The Week in Retail 118

RETAIL THE WEEK IN

DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

ONE YEAR TO GO

COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO SCOTLAND’S DRS

CHARITY

SUDDEN IMPACT

SURGE IN DEMAND FOR GROCERYAID SERVICES

ACCESS TO CASH

NORTH-SOUTH SPLIT

‘NOTICEABLE’ DIVIDE IN CASH USE

+

● Baskets bursting in Bedminster ● Inflation changing shopping habits ● Hitler wine sparks outrage

O O D W A S T E? F T H IG F P L E EH -PACKING FRIDG M U U C A V A CAN

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Issue 118 Wednesday 17th August 2022

T H E W E E K I N R E TA I L

EDITOR’S COMMENT

The DRS clock is ticking...

Scotland has a long and often unenviable history of being the guinea pigs when it comes to new legislation. Anyone old enough to remember the infamous Poll Tax in 1989? Since then, Scotland has led the way (usually unwillingly) on everything from the tobacco display ban to Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP). The latest bit of legislation set to land north of border before it hits England is the new-fangled and much misunderstood Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

Yesterday was an important day on that front as it marked the start the of the ‘year to go’ countdown for DRS in Scotland with the new scheme set to go live on 16 August 2023. As most retailers will be aware, it hasn’t been an easy journey. The introduction date has been subject to lengthy delays and, to be honest, the initial interest in DRS among retailers has long since waned in Scotland. But with a year to go, it’s time to start firing up some enthusiasm and start viewing DRS as a real opportunity for independent retailers, rather than viewing it as just another bit of costly, irritating legislation that won’t achieve what it was created to bring about.

It’s fairly clear – unlike the tobacco display ban or even MUP – that DRS will have an instant and

a long-term significant, positive effect. The same cannot be said of the tobacco display ban or of MUP. Broadly speaking, DRS is likely to rapidly double the current rate of recycling which is currently achieved largely through kerbside systems.

Every country around the globe with a DRS has seen an instant and huge effect. Scotland will be no different.

The benefits of the system are obvious, but some benefits are less obvious. As producers scrabble to make all of their drinks containers recyclable and, increasingly, recycled, the major problem is a dearth of materials. There’s not enough recyclable plastic around to meet the demand from producers keen to move to rPet containers. DRS will go a long way to sorting that in very short order.

Yes, it’s more hassle for retailers but surely as a sector we should be embracing something with such obvious and clear benefit not only to our own communities but to the entire planet? Sustainability is a massive issue, particularly among younger shoppers, and it isn’t going away. Neither is DRS. So it’s time to grasp that thistle and make DRS a huge success that delivers community, sustainability and commercial benefits for local retailers.

ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY ANTONYBEGLEY

ANTONY BEGLEY, EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 3

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CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118

6

9

10

20

THIS WEEK’S NEWS

COVER STORY

FOOD-TO-GO

Scotland is leading the UK’s high street spending recovery and new research reveals that 16% of Brits don’t bother to recycle.

With one year to go until the country’s deposit return scheme goes live, Scotland’s retailers are urged to begin preparing now.

Northern England Spar wholesaler James Hall & Co updates its food-to-go range just as its sandwich sales raise £250,000 for Marie Curie.

17 Shop prices

21 Picks of the week

Covid-19 update The latest coronavirus-related news.

13 Store refits

Grocery price inflation jumps to 11.6% over

A look at the latest new products and

the past four weeks, its highest level since

marketing campaigns, including a sleigh-ful

A refurbished Nisa Local store in

Kantar first started tracking the data this

Bedminster sees sales double since

way in 2008.

relaunching in March this year.

14 Support

18 Cost of living Consumers are changing their shopping

GroceryAid’s latest Impact Report reveals

behaviour as inflation starts to bite,

a surge in demand for the industry charity’s

Barclaycard data has revealed.

services over the past year.

15 Access to cash

19 Off-trade

of Christmas confectionery from Cadbury.

26 Out the box: food waste Vacuum packing food in a fridge is touted as a fresh hope in the fight against food waste.

29 Before you go...

Our latest Retail Randoms see a Hitler-

At-home consumption of alcohol has

themed wine range roundly condemned

A north-south divide is ‘noticeable’ in cash

increased, despite the end of lockdowns,

and a dream job opportunity for someone

use, new Co-op research finds.

according to new IRI research.

with a very sweet tooth.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 5

E ar xhi SO ea bit LD is noion O w

UT !

NEWS DIGEST

THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

Aviemore ‘22

! k c a B e We’r

Tradeshow

CONSUMER SPENDING

Scotland leads the way in high street spending

The UK’s smaller towns are outpacing city centres in terms of growth.

Thursday 22nd September 2022 Thank you to our key sponsors!

Scotland leads the way in high street spending recovery, according to new data from Takepayments.

The card payment provider’s research into high street spending finds that Kirkwall (22%), Inverness (10%), and Paisley (7%) have the strongest year-on-year growth.

