The Week in Retail 75

RETAIL

THE WEEK IN

PROTECTION OF SHOPWORKERS

BODY CAM ROLL-OUT CONTINUES

CRIMINAL INCIDENTS RISE BY 31%

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

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Adding yet more fuel to the fire As if retailers didn’t have enough to deal with after Covid, Brexit, HGV drivers, CO2 shortages, a gas crisis and an endless list other perfect storm components. Now there’s a fuel crisis raging across the UK. It should hardly have come as a surprise; the driver shortage was hitting the food supply chain – so why wouldn’t it hit fuel deliveries?

It took the government far too long realise the seriousness of the problem. However, they have now acted, adding truck drivers to the existing visa scheme allowing up to 5,000 drivers to the UK to transport food and fuel in the run-up to Christmas, by relaxing competition laws to enable fuel companies to share information to optimise supply across the country, and putting military drivers on standby to make deliveries.

Not many people believe that the relaxation of visas will have much impact – why would a European driver come to the UK for only three months’ work? Nobody is really sure how the relaxation of competition law will help, but can you really see the oil giants sharing their trade secrets? Or is

it possible that they’ll use this unique opportunity to strengthen their individual and collective strongholds? Most people’s faith is in the military – already 150 military tanker drivers have been mobilised to help in coming days, according to reports. It’s mot much, but it’s something.

If current statistics are to be believed, the situation is very slowly improving. The Petrol Retailers Association has reported that only 27% of its members have reported being out of fuel today (29 September), and it is expecting to see that number fall improve over the next 24 hours.

The easing of fuel shortages can’t come quick enough for those working on forecourts who have been subject to abuse and physical attacks, not to mention having to police behaviour out on the roads. It again has underlined the need for legislation in England to protect retail workers.

The only good thing that might come out of this situation is it might help speed up the adoption of electric vehicles, as consumers seek to have their destiny in their own hands.

LIZ WELLS, DEPUTY EDITOR

WEDNESDAY 29ND SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 3

CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75

6

10 THIS WEEK’S NEWS IN BRIEF

32 PROTECTION OF SHOPWORKERS

Forecourt staff face the wrath of angry drivers and supply chain disruption starts to push food prices up.

STORE OPENINGS Lavazza opens a UK flagship store in central London to introduce consumers from the UK and further afield to Italian coffee.

Central England Co-op rolls out staff body cameras to more than 50 stores after a successful trial.

9 Covid-19 update

18 Legislation

33 Newstrade

13 Retail crime

A bumper haul of illicit tobacco is seized, a

allergen labelling.

The Times gives commuters ‘space to think’ with a new marketing campaign.

store is prosecuted for pest infestation and

22 Symbol group roundup

35 Picks of the week

forecourt crime is on the rise.

James Hall & Co, Nisa, CJ Lang, and One

39 Out the box: chat checkouts

Stop all hit the headlines this week.

16 Retail technology

What Natasha’s Law means for food

Ubamarket integrates with Point Four

29 Business intelligence

EPoS as Shell and Uber Eats strike up a

national partnership.

TWITTER.COM/SLRMAG

plans to open 200 Kletskassa – chat

Shoppers are becoming more value-led as consumer confidence crumbles.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SLRMAG

Dutch supermarket Jumbo has unveiled checkouts – at its stores within a year.

43 Before you go...

WWW.SLRMAG.CO.UK

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 5

NEWS DIGEST

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

VAPE CAMPAIGN The UK Vaping Industry Association has joined forces with stop smoking app Smoke Free, which has had 6m downloads to date globally, to

FUEL CRISIS

Usdaw calls on public to respect forecourt staff Forecourt staff are having to cope with angry customers unable to get fuel because of the driver shortage.

encourage more smokers to give up their habit. The pair will work on several joint initiatives, including campaigns Aldi invests

ALDI INVESTS Aldi plans to invest £1.3bn over the next two years in a bid to grow its share of the UK grocery market. The plans are expected to create more than 2,000 new jobs next year. Further investment is being made into its click-andcollect service and trialling a checkout-free concept store in Greenwich, London.

SUPPORT SCHEME Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons, is encouraging retailers across the country to show their support for the High Street Support Scheme which is open for applications until 25 October. An advertising campaign has been launched to encourage shoppers to use their card to support their local businesses.

Retail trade union Usdaw has urged the public to respect forecourt staff amid the current fuel crisis.

The call comes as forecourt staff across the country are having to cope with angry customers unable to get fuel because of the driver shortage. Local media are reporting incidents of staff being targeted with foul-mouthed and

personal abuse, with customers throwing petrol hoses in anger, and knives being pulled on queue-jumpers.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “It is deeply disturbing to see panic buying back and it reminds us of the dark days of the first lockdown.

During that period retail staff suffered a doubling of abuse from customers and we do not want to see that repeated.

Abuse should never be just a part of the job and there is no excuse for customers to take their frustrations out on staff.

“The empty shelves and empty petrol pumps that we’ve seen this week are entirely the fault of the government and their complete failure to get a grip on supply issues.”

Government consults on boosting flexible working rights The government has launched a consultation on enhancing flexible working rights.

The government consultation, Making Flexible Working the Default, proposes the right to request flexible working to become a day one right and simplify the administrative process for managing requests and how employers can suggest alternatives.

In response, ACS Chief Executive

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James Lowman, said: “We know how important it is to our colleagues to balance to work and personal commitments, so we welcome more clarity on flexible working requests.

“The convenience sectors offer genuinely flexible, secure working opportunities that are informed by good communications between retailers and stores colleagues.”

NEWS DIGEST

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

MOBILE RECYCLING

INFLATION

Food prices rise in September Disruption in the supply chain and increased input costs are now starting to feed through to food prices.

Food prices rose by 0.1% in September, up from -0.2% in August, new research reveals.

The BRC-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index shows fresh food prices fell for 10 months in a row in September, with deflation easing to 0.4% from a decline of 0.6% in August. This is above the 12- and 6-month average price growth rates of -0.6% and -0.9%, respectively.

Ambient Food inflation accelerated to 0.8% in September, up from 0.3% in August. This is below the 12- month average price increase of 1.3% and above the 6-month average rise of 0.6%.

Overall Shop Price annual deflation eased to 0.5% in September compared to August’s decrease of 0.8%. This is a slower rate of decline than the 12- and 6-month average price decreases of 1.4% and 0.8%, respectively. This is the slowest rate of decline since January 2020.

