all the sliced meat comes from there.

“We’ve also got our Quinn’s Kitchen food to go o er, so obviously breakfast to go is a big deal for people that are on the move,” says Imran.

e local baker, Kilmarnock-based Brownings e Bakers, also supplies products for the shop’s breakfast o er. “My bakery stu comes from Brownings,” says Imran, explaining that customers appreciate quality breakfast ingredients. “We never use frozen burgers or frozen slices. Even for the little things like ketchup and sauce, we use Heinz and HP. People know the di erence between branded and cheap sauce.

“We get daily orders from the butcher arriving every morning, and that’s just enough to last the day, so we don’t get much wastage, and we keep it as fresh as possible for the customer.”

Being able to tailor breakfast products to consumers’ preferences is what makes Imran’s breakfast-to-go o er irresistible. “ ere’s a whole range for customers to choose from, from breakfast rolls to full breakfasts, and they can have it the way they want it,” he says. “ at’s a point of di erence that

When generous Imran had boxes of Weetabix left over from one of his Big Breakfast events, he gave them away for free in store, encouraging customers to take the opportunity to try something new. He believes that allowing kids (and adults) to sample new breakfast products can help them to adopt healthier habits and encourage loyalty. “Hopefully they’ll shop local, and it does lead to less anti-social behaviour.”

He ensures that breakfast items are good value for money. “We’ve brought in own-brand wholemeal bread so it’s a cheaper alternative to the branded ones,” he says. “We do a milk deal now as well – two for £3. I’m trying to make sure at least the essential items are affordable so they can mix and match between bread, milk and eggs.”

NESTLÉ CEREALS REVEALS SUPERMAN TIE-UP

To celebrate the new Superman movie, Nestlé Cereals is running an on-pack promotion in partnership with DC Studios and Warner Bros where consumers can win a family trip to the Six Flags Over Texas theme park.

Participating brands include Shreddies, Cheerios, and Nesquik.

Shoppers can enter by scanning a QR code on promotional packs, entering a unique product code, and uploading their receipt. The main prize includes a five night stay in Texas, return flights, two day park admission, and £500 cash, while a further 1,000 cash prizes are also available.

The promotion is supported by branded bays, digital till screens, pallet shippers, and aisle-end displays.

PROTEIN BRAND UFIT ENTERS CEREAL CATEGORY

Featuring cereal hoops, granolas and porridge pots, Ufit’s new cereal range is due to roll out across convenience stores.

The range offers 15g of protein per serving and comes in Chocolate, Toasted Oats with Honey, and Caramelised Biscuit flavours.

Boxed cereals have an RSP of £3.99, while the porridge pots are priced at £1.50. Promotional prices start at £1.

we can o er, that customers can choose what they want, and we’ll make it the way they want it as well. Whether they want a so egg, hard egg, crispy bacon – basically we can cater towards everyone’s individual needs.”

e shop’s choice of co ee to go has also been carefully considered to get people’s day o to the right start. “We use a Scottish company called Co ee for Life,” says Imran. “I’ve had a few people tell me that my co ee is the only one they would touch bar Costa, so that gave me con dence in providing a higher-quality product. at way people are happy to pay for it and support you.”

Breakfast bars are another big seller for Imran. “I’ve got a dedicated Kellogg’s stand at the counter for breakfast cereal bars. A lot of people are on the go, so having a stand at the counter really upsells the bars because people maybe skipped breakfast, and they’re on the road or on the way to work or on the way to school, so it’s easy to grab it.”

Imran has also witnessed demand for healthier breakfasts. is correlates with Weetabix’s ndings, which revealed that if

they were to change their breakfast routine, 21% of respondents would like to prepare a more nutritious breakfast. is gure increases considerably with young people with 28% of Gen Z (16–24-year-olds) and 31% of young millennials (25–34-year-olds) seeking to prepare a more nutritious breakfast. In fact, Scotland was the most likely region (27%) to embrace healthy breakfast trends as a change of routine.

“I’ve noticed in the last year or two that my sales of smaller fruit-to-go pots have increased quite a bit,” says Imran. “People do look for healthier options. I sell watermelon and melon pots and packs of grapes. Watermelon is one of my top-selling small pots now and maybe going back ve years, no one would have touched that.”