Across the board, it is the smaller towns and cities that are outpacing the rest of the UK in terms of growth in high street spending.

Sandra Rowley, head of marketing for Takepayments, said: “Consumer spending is firmly in the spotlight at the moment amid the current costof-living crisis. Naturally, spending is down year-on-year as millions are cutting back to save money where they can. It comes as no surprise in that case that our report found overall spending is down 1% year-on-year and 3% over the past six months.

“The after-effects of lockdowns and restrictions are likely to be felt for a long time to come. Workers continue to reduce the amount of time spent in offices, for example, which means less footfall through busy city centres. This goes some way towards explaining why smaller towns and cities are outpacing the giants when it comes to spending power.”

Snappy Shopper joins forces with Gander

To find out more contact the SPAR Scotland Tradeshow Team on 01382 512000 6 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 1XX / WEDNESDAY XX XX 202X

Dundee-based home delivery platform Snappy Shopper has teamed up with Gander, an app that provides real-time information on reduced item goods, to enable independent retailers to decrease waste, increase revenue, and support their local communities.

Gander will integrate into product menus on the Snappy Shopper app,

highlighting reduced products that would otherwise go to waste, increasing impulse purchases, and boosting overall basket spend.

The feature aims to improve bottom lines, with an average 90% of reduced items sold instead of becoming surplus and 77% of shoppers buying a full-price item as well as reduced stock.

NEWS DIGEST

THIS WEEK’S NEWS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS, HEAD TO WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK/CATEGORY/NEWS/

GROW YOUR BUSINESS with

SUSTAINABILITY

16% of Brits unaware of plans to transform recycling system

Simplicity has been cited as the most important aspect of recycling if it was to be redesigned.

New research has revealed that 16% of Brits don’t bother to recycle, with a lack of knowledge about what can and can’t be recycled cited as the most common reason.

A new poll of 2,000 adults found that a third (34%) believe recycling is unnecessarily complicated, whilst 45% think that simplicity would be the most important aspect of the recycling system were it to be redesigned.

In fact, recent figures from DEFRA show that the amount of household waste recycled in England fell by 1.5% in 2020 to 44%, 6% below the EU minimum target of 50%.

GS1 UK commissioned the research to gauge consumer awareness and attitudes ahead of the implementation of deposit return schemes across the UK.

• Up to 6% rebate • Delivery to your store – anywhere in Scotland • A smooth onboarding process including market leading aftercare support • Dedicated Business Development Manager contact to support your ongoing business needs

Deposit return schemes encourage recycling by charging a deposit on drinks containers which is refunded when items are returned to a collection point. Only 42% of consumers have heard of the schemes and understand how they worked, according to GS1 UK. Its research also found 26% of respondents had no idea what deposit return schemes are at all.

S y m b ol G r o up o f t h e Yea r

W I N N ER

JW Filshill acquires local competitor Iain Hill Paisley-based food and drink wholesaler JW Filshill has taken over Iain Hill Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Linwood-based Iain Hill is a delivered wholesaler that specialises in soft drinks, confectionery, snacks and other impulse products.

The acquisition comes as Filshill plans to move to a new 123,034sq ft distribution centre near Glasgow Airport.

It also means that Filshill is looking to recruit locally for additional drivers and warehouse operatives.

“Iain Hill Ltd is a perfect fit for Filshill given the many synergies between the two businesses – both independent family-owned companies with the same values and people-focused culture,” said Filshill chief executive Simon Hannah.

To find out more and join our award winning team email Recruitment Manager, Craig Lynn: craig.lynn@cjlang.co.uk SparScotlandOfficial @SparScotland

www.cjlang.co.uk

@SparScotland CJ Lang & Son Limited

www.sparscotland.co.uk

CJ Lang & Son Ltd, Longtown Distribution Centre, 78 Longtown Road, Dundee, DD4 8JU

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NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

First vaccine booster to target two variants approved

TESCO ELECTRIFIES CITY CENTRE DELIVERIES In what it’s claiming as an industry first, Tesco

The UK has become the first country to greenlight a bivalent vaccine.

has become the first retailer to launch a zeroemission electric lorry to make deliveries from its distribution centres to stores in city centres.

The first electrically powered lorry of its kind, made by Renault, is now delivering to more than 400 stores in Greater London, with further electric lorries entering service in the coming months.

In an exploratory analysis the bivalent vaccine was also found to generate a good immune response against the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5.

“The first generation of Covid-19 vaccines being used in the UK continue to provide important protection against the disease and save lives,” Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive said.

“What this bivalent vaccine gives us is a sharpened tool in our armoury to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve.”

UK coronavirus cases are currently falling, with around 2.5 million people testing positive in mid-to-late July.

to 130 miles and can carry the same payload as the diesel truck it replaces. To

TECH SOLUTIONS

T

he UK’s medicines regulator has approved an updated version of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine that targets two variants (known as a bivalent vaccine). In each dose of the booster vaccine, half of the vaccine targets the original virus strain from 2020, while the other targets the Omicron variant.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) decision was based on data from a clinical trial, which showed that a booster with the bivalent Moderna vaccine triggers a strong immune response against both Omicron (BA.1) and the original 2020 strain.