NielsenIQ’s Mike Watkins, said: “Disruption in the supply chain and increased input costs are now starting to feed through and food prices increased slightly from last month. However, low prices on seasonal fresh foods are helping to offset rising prices in ambient food.”

Asda is partnering with MusicMagpie, which specialises in refurbished consumer technology.

SmartDrop kiosks will be rolled out to nearly 300 Asda stores in 2022 after a trial involving 15 kiosks across the Asda estate since November 2020.

Customers can bring in their old phone, receive a valuation, and get paid instantly.

LUNCH TRIAL Sainsbury’s has unveiled a dedicated new lunch range, with Wasabi, Itsu and Leon, joining own brand meals. The new in-aisle concept features over 20 new meals, all under 500 calories with prices starting from just £2. The concept will be trialled in over

Retailers recognised for efforts during the pandemic

300 UK stores.

The NFRN has named three independent retailers as Shop Local, Shop Little Heroes for going above and beyond for their local communities during the pandemic.

Retailers Jawad and Asiyah Javed from Falkirk, Dennis Williams from Edinburgh, and Terry and Toni Caton from Chesterfield were presented with framed certificates and hundreds of

Tesco has set out a new

pounds worth of stock from sponsors – Mondelez, Boost, Booker, and the NFRN. They will now go forward to the national NFRN Awards, where the overall winner will be revealed.

National President, Stuart Reddish, said “so many” NFRN member stores “stepped their efforts up to another level” during the pandemic.

ECO TARGETS commitment of net zero emissions by 2050, including those generated by the products it sells and across its supply chains. The retailer has written to its suppliers to ask for their support and will set out a clear plan for achieving its new targets.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 7

STOCK UP ON

THE No1 WHISKEY AND COLA BRANDS 1

2

IN CONVENIENCE

For more information about Coca-Cola email Coca-Cola Europacific Partners at connect@ccep.com, call 0808 1 000 000 or visit my.ccep.com.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Jack Daniel’s and Old No.7 are registered trademarks. ©2021 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.Coca-Cola, Coke, the Dynamic Ribbon device and the design of the contour bottle are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company. ©2021 The Coca-Cola Company. All rights reserved.

Sources: 1.Nielsen; Total Impulse; Value Sales MAT 17.07.21.

2. Nielsen Total Impulse value Sales MAT 17.07.21 (Coke Trademark = Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke).

NEWS SPECIAL

COVID-19 UPDATE

Scotland moves to help business improve ventilation vs Covid-19

GANDER USE ON INCREASE EPoS supplier Henderson Technology and food waste mobile-

Grants will help companies install carbon dioxide monitors and alter windows and vents.

app Gander have released results of their collaboration to mark International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

Over two years ago, Gander – an app that displays ‘reduced-toclear’ food products – partnered with Henderson to bring its sustainable technology the Henderson Group in Northern Ireland.

be supported to improve ventilation.

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: “As we step away from other mitigations, improved ventilation will play a significant role in reducing transmission indoors, support the sustained opening of society and contribute to our wider Covid recovery.

“Many of the businesses we are targeting have been closed for long periods and it is right that they are helped to undertake this work. We are allocating up to £25m to assist small and medium-sized enterprises and expect to begin making payments in November.”

Further details of the grants, including eligibility and timing, will be published in due course.

In 2021, there have been over four million user events on the app, which is a 105%

TECH SOLUTIONS

B

usiness premises in Scotland will be able to access a £25m package to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Grants will target a “wide range of high-risk settings” where people come into close contact, such as hospitality and leisure, but currently it is not clear whether retailers will be included.

The support will help companies undertake work, including the installation of carbon dioxide monitors and altering windows and vents.

An expert advice group, chaired by Professor Tim Sharpe from the University of Strathclyde, unanimously recommended that businesses should

to stores supplied by

increase on 2020, and over half a million in August alone. This has resulted in about a 42% improvement in sellthrough of product and therefore reduction in waste, validated by a 36% increase in reduced sales.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 9

C OV E R

PROTECTION OF

Central England Co-op continues roll out of staff body cams The retailer has recorded more than 10,000 incidents of crime so far this year.

C

entral England Co-op is rolling out staff body cameras to more than 50 stores after a successful trial designed to keep staff safe and help drive down crime in stores.

The retailer, which has over 260 stores across 16 counties, initially trialled use of the technology in its Erdington and Great Barr stores, in Birmingham, in autumn 2020.

Now, due to its positive impact, it will be rolled out across other stores across the business to deter threats and acts of violence towards its store staff and security guards.

The news comes as the Central England Co-op has been working with other major retailers, unions, industry bodies,

10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 75/ WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021

police and crime commissioners and more than 200 MPs to push the government to crack down further on those who abuse or attack shopworkers via the introduction of tougher penalties such as an automatic prison term.

The UK government is still resisting introducing a specific law to protect shopworkers. However, Scotland introduced The Protection of Workers Act, which aims to give greater protection to retail workers, in August.

Nicola Walton, Loss Prevention Advisor, said: “Our body camera trial was a great success. It allowed our colleagues to feel safer while serving their communities and played its part as another deterrent to prevent crimes before they take place.

S T O RY

F SHOPWORKERS

“We are aware that any kind of crime can be frightening Some examples of incidents have included colleagues for store colleagues and this is why we are extended the rollout being punched in the face by shoplifters, verbal abuse and of the technology to over 50 stores across our trading estate. severe damage to stores. A number of armed robberies “Over the past few years we and attempted thefts have involved have invested heavily in a range of Recent figures from Central the use of batons, used needles and measures to keep our colleagues England Co-op revealed that knives. and customers safe. Today’s news is more than 10,000 incidents Other recent innovations aimed at just another way we can continue to have been reported so driving down crime include the expaninvest in keeping people safe at work far this year including 72 sion of centrally monitored CCTV to and whole they shop. assaults, 879 cases of verbal more stores, the further use of tracking “This will provide us with another abuse and threats, 272 antidevices in high risk products, the rollout tool in our efforts to have a zero tolsocial behaviour reports, and of specialist software and technology to erance approach to any type of crime 159 direct incidents related to protect lone workers and new training towards our colleagues and customers.

Covid-19. packages and toolkits to ensure colWe now ask shoppers to work with us to leagues have all the information and make sure that nobody has to face abuse in their place of work.” skills they need to keep safe.

