Community News

Key issues of interest to you

Londis stores around the country have been holding coffee mornings to raise funds for MFG charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.

The stores have been holding coffee mornings and selling cakes to customers to raise funds for the charity which provides specialist health care, information, and financial support to people affected by cancer.

Other stores taking part included: Londis Eastbowling in Bradford; Londis Bicker Bar in Boston; Londis Eastbridge in Welwyn Garden City, Londis Hemingbrough in North Yorkshire, Londis Pennsylvania in Gloucestershire, Londis Mumbles in South Wales, Londis Sellers Wood in Nottingham, Londis Mabon in South Wales, Londis Hillington in Norfolk, Londis Southgate in London, Londis Junction in Daventry, Londis Barton Mills in Suffolk, Londis Aldershot in Surrey, Londis Whitehorse, Londis Pippin in Wiltshire.

Mental matters

Londis Rother Avenue Abergavenny and Londis Gilwern have donated 10% of their takings, excluding PapPoint and National Lottery to mental health charity Mind Monmouthshire, as part of World Mental Health Day (10 October).

The retailer said: “This town has suffered hugely over the last couple of years and so many people in the town have been affected in some way, shape or form.

“So, if this small gesture can help even only one person, it would have done its job. If anyone out there is going through a hard time right now, please speak up. It truly does help to talk.”

Food delivery

Londis Cheylesmore, in Coventry, has donated a trolley full of goods for the Cheylesmore Community Food Bank.

The store also collects items from customers to be donated to the food bank.

The retailer, who was featured on BBC news, also gives out free meals to the needy every week in town.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Key issues of interest to you

Key Dates: January 2022 – Exemption opens for Return Point Operators March 2023 – Registration opens for Return Point Operators August 2023 – DRS scheme goes live for consumers

Visit depositreturnscheme. zerowastescotland.org.uk/ applications to apply for an exemption. Please note that advice and guidance continue to change and evolve, so it is vital that Londis retailers in Scotland regularly check they have the most recent information. Visit circularityscotland.com and sign to up receive the latest updates.

DRS advice updated for retailers in Scotland

Circularity Scotland, the administrator for next year’s Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland, has issued new advice for retailers preparing for the new regulations.

With Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) set to come into force on 16 August next year the DRS Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, has issued fresh advice and information to retailers to help them prepare for the new regulations.

Under the scheme, consumers will pay a 20p deposit whenever they buy a drink in a single-use container and will get their deposit back when returning the empty bottle or can for recycling. Circularity Scotland aims to recapture 90% pf Scotland’s single-use containers.

The Deposit Return Scheme will cover all drinks sold in PET plastic, metal and glass which are between 50ml and 3l in size.

RETURN POINT OPERATORS As businesses which serves drinks to customers to consume off the premises, Londis stores must charge a deposit for each drink sold in an ‘in scope’ container and they must operate a Return Point to allow their customers to return their containers to them after use. They will then be paid a handling fee for every container returned.

This means Londis retailers in Scotland must: l Only sell drinks from registered producers; l Only sell drinks to consumers in

Scotland that a producer has made available for sale in Scotland; l Charge the 20p deposit when selling a drink that is part of the scheme; l Make it clear to the customer that the drink is part of the scheme and a deposit applies; l Clearly display the price of the deposit (20p) in any place that a drink is displayed for sale; l Clearly display information on how the customer can redeem the deposit; l Operate a return point (unless exempt) or takeback service; l Store returned empty containers in a safe way.

RVM V MANUAL There will be two main ways to return empty containers: over the counter, or by using a reverse vending machine (RVM) that scans containers when they are returned and then refunds the deposit.

For every scheme container returned to store, retailers will receive a handling fee from the scheme administrator to cover the costs associated with taking part in the scheme.

For retailers using an RVM, handling fees will be 3.55p per container for the first 8,000 containers returned each week and 1.35p for each additional container.

Retailers who opt for manual handling will receive 2.69p per container.