The lorry has a range of up

power it, Tesco has installed electric charge points at its Dagenham distribution centre.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 9

C OV E R

DEPOSIT RETU

Scottish retailers urged to

There is one year to go un

C

ircularity Scotland (CSL) has called on producers, retailers and hospitality venues across Scotland to begin preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), due to go live a year from now (16 August 2023).

SCOTLAND DRS Scotland’s DRS, the first in the UK, has the goal to ensure that 90% of drinks containers are recycled and aims to drive the country’s move to a circular economy. Every business that makes or sells drinks in single-use glass or plastic bottles or cans will be impacted by the scheme.

Formal registration for the scheme will open in December and those who will operate return points across Scotland are being encouraged to sign up to the Circularity Scotland website now to receive all the information they will need to help them prepare. Of course,

DAVID HARRIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CIRCULARITY SCOTLAND

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

S T O RY

URN SCHEMES

o begin preparing for DRS

ntil the scheme goes live.

there is plenty more to do before August 16th, 2023, and we know that both drinks producers and those who will act as return point operators will need to make changes to how they operate,” said David Harris, CSL’s chief executive.

“We’re here to support them in their preparations and would encourage them to sign up with us now to access all the information they need. We know that by working together we can make a huge difference in tackling climate change and support the growth of the circular economy in Scotland.”

SUPPORT In recent months CSL has secured £18m in commercial loans to support the set-up phase of the scheme; in July, it appointed sustainable waste management firm Biffa as the official logistics service provider, with responsibility for collecting and processing the recycling of the billions of drinks containers purchased by Scottish consumers each year. The move is expected to create 500 jobs in Scotland.

Estimates by Zero Waste Scotland

suggest that the scheme will reduce emissions by an average of nearly 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – the equivalent of 109,000 return flights from Edinburgh to New York.

The 20p deposit also aims to provide an incentive to reduce littering, helping to cut the number of bottles and cans discarded in streets and green spaces.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “Scotland is leading the way in the UK on delivering a circular economy. By putting in place a deposit return scheme, we are delivering on the public’s desire to see action on plastic and other waste, and making an important contribution to the response to the climate emergency.

“This scheme is being delivered by the industry for the industry. By putting businesses in charge, we are making sure that it works for them. With one year to go until the scheme goes live for consumers, I would encourage all businesses and organisations that produce, ship or sell drinks to get involved with the scheme now.”

“With one year to go until the scheme goes live for consumers, I would encourage all businesses and organisations that produce, ship or sell drinks to get involved with the scheme now.”

Circular economy minister Lorna Slater

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 11

THE SCOTTISH BUYING GROUP FOR INDEPENDENT RETAILERS SINCE 1976 Scotland’s best kept retail secret, working with independent retailers for over 40 years providing access to one of the leading convenience retail groups while allowing you to run your store, your way with great ranges and great support delivered direct to your store.

Delivery direct to store, small minimum order quantities.

14,000 SKU count across all categories including Food to Go Access to the excellent Co-op Fresh Range 3 weekly promotion cycle available Year round Seasonal sales opportunities Fascia and branding opportunities through the well established brand Rebate scheme for qualifying members, spend level applies Extensive supplementary Direct to Store ranges and services Central Invoicing*, 1 weekly statement and 1 Direct Debit

If you want to remain independent and have the support of PGMA behind you, drop us an email at pgma@pgma.co.uk or call Martin Devlin, Commercial Manager on 0131 343 7607.

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S TO R E R E F I T S

NISA

Re-fitted Nisa store enjoys sales growth since March The new-look shop has more than doubled basket spend.

NISA LOCAL BEDMINSTER BEFORE (INSET) AND AFTER (ABOVE)

A

refurbished Nisa Local store in Bedminster has seen sales double since its re-launch in March this year.

The 1,800sq ft shop underwent a full refit, with every fixture and fitting removed and replaced, after the owners – three brothers – decided to give it the “wow factor”.

The store has been in the family for 12 years, but until recently was left “to run itself ” while the owners focused on other things.

“We looked at all the symbol groups and when we visited a Nisa store, it was the only one that provided the fresh range we wanted,” co-owner Nik Patel said.

The family decided to create their “dream store” with the aim of a community-focused store that met all the demands of local shoppers and removed the need to go to a large supermarket.

“We have really changed our mindset,” said Nik. “We’re backed with the Co-op brand which we are seeing have a real impact as it is a brand that customers

know and trust. And people are coming in and are filling up their shopping baskets with us now.”

Basket spend has more than doubled, with meal solutions and the fresh range selling well. Fresh Co-op pizzas are proving particularly popular.