He adds: “I still make a good margin on healthier lines, I make 28% to 35% on the fruit pots, so that’s well above the average for a c-store.”

So there you have it, providing a variety of lines that incorporate key trends, such as traditional and healthier options, will give your customers plenty of reasons to shop local for breakfast.

ACID GROUSE

Under The Counter’s arthritic fingers were failing to get the lid off a jam jar when Mrs UTC alerted him to TikTok’s latest viral health hack: curing heartburn with Love Hearts rather than Rennies.

Despite thinking he’d be better watching shortform content of breathless millennials sharing their jar-opening genius, the Auld Boy was nevertheless intrigued. Unsurprisingly, given his diet of fry ups, lager, dodgy kebabs, more lager, and all manner of gut-churning scran that would have an urban seagull reaching for the Gaviscon, it’s fair to say that UTC suffers from the occasional bout of acid reflux.

Even more unsurprisingly, SLR’s stingiest of seniors hates forking out a fiver for a packet of edible chalk, so he leapt (not literally) at the chance to save

EAU NO

some coppers while also having a plausible science-based reason for stuffing swedgers into his gub.

And what, precisely, is the science? According to Mark McShane, who’s something to do with food safety, Love Hearts are made from sodium bicarbonate, which, when combined with the sugar and citric acid also found in the Swizzels stalwart, creates a fizzy reaction in the mouth that some users say settles the stomach.

So, purely in the interests of investigative journalism – and most certainly not because he had recently consumed a dodgy kebab “confiscated” from an urban seagull – UTC popped an entire roll of Love Hearts.

The result? Washing them down with a can of full-fat Irn Bru certainly precipitated a fizzy reaction, but the Auld Boy’s heartburn blazed unabated.

SLR’s legal counsel advised us to say that no part of this article constitutes medical advice; we only recount it in the hope that retailers might rack up some incremental confectionery sales. If you do have heartburn, take a proper tablet. It’s not hard, unlike trying to open a jam jar.

Under The Counter’s never been one for bottled water, reckoning that paying for something that falls from the sky is pure madness.

So when news broke that Perrier might not be as pure as it claims, UTC was halfway through a can of Irn-Bru. Turns out the French have been quietly filtering their mineral water with UV lights, carbon filters and micro-

THE FORCE IS WEAK IN THIS ONE

Under The Counter’s hearing isn’t what it used to be, although for some reason the Auld Boy can still hear a 50p piece hitting the pavement from 50 paces.

Star

So, when Mrs UTC paused his Betamax video player right at the dramatic conclusion of sci-fi flick Wars to say that jerkins were about to get a whole lot easier to open, the curmudgeon-in-chief assumed that zip technology had taken a great leap forward.

It turns out that the cloth-eared clown had misheard, and his good lady was actually blethering on about gherkins. For, as revealed in Product News (see page 25), Empire Bespoke Foods is trialling new easy-open lids on jars of its Mrs Elswood pickle brand.

It’s making this bold move in the wake of research which found that 90% of consumers are clamouring for lids that don’t require the grip strength of a Silverback gorilla to twist off. Which makes you wonder just how much that remaining tenth of the population must really hate gherkins.

Anyway, the trial is great news for UTC. As readers of this page will be aware, unless they’ve yet to peruse the story on the left, the Auld Boy struggles to open jars almost as much as he struggles to walk past a betting shop without going in.

Apparently, the new lids only require 50% of the force to open them, compared to more traditional jars.

Switching Star Wars back on, the Auld Boy got to thinking that Luke Skywalker’s job would have been a whole lot easier if Empire Bespoke foods, rather than The Galactic Empire, had designed the Death Star, or Death Jar, as it would probably have ended up getting called. Consequently, he would only have needed to use half as much of The Force to blow its lid off, compared to more traditional planetdestroying superweapons.

meshes – all the while charging a premium for something that’s legally meant to be unaltered from source to bottle.

“This really is our Water-gate,” said one French journalist, who’d probably been saving that line longer than UTC’s been waiting for Hamilton Accies to win the Scottish Cup. Suffice to say, the Auld Boy won’t be drinking Perrier any time soon. Not when his arthritic fingers can still turn a tap.