Recent figures from Central England Co-op revealed that Store Manager Gill Evans, who helped trial the body cams more than 10,000 incidents have been reported so far this year in store, said: “We were so pleased to be part of the trial and including 72 assaults, 879 cases of verbal abuse and threats, to find out more stores will be getting this vital technology.

272 anti-social behaviour reports, and 159 direct incidents “Colleagues should not face any kind of abuse and these cameras act as another great deterrent to try and put people off. related to Covid-19.

This means, compared to last year, the total number of “However, if people still want to abuse or threaten our incidents have jumped by 31.1%, with rises in verbal abuse, colleagues they provide great evidence for our work with the police in ensuring they face justice.” threats and anti-social behaviour.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 11

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Soft

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*Source data: Nielsen Scantrack Epos, Total Symbols/GB, White Bread Loaves by brand, Unit % Chg YOY, 52 wks to 19th June 2021. **Source data: Nielsen Scantrack Epos, Total Coverage/GB, Unit Sales, 52 wks to 19th June 2021 analysis across all brown/wholemeal breads available in Pre Packed Bread category. Excluding Private Label. ***Source data: Nielsen Scantrack Epos, Total Coverage/GB, Unit % Chg YOY, 52 wks to 19th June 2021, Major Bread Brand defined as greater than 3% of Pre Packed Bread Category Unit % share for same time period as analysis. Analysis across all white breads available in Pre Packed Bread category. Excluding Private Label ****Source for Claim: Nielsen Scantrack EPOS, Total Impulse/GB, Value Sales, Latest 12 wks to 14th August 2021.

R E TA I L C R I M E

ILLEGAL TOBACCO

Trading Standards seize £200k of illegal cigarettes in Wales The haul comes as part of a nationwide initiative to disrupt the trade in illicit tobacco.

A

million illegal cigarettes, with a street value of more than £200,000, have been seized in Wales as part of a major crackdown on the country’s illegal tobacco trade.

The milestone was hit by Welsh Trading Standards teams taking part in Operation CeCe, an ongoing National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to tackle illegal tobacco.

They say the haul seized during raids carried out across Wales, which includes 1,039,046 cigarettes and 3,377 pouches

of hand-rolling tobacco, has a total street value of £286,782.30 – money that would otherwise have been in the pockets of criminal gangs.

Evidence has been found of illegal tobacco supplies in 17 out of 22 local authority areas in Wales and seizures Evidence has been found of illegal tobacco supplies in 17 out of 22 local authority areas in Wales and seizures have taken place in 12 areas so far.

have taken place in 12 areas so far.

Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. The National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HRMC is playing a significant role in disrupting this illicit trade and is helping to take illegal tobacco products off the streets.”

Helen Picton, Chair of Trading Standards Wales, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco creates a cheap source for tobacco for children and young people.

It also undermines all of the good work being done to stop people smoking and the illegal tobacco trade more often than not has strong links to criminal activity.”

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, added: “We welcome any action that is taken to remove illegal tobacco from our communities and hope that this will continue to form part of any strategy to address Wales’ health inequalities.”

Since the launch of the crackdown in January 2021 Trading Standards and HMRC have been gathering intelligence on criminal tobacco gangs and are planning more raids across Wales in the next few months.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 13

R E TA I L C R I M E

HEALTH AND SAFETY

West Midlands store prosecuted for pest infestation and dangerous shelving Council takes action after a number of enforcement notices are ignored.

S

andwell Council’s Environmental Health Team has prosecuted a local supermarket for pest infestation and dangerous shelving after repeated non-compliance with enforcement notices served under Food Hygiene and Health & Safety legislation.

Warley Supermarket (UK) company director Mandeep Kaur Mandair and Senior Manager Raminder Mandair had pleaded guilty to offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England)

Regulations 2013 and the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Senior Manager Sukhbir Mandair pleaded not guilty to offences under the Food Safety Hygiene Regulations and was convicted of all offences after trial.

The company was ordered to pay £60,000 for food safety offences and £480,000 for Health & Safety offences, plus costs of £16,191.20, at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mandeep Kaur Mandair received

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eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. She was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and to pay costs of £16,191.20 at the rate of £1,500 per month. She was also ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge.

Raminder Mandair received 16 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years. He was also given a six-month electronic curfew between 8pm and 6am and was ordered to pay costs of £16,191.20, payable at the rate of £1,500 per month. He was also ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge.

The sentencing of Sukhbir Mandair was adjourned and a new date will be set for him to be sentenced.

Councillor Bob Piper, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “In Sandwell we value our local businesses and want them to continue to deliver high quality services and facilities. But shoppers and workers in Sandwell have the right to go about their daily business, feeling safe and protected. The work of Sandwell’s Environmental Health Team in bringing cases, like this one against Warley Supermarkets (UK), helps keep us all safe and I would commend their efforts to protect us all.”

R E TA I L C R I M E

FORECOURTS

T

Forecourt crime on the increase, data reveals Council takes action after a number of enforcement notices are ignored.

he volume of forecourt crime reported to the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) by forecourt operators increased by 20.5% during the second quarter of 2021, driven by a near 38% increase in drive-off incidents.

The BOSS Forecourt Crime Index increased to 170 (141: Q1 2021) in the three months to 30 June and is now at the same level as the fourth quarter of 2019.

The large increase in the index was driven by drive-offs, with the number of incidents rising 37.6% during the second quarter. No means of payment incidents increased by only 12.9% during the second quarter. While the average number

of litres taken per drive-off fell to 30.5 litres in the second quarter from 31.4 in the first quarter and the average value of each drive-off incident rose to £39.16 from £38.19 in the first quarter.

The average number of incidents per site increased to 17, compared to 14 incidents in the first quarter of the year. However, the average litres of fuel taken per incident increased 13.6% to 46.7 litres, compared to 41.1 litres in the first quarter.

The average price of fuel during the Q2 period increased by 5.4% to 128.4 pence per litre, compared to 121.8 ppl in the first quarter.

Kevin Eastwood, BOSS Executive Director, said: “The BOSS Index has returned to 2019 levels, but the jump during 2021 reflects the growth in traffic as economic activity recovers from the pandemic.“The big increase in the number of drive-off incidents emphasises that forecourt retailers should be watchful at all times, but especially when forecourts are congested with customers.