“I didn’t use to think that shoppers would want to buy lots of fresh food from a convenience store but now I have realised that if you make the store look and feel good, and the products are there, shoppers will buy them,” added Nik.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 13

SUPPORT

GROCERYAID

GroceryAid report reveals surge in demand for support The industry charity puts the increase down to an unprecedented year of challenges and growing awareness of how it can help colleagues.

I

ndustry charity, GroceryAid, experienced a 61% increase in instances of welfare support for colleagues last year, according to its recently launched Impact Report.

The report also details a 98% increase in the number of Relate counselling sessions delivered in 2021, and a 101% increase in legal advice referrals. The GroceryAid Welfare Team also dealt with an average of 744 applications for financial support per month, a rise of more than 150% compared to the previous year.

The increase in demand for the GroceryAid’s services is the result of an

unprecedented year of challenges and an increase in awareness of the charity.

According to the report, issues such as illness, the need to shield, home school, care for loved ones, spiralling bills and bereavement have impacted industry colleagues’ wellbeing, finances and availability to work.

Throughout last year, GroceryAid has also ran several awareness campaigns to raise the charity’s profile throughout the industry, from shop floor through to head office, ensuring more colleagues are aware of the support available to them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In April of this

14 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

year, more than 220 companies took part in its annual GA Day campaign: #LetsTalkGroceryAid. Allan Leighton, GroceryAid president, commented: “In the past year, GroceryAid has provided more emotional, practical and financial support than ever before in its 165-year history.

“Our industry is still feeling the fallout from the pandemic. As employers take admirable steps to protect colleagues from the emotional and economic aftermath of Covid, we are helping record numbers cope with the unforeseen changes to their personal circumstances.”

AC C E S S TO C A S H

CO-OP

North-south divide ‘noticeable’ in cash use, research finds A new Co-op report also reveals that cash use has fallen from 65% to 28% since 2016.

N

ew research by Co-op into cash use has shown a “clear” northsouth divide that highlights inequality issues, the retailer said.

The Co-op’s ‘Way we pay’ report has found that, whilst cash use has fallen from 54% to 28% since 2016, in many areas cash payments remain as high as 44%; counties in Northern Ireland, the Northeast, Wales and Scotland top the list.

The same areas have also been hit by bank closures, with half of all banks closing since 2015, while the majority are also affected by poverty and high unemployment levels, according to the retailer.

Although London tops the list of places where contactless payments are most common, some boroughs still see one-in-three shoppers paying by cash.

In terms of the areas least dependent on cash, English counties made up 80% of the list – with 50% of those in the Southeast and 25% in the Southwest – where unemployment levels are low.

The only northern English county with a reduced reliance on cash is Greater Manchester.

Additional research from Which, also featured in Co-op’s report, finds those most likely to use cash are people in the lowest income households and it suggests that a third of respondents

whose annual income was lower than £20,000 found cash easiest to budget.

The data also revealed that many people who do not regularly use notes and coins would use more cash to help manage finances as budgets are squeezed during the cost-of-living crisis.

The Co-op has also launched a charter aiming to safeguard easy access to cash, which includes protecting the use of cash in stores; offering free-touse cash machines while also retaining free-to-use cashback facilities at stores without ATMs; and supporting access to cash through banking services provided through its post office counter network and One Banks in-store services.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 15

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BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

KANTAR

Grocery price inflation hits 11.6% in past four weeks The shocking figure comes as the UK’s headline inflation rate reaches 10.1%.

G

rocery price inflation has jumped to 11.6% over the past four weeks, Kantar has found, marking the highest level since the analyst first started tracking the data this way in 2008.

Products like butter, milk and poultry, in particular, have seen some of the biggest jumps, meaning that the average annual shop is set to rise by a staggering £533, or £10.25 every week, if consumers buy the same products as they did last year.

As a result, own-label ranges are at record levels of popularity, with sales rising by 7.3% and holding 51.6% of the

market compared with branded products, the biggest share Kantar has ever recorded.

The analyst said people are shopping around between retailers to find the best-value products. In comparison, during the 2008 recession, there was a much greater reliance on promotions.

“It’s harder to hunt out these deals in 2022 – the number of products sold on promotion is at 24.7% for the four weeks to 7 August 2022, while 14 years ago it was at 30%,” Fraser McKevitt Head of Retail and Consumer Insight, Worldpanel Division, UK, said. “Instead, supermarkets are currently pointing

shoppers towards their everyday low prices, value ranges and price matches instead.”

What’s more, own-label value products increased by 19.7% this month.

Overall, supermarket sales rose by 2.2% in the 12 weeks to 7 August, the fastest growth the industry has seen since April 2021.

Lidl remains the fastest-growing grocer, with sales up by 17.9% over the latest 12 weeks, raising its market share to 7%.

This is its highest rate of growth since September 2017. Aldi also performed strongly, and its market share increased by 0.9 percentage points to 9.1%.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 17

COST OF LIVING

BARCLAYCARD

Brits using smaller basket sizes to keep track of budget Consumers are changing their shopping behaviour as inflation starts to bite, Barclaycard data has revealed.