EXEMPTIONS Retailers can apply for an exemption consideration if they wish. There are two ways to obtain an exemption: l If you can show that there is an alternative return point nearby that has agreed to take back containers on your behalf. l If you can show that there is no reasonable way of operating a return point on the premises without a significant risk of breaching relevant legal obligations e.g. food safety.

ACS signs up to UK Plastics Pact

ACS is signing up as a supporter of the Waste and Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP’s) UK Plastics Pact, joining other leading business groups in affirming its commitment to making the convenience sector more sustainable.

The Plastics Pact has four main objectives: 1 Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery model; 2 100% of plastics packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable; 3 70% of plastics packaging effectively recycled or composted; 4 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are committed to working with WRAP and other environmental groups on finding ways to make the products that our members sell more recyclable. “The convenience sector is currently facing huge challenges through a range of different policy interventions across the UK, including bans on some single use plastics, the introduction of differing deposit return schemes in different countries, and the expansion of the extended producer responsibility scheme – it is important that we introduce measures that will be maximally effective without imposing unnecessary costs and burdens on retailers.”

Brits adopting tactics to curb spending

Brits are changing their spending behaviour to ensure they are able to cover rising utility bills this autumn and winter, data from Barclaycard reveals.

Average spending on utility bills increased by 48% in September – higher than the growth seen in August and July – with 91% of consumers feeling concerned about the impact of rising household bills on their personal finances.

Over half of Brits are planning to cut down on discretionary spending to be able to afford their energy bills this autumn and winter. Of these consumers, 60% are reducing the amount they eat out at restaurants and 47% are spending less on drinking in pubs, bars, and nightclubs.

Meanwhile, 52% of Brits are planning to spend more evenings at home over the coming months. In addition, with the festive period fast approaching, 39% have already started putting money aside for Christmas and 48% are stocking up on food with a long shelf-life.

Three in ten workers are also now taking a packed or homemade lunch into the office, instead of buying food on-the-go, while 28% are cutting back on treats at work, such as coffees and snacks.

Esme Harwood, Director at Barclaycard, said: “As the colder weather starts to set in and energy bills continue to rise, Brits are facing even tougher decisions about where they focus their spending. As a result, discretionary purchases like meals out and clothes have become less of a priority.

“However, Brits are still keen to have a good time while they save money, particularly when it comes to nights in.”

Price marks ‘more important’ than the price itself

New research has found that 62% of independent retailers believe shoppers would still buy pricemarked products if suppliers increased pricing.

New research from digital and data experts TWC has revealed that 62% of independent retailers feel that their shoppers would still buy price marked packs (PMPs) if suppliers increased the price of them a little.

The research was conducted in August and September this year and the findings indicate that retailers believe that it is the price flash on a PMP, rather than the specific price point itself, that triggers consumer purchase.

Eight in 10 retailers agree that shoppers like PMPs and 78% agreed that PMPs demonstrate good value for money to shoppers.

Tom Fender, Development Director at TWC, commented: “There is no doubt that consumers like PMPs and their role in communicating value is critical at this time with the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Independent retailers have their own challenges in managing the rising business costs of running their stores – and product margins need to reflect retailers’ costs in 2022.”

Vaping harm reduction claims verified

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has published its first vaping evidence review and has reconfirmed the finding that vaping is “at least 95% less harmful” than combustible tobacco.

The review is in line with previous findings by Public Health England and was welcomed by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).

John Dunne, Director General of the UKVIA, said: “It’s good to see that the experts involved in this latest review stand by the estimates that vaping is ‘at least 95% less harmful’ than combustible tobacco and that it ‘poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking’.”

Independent store numbers rise in Scotland

The total number of convenience stores in Scotland rose by 61 to 5,098 in the last year, according to the Scottish Local Shop Report 2022, published recently by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF). The number of people employed in the sector also rose last year, up 16.7% on the previous year, bringing the total number of independent retailing jobs to 49,000. Pete Cheema, CEO of the SGF, said: “The contribution of convenience stores and retail over the past few years cannot be overstated.

“Despite very diffi cult and challenging circumstances for many in convenience retail, staff and local shop owners across Scotland have continued to play an absolutely essential role in both the Scottish economy and for people in their communities.