“No Means of Payment remains the biggest challenge facing forecourt operators and accounts for more than two-thirds of all forecourt fuel crime by value and costs the average forecourt outlet more than £10,000 every year.”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 15

Serving our communities and improving people’s everyday lives since 1859.

www.scotmid.coop

H O M E D E L I V E RY

UBER EATS

Shell and Uber Eats strike national partnership

Customers can order items from 183 Shell locations, with a further 158 Shell stores set to join the app soon.

U

ber Eats has added more than 340 Shell forecourt grocery stores across the country to its platform.

The move means households across the country will be able to have groceries from Little Waitrose, Jamie Oliver Deli, and Budgens delivered within minutes through the Uber Eats app.

Customers can order items from 183 Shell locations nationwide, including London, Manchester and Glasgow, with a further 158 Shell stores set to join the app in the coming months.

More than 250 of the Shell stores

joining the app are available for orders 24 hours a day as Uber Eats taps into the increased demand for treats, food, drink, baby essentials and everyday groceries for 24/7 delivery.

More than 750 items, from fresh fruit and veg to ready-made food and treats to household and cupboard essentials, will be delivered to customers’ doors in as little as 30 minutes.

Sunjiv Shah, General Manager of Uber Eats in the UK, said: “As demand for grocery and essential items continues to soar on the Uber Eats app, we’re

delighted to bring Shell to the app as an exclusive partner.”

Bernie Williamson, General Manager of Retail in the UK at Shell, added: “We’re thrilled to be launching our stores on the Uber Eats app. With Uber Eats, we’re able to reach even more customers and expand our delivery services across the UK. We offer our customers convenience on-the-go and with this new collaboration we can now also offer a wide selection of food and essentials, available for delivery to your door in less than 30 minutes.”

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R E TA I L T E C H N O L O G Y

UBAMARKET

Ubamarket integrates with Point Four EPoS The partnership will enable retailers to use Ubamarket’s ‘Scan, Pay, Go’ app to create a personalised in-store experience.

in the store, guiding the shopper to each item. ● AI-driven loyalty points and personalised offers – Ubamarket’s AI recognises customers’ shopping patterns, favourite brands and regular purchases, and will begin to offer deals for their favourite products. ● Plastic Alerts – the app provides information on which packaging can and can’t be recycled and gives customers a summary of the environmental footprint of their shop. ● Cashier-less checkout – customers can scan products/shelves as they shop (without even having to tap), and then check-out and

U

bamarket is integrating its technology with EPoS provider Point Four to enable thousands of convenience stores across the UK to have access to some of the most sophisticated retail technology.

The partnership will enable Ubamarket’s retail technology to be implemented in stores across Budgens, Nisa, Premier, Spar, James Retail, Bestway, and Londis.

pay in app.

Through Ubamarket’s ‘Scan, Pay, Go’ app, shoppers will be able to utilise the app’s suite of features to create a more personalised in-store experience. Its key features include: ● ‘Magic Shopping List’ – customers can simply enter or dictate their shopping list into the app. This will then be rearranged into the order in which the items are displayed

Will Broome, founder of Ubamarket, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with some of the retail industry’s finest and most forward-thinking PoS vendors who recognise that the future of the in-store retail world is ‘frictionless’, with the choice of till-less payment.

Consumer choice and tech-enabled convenience is increasingly at the forefront of stores’ priorities as the consumer demands a faster, simpler and more personalised in-store experience.”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 19

GEOFF OGLE | CHIE

What Natasha’s Law m

New regulations in October will he – and could even sa

S

tarting in October, British shoppers can expect to see far more detailed ingredient information carried on all the pre-packed food they buy – be that sandwiches from their highstreet delis, fresh pizzas from major supermarkets, even small packets of specialist sweets from family-owned local shops.

The most common reason for food recalls now is because of issues around allergens.

Every food and drink business will be required to list every single ingredient used in what the industry calls ‘prepacked for direct sale’ (PPDS) items

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Every food and drink business list every single ingredient used in calls ‘pre-packed for direct sale’ (PP importantly, they will also have any one of 14 core allergenic ingr contain, such as molluscs, gluten, PPDS technically covers any fo aged, so that the contents canno being sold to the customer.

Sesame, of course, was at the UK’s highest profile cases of trag in recent years, when in 2016, 1 Ednan-Laperouse died after unk baguette which had been made w Her devastated family – and oth

N ATA S H A’ S L A W

EF EXECUTIVE | FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND

means for food allergen labelling

elp shoppers make much more informed choices about the pre-packed food they buy ave lives, says Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland.

s will be required to n what the industry PDS) items, but most to clearly highlight redients they might , fish and sesame. ood item that’s packot be altered before

centre of one of the gic allergic reaction 15-year-old Natasha knowingly eating a with sesame seeds. hers affected by what’s

The new law’s introduction is a massive step ahead for transparency for consumers of the UK’s food labelling requirements.

Quite simply, it makes it quicker, easier and clearer for around 200,000 food allergy sufferers in Scotland to make safer choices when buying their food.

Latest figures suggest there were 567 Scottish hospitalisations due to anaphylaxis in 2020.

If this new law can save just one illness or tragic loss of life from allergic reaction to something in food, it’s legislation well founded.

‘Natasha’s Law’ now requires all British food businesses to have complete lists of ingredients printed on all PPDS food product labels, before they are offered directly to the public

considered by many experts to be a growing national epidemic of intolerances and allergic food reaction – spent the next three years tirelessly campaigning for better laws to protect allergen suffers from serious or life-threatening reactions to food or drink, to ensure we can all avoid such tragedies ever happening again.

‘Natasha’s Law’ now requires all British food businesses to have complete lists of ingredients printed on all PPDS food product labels, before they are offered directly to the public, even from market stalls, food trucks, or ice-cream vans.

Food Standards Scotland has always been fully committed to better clarity on food labels, because informed consumers can make better, more informed decisions that help consumers protect themselves.

Of course, we also appreciate this more complete food signposting now required is a step change, and a potentially complicated one, for many Scottish food and drink producers.

Our figures show 11,230 Scottish businesses – the vast majority small to medium companies, but also 265 larger firms – could be directly affected by the legislation and so could face having to foot potential costs of extra facilities or staff to handle the process.

So FSS has for months been working with countless retailers of PPDS products to ensure they are fully supported and guided in making the necessary changes as they transition to this new era of more comprehensive food labelling.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 21

GEOFF OGLE

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YOUR DIWALI MUST STOCK.