A

lmost two-fifths (37%) of Brits are purchasing on a ‘need-tobuy’ basis to help limit their spend at the supermarket till, new data from Barclaycard has revealed.

According to the latest insights from Barclaycard’s monthly Consumer Spending Index, the average value of a supermarket transaction has dropped from £23.67 in January 2021 to £19.33 in July 2022, while the average number of monthly supermarket purchases per person increased from 8.70 to 11.91 over the same period.

Shoppers have been opting for smaller basket sizes, to help them keep

track of their budget. Nearly two-fifths (37%) are purchasing certain items on a need-to-buy basis to save money and avoid waste, resulting in an emerging trend for smaller baskets and more frequent trips to the supermarket to restock when items run out.

Meanwhile, almost nine in 10 (89%) Brits report seeing increases in the prices of everyday items at the supermarket, with the majority noticing that butter (53%), milk (51%) and meat (47%) are more expensive than in June. As a result, 45% of shoppers report looking for ways to get more value from, or to reduce the cost of, their weekly shop.

18 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

What’s more, over half (52%) of this group are paying closer attention to the prices of items they buy regularly, and the same proportion (52%) are cutting down on luxuries or one-off treats for themselves. In addition, almost half (47%) have been opting for budget or own-brand goods over branded items.

Finally, after a surge in online shopping during the pandemic, consumers are increasingly returning to brickand-mortar stores. In-store shopping grew faster than online in July, with the value and volume of face-to-face transactions up 8.5% and 12.9% yearon-year respectively.

OFF-TRADE

IRI

Stay-at-home drinkers in no rush to go out

At-home consumption of alcohol has increased, despite the end of lockdowns, according to new IRI research.

C

elebrating and socialising at home is showing no signs of waning, despite the end of lockdowns.According to research by IRI, at-home consumption of alcohol has increased, as a result of rising prices and supply chain challenges.

“Consumption trends continue to fluctuate with the impact of supply chain challenges and rising inflation, but opportunities for growth remain,” Scott Scanlon, executive vice-president of the Beverage Alcohol Vertical, IRI, said.

“Consumers are looking to indulge and create entertaining experiences at home, and retailers should emphasise

premium products and products with unique attributes in this space.”

In the meantime, demand for betterfor-you products has also increased, along with the desire to create positive moments.

The research has also shown that people continue to drink across multiple categories, meaning that if this trend continues, the combination of beer, wine and spirits consumers is expected to increase to 30% within one to three years.

What’s more, ready-to-drink spirits are taking off, with a pattern similar to sparkling water, cold-brew coffee and sports drinks.

“Ready-to-drink cocktails are a growth opportunity, but brands need to have a point of differentiation. Consider premium, value, interesting flavour combinations and better-for-you attributes,” added Scanlon.

IRI’s findings came as PayPoint revealed what the nation’s top-trending tipples were on International Beer Day (Friday 5 August).

Based on data from 28,000 c-stores, there was a surge in demand for Holsten Pils Lager (+39%), Kestrel Super (+36%), Heineken NRB (+31%), Corona Extra (+23%) and Stella Artois (+23%) compared to the previous Friday.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 19

F O O D-TO-G O

JAMES HALL & CO

James Hall & Co freshens up Spar food-to-go range Marie Curie sandwich sales reach £250,000 in donations.

A

vailable in Spar stores across the North of England, new sandwich flavours include the Chicken Club, Honey & Mustard Chicken, Cheese & Carrot Chutney, and a Seafood Cocktail.

The new products are part of a 24-strong range of sandwiches made by the Great Northern Sandwich Company, one of James Hall & Co’s group of companies, and are included within Spar’s lunchtime meal deal.

Complementing the new sandwiches are three new wraps that have

been introduced to the range including a Cajun Chicken, Onion Bhaji, and a Tomato & Basil offering.

One penny from every Spar sandwich or wrap sold in a store in Northern England goes to Spar UK’s principal charity partner Marie Curie, and the new fillings have launched just as sale donations have hit the £250,000 milestone for the UK’s end-of-life-care charity.

All the new Spar-branded products are benefiting from revised, eye-catching packaging too, with designs in a variety of standout colours.

20 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

Other additions include lunchbox-size quiches in Cheese & Ham and Cheese & Onion flavours, made by Clayton Park Bakery; the new Clayton Park Bakery Sausage and Cheese & Onion rolls complete the revamped range.

“Food-to-go is a huge part of our business and we refresh our offer periodically to ensure customers are seeing an evolving range in our Spar stores, and that they have something new to try,” Rebecca Billington, junior trading manager for fresh food-to-go at James Hall & Co, said.

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – ROCKSTAR

ROCKSTAR LAUNCHES TOP FLAVOURS IN PMPS Price-marked packaging is a strong sales driver in the soft drinks category.

