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Your Londis
Minimum wage rates to increase
The adult National Living Wage is to increase by 6.6% from April next year.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced increases in the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage for younger workers in the recent Autumn Budget.
From 1 April next year, the National Living Wage for those aged 23 and over will increase from £8.91 to £9.50 an hour, a rise of 6.6%.
At the same time, the National Minimum Wage for those aged 21-22 will increase from £8.36 to £9.18 an hour; for 18 to 20-year-olds it will rise from £6.56 to £6.83; while for under-18s it will increase from £4.62 to £4.81.
The Apprentice Rate will also increase, from £4.30 to £4.81 an hour.
Announcing the changes, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “We are increasing the National Living Wage next year by 6.6%, to £9.50 an hour. For a full-time worker, that’s a pay rise worth over £1,000, and it will benefit over two million of the lowest-paid workers in the country.”
Londis has created a new pack of Covid–19 awareness posters and POS for retailers, which are available through the Printshop. The pack covers issues such as contactless payment, hand sanitising and social distancing measures.
The pack is designed to help retailers reassure shoppers that are still feeling vulnerable, and the impact of the signage can be enhanced by continuing to provide hand sanitiser for those who still want to be as careful as possible when shopping. The Printshop is free to access via the My Londis website on the Booker. co.uk platform.
Pandemic pet boom creates opportunities
A lockdown-driven boom in the UK pet population is creating huge opportunities for retailers, new research reveals. driven by rocketing demand for pet food and treats formulated with natural ingredients and based on the diets of animals in the wild.
The research from Mars Petcare unveils the true extent of the pet boom over the course of the pandemic, with an increase of more than 1.5 million pets in the UK over the period.
The research reveals that the number of puppies living in the UK almost tripled between 2016 and 2020. By the end of last year, there were 1.8 million puppies in the country. Meanwhile there were 1.3 million kittens in Britain in 2020, up from 650,000 in 2016.
As a result, total sales of pet food and litter have surged by 10.8%, an increase worth £45m. This is being Zoe Taphouse, Category & Market Activation Director at Mars Petcare UK, said: “The prospects for the category are extremely good. Not only do shoppers tend to shop petcare for considerably longer than other categories such as infant care, they also show a far greater propensity to trade up and try new things. With the right ranges and in-store marketing, our retail partners can look forward to a long period of growth.”
Family businesses celebrated
A new event celebrated the job creation driven by local firms.
The contribution of the UK’s family business sector has been celebrated by the first Family Business Week (22nd-26th November).
The week, led by the Institute for Family Business and supported by NatWest, highlighted the significant contribution that family firms make to the UK economy – the UK’s five million family firms provide jobs for 14 million people.
The event saw family businesses from across the country sharing their stories of how they support their people and local communities, while also showcasing the valuable role that family firms have in tackling the climate crisis by making their businesses more sustainable. The Institute for Family Businesses has also been coordinating a series of visits for MPs to their local family businesses, culminating in Family Business Friday.
Sir James Wates, Chairman of the Institute for Family Business, said: “Values led, purpose-driven businesses like these are the backbone of our economy, and we need to celebrate and support them – especially after the difficult time they have faced during the pandemic.”
Andy Gray, Managing Director, Corporate and Commercial at NatWest, added: “Family Businesses are a cornerstone of the UK business community, responsible for nearly 30% of UK economic output, and a significant proportion of private sector employment; as a result, UK economic recovery and growth relies heavily upon the success of this group.”
Shoppers urged to #ShopKind this Christmas
Retailers are urging shoppers to #ShopKind when they visit high streets this Christmas, as new research reveals that 38% of shoppers have witnessed violence and abuse against shopworkers.
The #ShopKind campaign urges the public to be mindful of shopworkers’ essential role serving the public, and emphasises that workers should be treated with respect, kindness, and gratitude.
The campaign is supported by major high street retailers as well as the Association of Convenience Stores and the shopworkers’ union Usdaw. The ShopKind campaign is now visible across high streets and on social media.
Spending on essential items increases
Consumer spending on cards at supermarkets and food & drink specialist stores grew 14.2% and 69.2% in October respectively, new research reveals.
Data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, shows that card spending continues to rise strongly in food and drink specialist stores, which includes convenience stores.
Meanwhile, fuel spend returned to modest 5.5% growth after last month’s 11.1% surge.
More than a third (38%) of consumers report finding it “harder than normal” to buy essential items due to shortages on the shelves, the survey also reveals.
The top five items among shoppers who were struggling to make some purchases were: fresh fruit and vegetables (42%), ingredients for home cooking (30%), frozen goods (28%), fresh meat and fish (25%), and soft drinks (24%).
Link extends ‘Cashback Without Purchase’ rollout
This initiative means consumers will be able to withdraw cash or check balances in smaller shops without the need to buy an item in-store or pay a fee. The government made changes to the law through the Financial Services Act 2021 earlier this year to facilitate ‘cashback without a purchase’ services.
PayPoint is the first of Link’s members to provide the service and will be offering it at more than 2,000 shops before the end of the year.
Consumers using the service can choose to withdraw any amount between 1p and £50 rather than being restricted to notes dispensed by ATMs. Retailers are remunerated for providing this service by the cardholder’s bank via the Link member offering the service.
Tracey Graham, Chair of Link Consumer Council, said: “Protecting access to cash is absolutely vital for millions of people who depend on it. Cashback Without Purchase is a convenient new way for people to withdraw notes and coins at their local retailer.
Link, the UK’s largest cash machine network, is rolling out Cashback Without Purchase across the UK.
Local shops 'committed' to healthy eating
The Food Foundation has highlighted the essential role that local shops play in providing healthy food.
Its Peas Please Report reveals that since the initiative was launched in 2017, 636 million additional portions of vegetables have been sold or served. In the past 12 months over 403 million portions have been added to the total.
The report recognises that the independent retailing sector has updated and expanded its work in the past year.
Association of Convenience Stores Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “Convenience retailers have actively and positively engaged with a range of campaigns to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables in their local areas including Change4Life, Healthy Start, and Peas Please. We’re pleased to see that this report has recognised the important role that local shops play in contributing to healthier communities.”
Government acts on tougher sentences for shopworkers
The government has unveiled plans to introduce tougher sentences for abusing or attacking a shopworker.
The Home Office notified the National Retail Crime Steering Group that an amendment has been tabled which would make attacking a retail worker an aggravated offence, resulting in tougher sentencing for offenders.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), trade union Usdaw and others have repeatedly called on the government to act and send a clear message that it takes crimes against shopworkers seriously.
ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: “We strongly welcome the tabling of this amendment, which the retail sector has been calling for over a number of years. It’s essential that the penalties for attacking a shopworker act as an effective deterrent.
“Introducing tougher sentences for those who attack people providing a service to the public, including shopworkers, marks a significant step forward, but it does not solve the problem by itself. We need to ensure that abuse is not seen as part of the job and that all incidents are reported, and in response, Police and Crime Commissioners must prioritise crimes committed against retailers and their colleagues. We must also put the right interventions in place to stop those with substance and alcohol dependencies from reoffending.”