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RED BULL ENERGY DRINK AND SUGARFREE, 250ML 4 PACKS. SEE SALES FLY. STOCK UP TODAY.

SOURCE: ¹NIELSEN SCANTRACK, TOTAL COVERAGE, MAT W.E. 24.07.2021

22 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 75/ WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Core to this has been an exhaustive nationwide engagemen process to assess the benefits, risks and impacts of this new legislation accurately and economically.

We have developed a range of products, practical guidance and online resources, including an allergen training package for them to access, and businesses can also use the free FSS MenuCal tool.

It means, for instance, fresh sandwiches prepared and placed into packaging before lunchtime shopper eventually buy them, or food prepared and packaged which an operator then sells at a market stall, will have

N ATA S H A’ S L A W

| CHIEF EXECUTIVE | FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND

nt w

e e S

d s d e

to be comprehensively and clearly labelled.

At hundreds of supermarkets, everyday items such as boxed salads packed on site and placed onto a refrigerated shelf prior to sale, will also have to have their ingredients more thoroughly signposted.

Buns or cakes made by local bakers, too, packaged on the same premises before being sold to others, will now have to have their contents roll-called in full.

Essentially, this new law means the complete gamut of Scottish packaged food produce will now be better protected for millions of us, our families, our friends

and loved ones, who might have food allergies.

Even one case of an allergic reaction to something hidden within our food, is one case too many.

With it now firmly in place, coupled with more awareness by everyone to what they are eating, and the financial and operational sacrifices being made to comply right now by food companies across Scotland, we are confident that ultimately Scottish lives will be saved as a result. ● Geoff Ogle is Chief Executive, Food Standards Scotland.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 23

SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR / JAMES HALL

Spar wins first BBC Good Food Drinks Taste Awards The awards celebrate own-brand and retailer-exclusive bottles available from outlets around the UK

S

par has won two medals at the first BBC Good Food Drinks Taste Awards 2021.The awards have been launched to celebrate ownbrand and retailer-exclusive bottles available from outlets around the UK. Winning medals from Spar are the Spar Harmonist Rhubarb & Ginger Flavoured Gin which has been crowned Best Pink Gin and the Spar Premium French Grain Vodka crowned Best Vodka.

The drinks are available in participating Spar stores in England, Scotland, and Wales. The symbol group will be supporting the award wins on social media and with in-store POS. Adam Georgiou, Spar UK Brand Manager, said: “We will be maximising these wins on pack and promoting the award to allow our retailers to make the most of the sales opportunity ahead of Christmas and the rest of the year.”

24 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 75/ WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021

JAMES HALL & CO OPENS 150TH COMPANY-OWNED SPAR STORE James Hall & Co, the distributor for Spar stores across the north of England, has opened its 150th company-owned Spar store in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The store, located in Wentworth Street, is on the site of a derelict former garage forecourt and has created 24 jobs in the area.

The Spar store, which is open between 7am and 10pm every day, offers a range of food-to-go and hot food, as well as a Graham Eyes butcher’s counter, Clayton Park Bakery products, and a Cheeky Coffee machine.

A Tango Ice machine and F’Real Smoothies and Milkshakes are also offered at the store, which has an ATM service and 16 car parking spaces.

Fiona Drummond, Company Stores Director at James Hall & Co, said: “We’re thrilled with the finish of our new Wakefield Spar store in what is an exciting milestone opening for the company.”

SYMBOL GROUPS

NISA

Nisa launches pre-sell event for Christmas alcohol

N

The range enables retailers to cater for all their customers’ needs.

isa retailers are now able to pre-order alcohol for the festive season.

The range, which combines Co-op own-brand and branded options, boasts some all-time favourites alongside new additions to enable retailers to cater for all their customers’ needs.

Gifting opportunities are also key for this time of year and there are options to suit all budgets.

Chris Walker, Offline Marketing Lead at Nisa, said: “The Christmas period is a great opportunity to offer consumers

a trade-up option, premiumisation is a known trend leading up to Christmas, whether this be for a gifting opportunity or just a little indulgent treat.

“Offering a mix of branded and Co-op own label helps drive sales and gives great value to shoppers, especially at Christmas and we think this range is very strong and will give Nisa partners the opportunity to really stand out in the category.”

Printed brochures have been sent out to partners and the range is also available to view and order via the retailer website.

Nisa retailers spice up sales Nisa retailers across the UK are introducing deals ahead National Curry Week, which runs from 4-10 October. Retailers are running a dedicated promotion offering a meal solution for two that provides everything shoppers will need for a curry night.

For just £7, Nisa shoppers can choose two main courses from three delicious curry options from the Co-op Takeaway range; Korma, Tikka or Butternut Squash Makhani, two sides – Co-op

Takeaway Pilau Rice or Co-op Plain Naan Breads 2pk – and a Cobra Beer 4pk or Coke Zero 4pk, saving up to £8.94 off the RSP. The promotion will be supported by instore POS including bus stops, shelf talkers, wobblers and shelf stripping, along with digital support from the Nisa Locally consumer-facing social media channels and the www.nisalocally.co.uk website.

Seasonal manager at Nisa, Hannah Goodwin, said: “Curry remains

one of the nation’s favourite dishes and we hope that the latest Big Deal will support Nisa partners in making the most of the sales opportunity this presents.

“This great value offer will enable our retailers to provide a delicious and easy evening meal solution for two at a fraction of the cost of a takeaway curry, excellently timed as 81% of shoppers are actively looking to save money on their grocery shopping as we approach the busy Christmas period.”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 25

RRP

PACK OF 10

RRP

PACK OF 20

£4.90 THE UK’s £9.60 *

*

No.1 CIGARILLO

1

*RRP effective 28/07/2021. Retailers are free at all times to sell JTI products at whatever price they choose.

[1] IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Total Cigarillo Category, Total UK, Jun 2021.

SYMBOL GROUPS

SPAR SCOTLAND

CJ Lang unveils record investment

C

SPAR SCOTLAND OPENS FORECOURT STORE IN WHITBURN

The investment will cover multiple projects, including new energy-saving refrigeration.

J Lang & Son, the Spar Scotland wholesaler and convenience store operator, is to invest a record-breaking amount of money into its company-owned store estate.

The investment, the largest by the board of CJ Lang, will cover multiple projects, including new energy-saving refrigeration, a move which will also improve its customer offer across chilled foods and produce.