Britvic’s energy drink brand Rockstar is launching

category,” Ben Parker, retail commercial director

two of its top-performing flavours, Juiced

at Britvic, said.

El-Mango and Tropical Punch, in price-markedpacks (PMPs).

“As a trusted and recognisable brand, the Rockstar range comes in a variety of great-tasting

The move is designed to further drive impulse

flavours, and also offers the functional benefits

purchases and bring new shoppers into the category,

needed for consumers to keep their energy levels

as 66.9% of sales in the soft drinks channel now

up. The addition of Juiced El-Mango and Tropical

come from PMPs, an increase from 66% in 2021.

Punch in a PMP format will offer shoppers price

The two flavours are available in wholesale and convenience now, with the rollout supported by

reassurance and a greater perception of value for money.”

in-depot activations, retailer POS and field support.

With HFSS legislations on the horizon, Rock-

“Nine out of 10 shoppers say taste is the most

star recently announced a reduction in the sugar

important consideration when buying a soft drink,

content across its range of energy drinks to be

so flavours, in particular, are important for piquing

fully HFSS compliant, including Juiced El-Mango

shoppers’ interest and generating excitement in the

and Tropical Punch.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 21

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – WALKERS

WALKERS UNVEILS SURPRISING CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE LESS CALORIFIC MULTIPACKS The move aims to drive public awareness that Walkers’ current portfolio of multipack snacks contain 100 calories or less per pack.

Walkers has revealed a ‘heavyweight’ marketing

Walkers is also planning a social media compe-

campaign to highlight that its Walkers Family

tition where consumers will have the chance to win

snacks multipacks are less than 100 calories

£1,000 when they send in their best surprised face.

per pack.Brands promoted include Wotsits,

“More permissible choices are a key purchase

Quavers, French Fries, Squares and Monster

driver for families when considering snacks,”

Munch and Walkers will use a tongue-in-cheek TV

Katherine Cook, marketing manager for Walkers

creative showing shoppers who are “surprised and

Snacks at PepsiCo, said.

delighted” to find out the products are 100 calories or less per multipack inner.

“However, 69% of UK consumers are still not aware that Walkers’ current portfolio of multipack

The company is deploying a multichannel

snacks contain 100 calories or less per pack. We

approach to get the message across, including

want to change this narrative by shining a light on

digital, out-of-home and social in conjunction with

our family snacks multipack range – which spans

the TV campaign, alongside influencer activity with

Wotsits, Quavers, Squares, French Fries and now

comedian Aaron Crascall.

Monster Munch. Our hope is to pleasantly surprise the public and drive further sales for our customers.”

The campaign started this week and runs until 9 October 2022. It aims to reinforce Walkers’ ambition for 50% of its snack sales to come from products classified as non-HFSS, or from products sold in portions of 100 calories or less by 2025.

This year’s media activity follows the 2021 ‘100 calories or less’ campaign, which saw Walkers Top Five family snacks six-pack multipacks grow +8% during the campaign period versus the prior year.

22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – BELVITA

BELVITA GROWS HEALTHIER OFFERING WITH NON-HFSS LAUNCHES The new lines aim to help retailers drive incremental sales.

Breakfast biscuit brand Belvita has expanded

the snacks anywhere in the store. The new bars

its portfolio of healthier products with three new

are also low in saturated fat, giving consumers

non-HFSS additions.

healthier alternatives to other category offerings.

Belvita Fruit Crunch and Belvita Soft Bakes

“These latest tasty additions to the growing

Filled Apricot aim to help drive incremental sales

Belvita range are set to offer shoppers exciting,

for retailers by combining a unique recipe and

healthier options,” Amy Lucas, Brand Manager for

healthier credentials.

Belvita at Mondelez International, said.

The new Belvita Fruit Crunch Bars contain

“We know there is a real opportunity for retail-

under 100 calories per biscuit, offering a lighter

ers to drive interest and grow sales at both the

option for afternoon snacking and as fuel for in-be-

morning and afternoon snacking occasions now

tween mealtime moments. It comes in Raisin &

that consumers’ routines have returned to normal,

Currant and Apple & Pear flavours.

so the new Fruit Crunch and Filled Apricot biscuits

Meanwhile, Belvita Soft Bakes Filled Apricot brings a fruit flavour to the belVita Soft Bakes

will be a delicious snack for them to enjoy at home or on the move.”

range for the first time, with an apricot jam filling.

With an RSP of £2.99 for each multipack of

All three new snacks from belVita are non-

individually wrapped packets, the new variants will

HFSS, meaning they won’t be subject to restrictions

be available from mid-August (Soft Bakes Filled

coming into place in October and retailers can site

Apricot) and September (Fruit Crunch).

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 23

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – CADBURYS

CHRISTMAS KICK OFF Cadbury has unveiled a sleigh-ful of new products ahead of Christmas, as well as a brand-new look across its seasonal range.

MINI SNOWBALLS BAR

WHITE SANTA

Cadbury Mini Snowballs Bar sees the combination

Mondelez is rolling out a brand new

of the Mini Snowballs with Cadbury. The treat

chocolate Santa, made from indulgent

comes in the Cadbury heartland tablet format,

Cadbury White. The flavour is accom-

which is suitable for both sharing and self-treat

panied by a design of Santa wearing

occasions. RSP £1.49.

white, rather than his traditional red.

DAIRY MILK WINTER MINT CRISP

RSP £2.99.

DAIRY MILK ADVENT BAR

Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp is a top

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Bar is sectioned

performer at Christmas and is now available in a

into 25 individually numbered chunks that can

360g block format. RSP £3.99.

be broken off and consumed each day in the

WHITE JINGLY BELLS Cadbury Jingly Bells is expanding its range with

lead-up to Christmas. Retailers can join in the fun by encouraging shoppers to take part in the ‘One Chunk A Day Challenge’. RSP £3.49.

are individually wrapped

DAIRY MILK TINS/ HEROES GAME TIN

in large sharing pouches

Tins are growing in Christmas

and have an eye-catching

confectionery and Cadbury

seasonal design of snow-

has launched two new addi-

flakes on a cosy knitted background. RSP £1.49.

tions to the category, filled with Cadbury Chunks.

a brand new White addition for 2022. Jingly Bells

CHUNK COLLECTION

Small Tin (396g) RSP £5.99. Big Tin (850g) RSP £12. The brand has also rolled out a new version

The brand new Cadbury

of its Heroes tin that features a built-in version of

Chunk Collection offers

the game Who Am I? RSP £12.

individually wrapped chunks of Cadbury Dairy

FAVOURITES SELECTION

Milk, Cadbury Dairy Milk

The brand new Cadbury

Caramel and Cadbury

Favourites selection box offers

Dairy Milk Wholenut.

several Dairy Milk treats includ-

Mondelez said the product has an aspect

ing a sharing bag of Buttons, a

of versatility that allows retailers to tap into

box of Fingers, a Twirl bar and

various seasonal shopper gifting occasions.

a 100g tablet. The stand-out design includes the

RSP £5.

label “for someone special”. RSP £5.95.

24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

COLOURFUL XMAS

FOOTIE CRAZE

WHITE SWEETNESS

Oreo aims to bring a twist to

Cadbury has launched a new

Toffifee has launched a lim-

Christmas this year with new

on-pack promotion to engage

ited-edition white chocolate

Oreo Festive Colours. For the

football fans in stores across the

flavour in 125g boxes, which

first time across Europe, Oreo

UK. Win a Worldie is appearing

offers the brand’s usual hazel-

biscuits will have red, green and

on packs of Cadbury chocolate

nut in caramel but with a light

white coloured crème in their

– as well as selected Maynards

crème filling and topped with

centres. Despite the different

Bassetts, Trebor and Cadbury

white chocolate. The new prod-

colours, the biscuits retain their

Biscuits products – through to

uct is expected to tap into white

Original Vanilla flavour.

November.

chocolate’s popularity.

GOLD LOVE

NO IFS, NEW BURTS

PMP COMEBACK

Toblerone has expanded its range

Burts Chips has introduced two

Rustlers has added Rustlers

with a new limited-edition Golden

flavours of popcorn, adding to

Hotdog to its PMP range in the

variant, combining the nougat of a

its range of flavoured snacks as

convenience market. The addi-

traditional Toblerone with a blend

it focuses on building its brand

tion aims to help the brand tap

of caramelised white chocolate

in premium bagged snacks. The

into demand for PMP products.

that has been newly developed

new additions include Lightly

It joins the Quarter Pounder,

for the UK and Ireland. The

Salted (20g) and Sweet & Salty

BBQ Rib, All-Day Breakfast Sau-

launch is backed by PR activity

(28g). Popcorn is now a £147m

sage Muffin and Southern Fried

and in-store support.

category.

Chicken Sub.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 25

NOW THAT’S A

OUT TH

Food waste? Ju Vacuum packing food in a fridge is touted as

Vacuum packing is a decades-old idea for saving space, but it is now making a comeback as a fresh innovation to tackle food waste.

WHAT’S THE CONCEPT? Food waste is a big problem in the whole world – and one that needs to be dealt with urgently if climate change is to be brought under control. According to estimates, the UK produces around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste, despite 8.4 million people in the country being in food poverty. Meanwhile, a study by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in 2017 showed that the average UK household spends over £470 annually on binned food – with 70% of the food thrown away having had the potential to be eaten.

Now Hitachi believes it has found a silver lining: a refrigerator that contains a vacuum compartment that drives down food waste.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The tech giant’s new Vacuum Compartment technology aims to significantly extend the storage life of fresh food in the refrigerator by extracting air from a sealed food drawer to create a partial vacuum around fresh, chilled foods such as vegetables, fruit, meat and fish.