The group is also planning store refits by focusing on the store format.

The investment will go into large and

small-scale development work where they will modernise the layout, look and feel of Spar Scotland stores.

Colin McLean, Chief Executive of CJ Lang & Son, said: “Our Spar stores are positioned in the heart of communities and now is the time to carry out the next phase of our store improvement strategy.

“In recent years we have successfully rolled out Costa Coffee, our ‘CJ’s’ foodto-go offer, and improved our fleet of vehicles that travel millions of miles a year across the country. This investment demonstrates our confidence in the future direction of the business.”

Forecourt retailer EG Group has opened a new Spar convenience store and forecourt site at junction 4A off the M8 at the Heartlands Business Park, Whitburn, Scotland.

Heartlands is on the site of a former coal mine and has undergone a large regeneration project.

The 3,000sq ft Spar Scotland store has a host of food-togo options including sandwiches, hot and cold rolls and pastries, as well as a Starbucks unit and Greggs bakery. Fresh produce, Lottery and PayPoint services and free Wi-Fi further enhance the offering in-store The new forecourt has 10 lanes and two HGV lanes as well as dedicated parking for shoppers. The forecourt also boasts an external ATM and is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Mike Leonard, Sales Director at Spar Scotland, said: “The Heartlands Business Park is a recent addition to our partnership with EG Group. The new opening of the SPAR store has created jobs and will be a great addition to the towns in the surrounding area.”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 27

We have sold a retail business every single day so far in 2021* *working days

Buying or selling? Speak to the experts 0141 352 7309 scotland-retail@christie.com christie.com/retail

christie.com

Unstoppable One Stop has unveiled a wave of new store openings in recent weeks.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 29

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

CONVENIENCE TRACKING PROGRAMME

Shoppers become more value-led, research reveals Research shows the average weekly spend of a convenience store shopper declined, but the average basket size remained stable.

T

he average weekly spend of convenience store shoppers decreased by -1% during the four weeks ending 25 July.

The latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme shows the average weekly spend of a convenience store shopper declined from £23.56 in the four weeks ending 27 June to £23.27 in the four weeks ending 25 July.

During the same period, the average basket size remained stable at 2.8 items per trip, indicating that shoppers are becoming more budget conscious and opting

and pre-pandemic shopping habits returning.

This is further highlighted by a decline in the proportion of shoppers using delivery and click-and-collect. The proportion of shoppers using delivery fell -4ppts, from 7.1% to 3.1%. Click-and-collect saw a decline of -1.9ppts, from 2.2% to 0.3%.

Senior Insight Manager at Lumina Intelligence, Katherine Prowse, said: “As hospitality reopens and events return, there is also a challenge around budgets. Shoppers will be keen to make up for lost time, which could result in them becomThe average ing more budget conscious visit frequency of convenience with their groceries. shoppers has fallen for alternatives to higher “This is already apparslightly, from 2.8 value items. ent with spend declining times per week This is apparent in a and impulse purchasing on to 2.6 decline in impulse purchaspromotions increasing. Retailing, which decreased by -0.7ppts ers can lean on this demand for produring the four weeks ending 25 July, as motions to drive footfall and highlight consumers increasingly restrict spend- value.” ing on non-essentials. Impulse items She added: “It is a really positive were increasingly purchased due to pro- picture for convenience, with spend, motions, further emphasising a move footfall and basket size all growing. towards value-conscious shopping.

Despite hospitality rules easing, rising The average visit frequency of coronavirus cases and the ‘pingdemic’ convenience shoppers has also fallen will have resulted in many consumers slightly, from 2.8 times per week to being cautious and opting to cook at 2.6, reflecting the easing of restrictions home more.”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 31

IT

NEW

E L B A L I A V A

NOW

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX

UK consumer confidence falls with all measures down Shoppers ‘slam on the brakes’ as rising prices, tax increases and the end of the furlough scheme point to a cost of living crisis.

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onsumer confidence decreased five points in September to -13, new research reveals.

GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index shows all the measures of confidence – personal finances, the economy, major purchases, and savings – were down in comparison to a month earlier.

Confidence in personal finances over the past 12 months dropped four points to minus four, while the forecast for the next 12 months fell six points to five, although it remains four points higher

Confidence in personal finances over the past 12 months dropped four points to minus four.

than this time last year.

Expectations for the economic situation over the coming 12 months fell 10 points to -16, but is still 22 points higher than September last year.

Meanwhile, the Savings Index fell three points to +22 in September; this is only two points higher than this time last year.

Joe Staton, Client Strategy Director GfK, said: “On the back of concerns about rising prices for fuel and food, the growth in headline inflation, tax hikes, empty shelves and the end of the

furlough scheme, September sees consumers slamming on the brakes as those already in economic hardship anticipate a potential cost of living crisis.”

Stanton added: “When consumer confidence drops, shoppers tend to spend less, and this dampens the overall economic prospects for the UK. This really is an unwelcome picture if this continues into 2022 and beyond.”

This month’s survey was conducted among a sample of 2,000 individuals aged 16 years old and over.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 33

STORE OPENINGS

LAVAZZA

Lavazza opens UK flagship store

G

The store aims to introduce consumers from the UK and abroad to Italian coffee.

lobal Italian coffee company, Lavazza, inaugurates its first UK Flagship store this month, bringing an immersive coffee experience to London for the first time.

Set across three floors, the store is located on Great Marlborough Street, in central London. Inside, it takes coffee lovers on a journey of discovery that brings the store’s concept, ‘Coffee Design’, to life.

Visitors can take a seat in the ‘Caffetteria’ for traditional coffee recipes and patisserie. Those visiting the store later in the day can sample the ‘Coffeetails’ menu – created by the Lavazza Training Centre – or bespoke cocktails created by

the Campari Academy for Lavazza paired with a selection of small bites.

Visitors can also visit the contemporary restaurant for a menu, which blends “seasonal ingredients with elegance and a touch of unexpected flair”. After their meal, visitors can sample one of the 1,895 specialty coffees.

Pietro Mazzà, Regional Director UK & Nordics and General Manager Lavazza UK, said: “The UK coffee market is primarily made up of chains, but at Lavazza we are introducing a completely different concept than what’s currently available for the UK coffee lovers and enthusiasts.