The process is thought to not only increase food longevity through reduced oxygen (slowing the oxidation/decomposition process), but to also help keep

meat and fish moist, retain nutrients and colour in fruit and vegetables, and maintain the flavour and texture of cheeses.

Once shut, the vacuum compartment uses a small pump to withdraw air from the sealed drawer and maintain around 0.8 atm air pressure. To open the drawer, owners have to lift the handle to release the vacuum seal, accompanied by a ‘whoosh’ of air returning to the compartment.

26 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 118 / WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022

DOES THAT REALLY HELP? Independent tests at the Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand showed the Hitachi Vacuum Compartment retained 97% of the vital omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, in fresh fish (mackerel) after three days compared to just 93% in a standard chiller compartment.

In fresh fruit, vitamin levels can drop dramatically in the fridge, yet

A GOOD IDEA…

HE BOX A new feature from Farmstead reminds you what’s in your refrigerator to reduce food waste.

ust hoover it up! a fresh hope in the fight against food waste.

the Hitachi Vacuum Drawer retained 30% more vitamin C in pineapple than a typical refrigerator over the same three days, the company noted.

“In the home, where most food waste occurs, our latest Vacuum Compartment technology offers one solution to reduce waste by keeping food fresher for longer,” Hitachi Europe’s Head of Consumer, Richard Bass, commented.

“The Vacuum Compartment can up to double the storage life and nutrient retention time of fresh foods, helping to reduce food waste and save money on food shopping bills.”

AND WHAT ABOUT RETAIL? It is not in the realm of impossible to see something like this enter the retail world in the future. Food

waste is at the top of every country’s agenda and retailers are not immune to it. Waitrose and Marks & Spencer have already decided to remove ‘best before’ dates on 500 products to help tackle food waste. If vacuum packing proves to be a successful household solution, why could it not help retailers extend sell-by dates by extending shelf life?

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 27

LD SO OUT

01.09.2022

George Bowie • DJ Cassi • Pretty Ugly Simon Cordiner • Rebecca Vasmant G O L D PA R T N E R S

S I LV E R S U P P O R T E R S

Money raised from this event will go to GroceryAid, the grocery industry charity. A Registered Charity Reg No. 1095897 (England & Wales) & SC039255 (Scotland).

A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales No 04620683

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

HRER

INE FÜ NEIN DANKE, W A winemaker in Italy has come in for widespread condemnation after bottles of wine featuring images of Adolf Hitler were discovered on sale in stores across the country. Bottles from the “Der Führer” range also carry slogans including “Seig heil,” “Heil Hitler,” “Mein Kampf,” and “Ein volk, ein reich, ein Führer”.

The sale of products featuring swastikas and other Nazi imagery is verboten across most of Europe, though not so much in fascism’s birthplace, Italy.

This isn’t the first time the wines have drawn flak, with the Simon Wiesenthal Centre calling for a boycott as far back as 2013. With the hate-filled bottles still on shelves six years later, the Jewish human rights organisation then went as far as condemning Italy as “the hate-mongering wine waiter of Europe”.

Since this latest storm erupted, Lunardelli has added a message to its website stating: “This is a commercial site only. We deny any kind of political propaganda.” Good for it.

It would also probably counter any accusations of extreme right-leaning tendencies with the argument that it also

stocks wines dedicated to communist dictators. Indeed, it does: a whopping total of five, compared to over 70 that pay tribute to Hitler, Mussolini and Franco.

But if there’s any humour to be extracted from this sorry tale, it’s in the wine dedicated to Joseph Stalin, which is described as “an intense red”.

SW EE T SO RR OW experience is necessary. “All you need is a passion for candy, pop culture, and a sweet tooth!” as the job ad on LinkedIn states.

However, the CCO role is “much more than just fun and games. It’s serious candy business!” Indeed.

The job entails taste-testing more than 3,500 products on a monthly basis. According to The Week In Retail’s in-house boffins, that equates to eating at least 115 sweetThe only thing worse than not

to like about the post with Canadi-

getting what you want is getting it.

an-based Candy Funhouse?

So, beware if you think the position

ies each and every day.

So yeah, once you’ve beaten

It pays the equivalent of around

off the other 6,500 and counting

of Chief Candy Officer sounds like

£65,000 a year, for starters. Not too

applicants, life will indeed be sweet.

your dream job. If you enjoy con-

shabby, considering you can work

Apart from the false teeth and type

suming confectionery, what’s not

from home and that no previous

2 diabetes.

WEDNESDAY 17TH AUGUST 2022 / ISSUE 118 / SLRMAG.CO.UK I 29

Make sweet profits with

Grow your confectionery sales Chances to win monthly and quarterly cash prizes Join the 4,500+ retailers who have already signed up

“It’s already helped us to grow our sales in such a short period of time” Samual, Valley Convenience Store Manager and the latest winner of a £1,000 Buy A Gift Voucher

scan the QR Code to access a digital copy of the membership brochure

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