“So much more than a coffee shop, Lavazza’s London flagship store will

34 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 75/ WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021

introduce consumers from the UK and abroad to the world of great Italian coffee, to be enjoyed in all its different forms, taking them on a journey from bean to cup and immersing them in the very best that Lavazza has to offer.”

Lavazza has partnered with Yahoo Creative Studios to create recipe video content and an interactive gaming experience. The augmented reality (AR) game challenges visitors to find AR Lavazza-branded coffee cups hidden throughout the city, which can be collected on a mobile phone and redeemed at the Lavazza flagship London store for a free coffee and automatic entry into a prize draw.

NEWSTRADE

NEWS UK

The Times aims to reignite old habits with new campaign The campaign communicates the positive experience of travelling while reading The Times.

T

he Times is reigniting the habit of buying a newspaper for commuters by reminding them of the benefits of reading the paper between home and work.

The campaign’s central theme is ‘space to think’, which communicates the positive experience of travelling while reading The Times.

Sampling has been in place in 19 rail stations across the country in the title’s biggest retail campaign since the start of the pandemic. Brand ambassadors distributed a ‘mini Times’ – with articles, a crossword, recipe and vouchers

The campaign’s central theme is ‘space to think’, communicating the positive experience of travelling while reading.

– to commuters, encouraging them to sample the paper over a couple of weeks.

Furthermore, The Times worked with WHSmith to develop impactful point of sale in more than 100 stores and digitally.

The Times Marketing Director, Louise Agran, said: “We all need space to think and this campaign is designed to remind commuters of the value of taking some time out to be informed. The campaign reinforces The Times’ agenda-setting journalism, thought-leading columnists and expert analysis in the

minds of commuters and aims to encourage lapsed and new customers to try our newspaper on their journeys to and from work.”

News UK Retail Director, Neil Spencer, said: “Any promotion reinforcing the print habit is good for retailers and is designed to drive loyalty to print. This campaign has set out to remind commuters of the value of time spent with a quality newspaper and has successfully driven thousands of redemptions, driving commuters back to the category into habits we hope will last all year long.”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 35

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NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – WALKERS

WALKERS UNVEILS GHOSTBUSTERS PROMOTION It is the first major collaboration to run across Walkers’ top five snack brands in years.

Walkers Snacks brands are offering Halloween

awareness of the promotion in-store, with a range

shoppers the opportunity to win prizes every hour

of POS materials and displays to create further

via an on-pack promotion to celebrate the release

visibility. They’re sure to help retailers drive savoury

of Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

snack sales during the run-up to Halloween.”

The promotion, which runs from 1 October to

Jeffrey Godsick, Executive Vice-President of

30 November, is the first major collaboration to run

Global Partnerships and Brand Management and

across Walkers’ top five snack brands in years. It

Head of Location Based Entertainment at Sony

features a prize pool including VIP screenings of

Pictures Entertainment, added: “What better way

Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Sony gadgets, and a grand

to celebrate the return of the iconic Ghostbusters

prize of a trip for two to New York.

than to partner with the UK’s biggest snack brand.

It is hoped the on-pack promotion will evoke

The unprecedented scale of our relationship with

nostalgia among parents and place Walkers front

Walkers Snacks is truly incredible, ensuring audi-

and centre for those looking for a Halloween snack.

ences across the UK and Ireland will get a taste

Will Robinson, Portfolio Lead for Walkers

of the exciting movie to come.”

Snacks at PepsiCo, said: “The collaboration

The Walkers Ghostbusters promotion will run

between Walkers and Ghostbusters: Afterlife is

across each Walkers Snacks brand in multipacks,

the perfect treat for Halloween. With eye-catching

grab bags, £1 PMPs, and sharing bags.

imagery from the film across the packs, they’re

To find out instantly if they’ve won, shoppers

sure to jump out at shoppers. As a key occasion

need to visit the promotional website and enter

for retailers to tap into, we’re also driving further

their full name and email address.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 37

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK – RIBENA SPARKLING

RIBENA SPARKLING PARTNERS WITH CHANNEL 4 The partnership marks the first dedicated consumer marketing campaign for the range.

Ribena Sparkling and Channel 4 have launched a

Ribena’s campaign with Channel 4 will also include

new three-month partnership, which sees the juice

social promotion, as well as on-air advertising, to drive

drink brand sponsor Friday Nights In on 4.

maximum visibility with consumers. In-store point-of-

The partnership is the first TV sponsorship of its kind for Ribena Sparkling, and the first dedicated consumer marketing campaign for the range.

sale material is also being supplied to retailers.

Helen Passard, Head of Ribena at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said: “We’re delighted to be

The new channel sponsorship will see a series

bringing the Ribena Sparkling range to Channel

of five specially-created 10-second idents run

4 viewers as part of their much-loved and hugely

throughout Channel 4’s Friday night schedule from

popular Friday night experience.

8pm-11pm until Christmas Eve, aimed at Ribena Sparkling’s ABC1 target audience.

As the temperature begins to drop and the nights draw in earlier, evenings with friends andfamily at

The creatives will show various characters begin

home in front of the television become a core part

their Friday night in with a signature “fizz” from a

of consumers’ routines at this time of year. What’s

nearby bottle of Ribena Sparkling as they open their

more we know how important it is to provide the right

front door, reach into the fridge or sit down in front

range of drinks for the night in occasion.”

of the television. The campaign will position Ribena

The Ribena Sparkling range is available in Rasp-

Sparkling as a great-tasting fizzy addition to the Ribena

berry and Blackcurrant flavours in a range of formats

juice drink range.

including 2L bottles and 6x330ml can multipacks.

38 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 75/ WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021

NPD AND MEDIA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

FESTIVE LOOK

IMPERIAL PACKS

ECO BAR

KP Snacks has launched limit-

Imperial Tobacco has given its

Ritter Sport has launched a lim-

ed-edition Christmas packaging

Richmond brand a new look. The

ited-edition dark milk chocolate

across Tyrrells Hand Cooked

portfolio will also now include for-

bar made from 100% certified,

Crisps and Veg Crisps sharing

mer Real Blue variants, renamed

sustainable cocoa. Don Choco,

bags. Tyrrells festive sharing

as Richmond Original Superk-

which has a 40% cocoa content,

bags will be available at an RSP

ings and Richmond Original

will be hitting stores this month.

of £2.29 for 150g Hand Cooked

Kingsize, as well as Richmond

It will be available through Dha-

Crisps and £2.50 for 125g shar-

Bright Superkings and Richmond

mecha, SOS Wholesale, Filshill,

ing bags of Veg Crisps.

Green Filter Superkings.

Rayburn, and CJ Lang.

SWEET SUCCESS

BLUE RASPBERRY

TRICK OR TREAT?

Bonds of London has been

JJ Whitley has launched a new

Country Choice has added to its

awarded one star by the Great

Blue Raspberry Russian Vodka

Halloween range with two 85g

Taste Awards for its Let The

variant, distilled at the JJ Whitley

Cupcakes in Bat and Ghost vari-

Good Times Be Gin gummy

distillery in St. Petersburg. The

ants (£1.49), a Halloween Mallow

sweets. Over 14,000 products

new drink, which has an ABV of

Ghost – a spooky-shaped marsh-

entered the awards this year. The

38%, can be enjoyed straight,

mallow on a biscuit base (£1.09),

rhubarb gin flavoured sweets

over ice, with a simple mixer or

and the Halloween Doughnut

will be decorated with the Great

for making a range of cocktails.

Sprinkle filled with orange and

Taste logo.

It is available to order now.

blackcurrant (£1.30).

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 39

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2021 Costa Ltd. All rights reserved. Coffee from Rainforest Alliance farms. Find out more at ra.org Source: *Nielsen Total Coverage MAT Value 19.06.21 **Kantar Data 52 w/e 13.06.2021

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX

‘Chat checkouts’ bring personal touch back

A Dutch supermarket plans to combat loneliness in the elderly with an ambitious new initiative.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? Dutch supermarket Jumbo has unveiled plans to open 200 Kletskassa – chat checkouts – at its stores within a year.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The supermarket chat checkout is part of a health ministry programme to combat loneliness. The Netherlands has some 1.3 million people over the age of 75, over half of whom have said they regularly feel lonely. The initiative aims to pick up the signs of loneliness early and invites companies, organisations and local councils to work together to come up with creative solutions, such as the chat checkouts.

IS IT A NEW IDEA? The idea for the Kletskassa originated more than two years ago, and in the summer of 2019 the first kletskassa was opened in Vlijmen in Brabant. By this time next year, there will be Kletskassas in 200 stores across the country where people can go for a chat. When choosing the stores, areas where loneliness is a major factor are carefully considered. Jumbo will begin to roll out its chat checkouts in the run-up to the Week Against Loneliness, which kicks off on 30 September.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING? we want to play a role in identifying Colette Cloosterman-van Eerd, Chief Creative Officer of Jumbo and the driving force behind the National Coalition against Loneliness, said: “Many people, especially the elderly, sometimes feel lonely. As a family business and supermarket chain, we are at the heart of society. Our stores are an important meeting place for many people, and

and reducing loneliness. We do this in various ways, including our Kletskassas.

“We are proud that many of our cashiers like to take a seat behind a Kletskassa. They support the initiative and want to help people to make real contact with them out of genuine interest. It is a small gesture, but very valuable, especially in a world that is digitising and

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 41

Fresh thinkers wanted.

Nisa’s fresh thinking has helped Sunny grow his business and double basket spend. Through the latest retail expertise, innovative format design, a best in fresh range and access to Co-op own-brand range we’ve helped Sunny add value to his business. He also has the chance to earn up to 5.5% rebate as part of our Fresh Rewards scheme.

Find out more about Nisa fresh thinking at www.nisalocally.co.uk/retailers or call 0800 542 7490 Scan the QR code to see Sunny’s story.

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…

OUT THE BOX

getting faster and faster.”

HOW ELSE CAN STORES TACKLE LONELINESS? Jumbo – a member of the National Coalition against Loneliness, an initiative of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the context of the One Against Loneliness action programme – has various other initiatives to establish personal contact between people.

Cloosterman-van Eerd added: “At Jumbo we want to be more than just a place where you do your shopping. For example, we help our stores by means of a manual to signal loneliness among customers and to set up local initiatives.

This handbook has been drawn up in

close collaboration with One Against Loneliness.”

The retailer also opened the All Together Coffee Corner, where seniors can connect with volunteers from a local foundation who are there to chat or to help with small chores.

Last year the supermarket introduced special Chat Packages to help its customers contribute to combating loneliness.

Shoppers could send packages, which came in three variants –Vegetable Soup, Hot Lightening, and Apple Pie, with a ‘from me for you’ giveaway box and greeting card. It hopes that the initiative would inspire customers to cook or bake for someone else more often and thus stay in touch.

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 43

BEFORE YOU GO

RETAIL RANDOMS

Two out of eight ain’t bad They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity but surely the head honchos at Welsh brewery Tiny Rebel are wincing after drinks industry watchdog the Portman Group received complaints about a whopping eight of its various beers.

The Portman Group said there had been “an unmatched number of complainants for products considered from one company”.

There are no prizes for guessing that all eight products attracted complaints under the Group’s rule 3.2(h): a drink, its packaging or promotion should not have a particular appeal to under-18s.

To spell it out further, the Group was especially concerned by designs that featured cartoon characters, made prominent use of Tiny Rebel’s bear logo or were themed around products popular with children such as sweets and 99 ice creams.

Amazingly, complaints against two products, Cali Pale and Clwb Tropica’s 330ml can, were not upheld. This prompted the following response from Tiny Rebel: “We’re delighted that [the Portman Group] have confirmed that our Clwb Tropica IPA and Cali Pale Ale

products are both fully compliant.”

One has to admire Tiny Rebel’s ability to accentuate the positive. When given lemons, make lemonade, as the saying goes.

Just don’t make it alcoholic. And don’t make it look like a Rubik’s Cube.

TAAT’s what I’m talking about!

If you’re heading over to Chicago next week for the NACS trade show, be sure to visit booth 1659 to discover what “freedom tastes like”.

It turns out freedom actually tastes like fags, according to tobacco alternatives brand TAAT, whose Beyond Nicotine cigarettes “give smokers the sensory and smoking experience they prefer with their smoking ritual without the burden of tobacco or nicotine”.

So that’ll be drawing a host of unwelcome chemicals into your lungs, stinking like an ashtray and standing outside the pub in the rain with the other pariahs.

Oh, and copping an eyeful of a

woman’s cleavage under the guise of getting a light, if the sexist marketing

material is anything to go by.

As TAAT’s strapline says: “Cigarette evolution is finally here!”

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 75 / SLRMAG.CO.UK / 45

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