Londis News, Vol 35, Issue 4, September 2022

DON’TMISS... MORE…MUCHANDPROMOTIONSPRODUCTS,NEWINTERVIEWS,INSIGHTS,AWARDS,NEWS, News Vol 35 Issue 4 September 2022 Follow the latest trends to win with wine Fresh 4 SolutionsSaffronSavepromotionJack’smoneywithBusiness

COSTA COFFEE HELPS WAKE UP VILLAGE STORE

The pandemic was tough for everyone, but once over, Sarah knew she had to rebuild and reposition her business in order to bounce back, and that’s exactly what she did – with a store refit, new bakery / hot food area, and the surprise hero of it all, a Costa Coffee machine.

Did you know?Costa Expresssells 5 cupsevery second1Find out how CostaExpress can improveyour business

20 years ago, Sarah Cope moved away from the hustle and bustle of London to raise her family and start her own business, Londis Lynton in a quiet Devon village. With the nearest town 20 miles away, Sarah’s store sat at the heart of a small community, and her loyal locals relied on her for all their daily essentials and more. Plus, being in a picturesque Devon village, there was a seemingly endless supply of tourists visiting the area. This was, of course, until the pandemic.

“I have a loyal customer base who continued to shop with me through the pandemic. I lost all tourist trade, hotel workers, and any travel to the village but I kept my store open to cater for the 1,200 locals. I even delivered shopping to vulnerable customers in the area.”

Rebuild and reposition

Interview with Sarah Cope, Londis

Londis Lynton now offers a huge variety of products and stocks an extensive offering of produce – with a real focus on fresh and chilled. Alongside an increased and improved range, Sarah has installed a bakery and hot food to go area. The plan for the refit was to do something new and do it properly, while capitalizing on the growth in food to go. When Sarah was considering which coffee vendor to choose, she was helped by her Londis RDM (Richard Iles) to reach the conclusion that Costa was the best option.

GET IN TOUCH WITH BOOKERGROUP@COSTA.CO.UK TO SEE HOW YOU CAN GET

“I can’t believe the instant affect it’s had on trade. Our Costa machine has already att racted new, regular customers who I see 3 or 4 times a week, coming in to pick up their favourite coffee. There isn’t a Costa for miles around us, and the local coffee shops don’t open until 10am, so we get all that morning trade, who always buy more than just a coffee and that continues right throughout the day.”

© 2013 - 2022 Costa. All rights reserved1Source: Costa Express sales data, 52WE 15.06.22

Growth in on-the-go

COFFEE

National marketingsupport in all stores campaignswithaligning to the MasterbrandCosta seen in Coffee shops1

With a boost in regular and passing trade, Sarah is thrilled with the difference food to go and Costa Coffee has made to her business. But she’s not finished yet. Sarah has many ideas in the works, including a combo deal with hot food and coffee to drive volume in both categories. GREAT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS

“I decided on Costa instantly because of the brand and the integrity it has... Costa also drives footfall, and I am excited to see the additional basket spend the machine will drive.”

Sarah viewed the refit as an opportunity to push the business forward, find new customers and get shoppers back. She knew she had to be bold and make a big change to make a difference – a plan which worked immediately. Within weeks of re-opening, the refit enticed lapsed local customers back to the store, who she hadn’t seen in years – impressed by the larger range and new areas.

Yours ComplianceJonathanfaithfullyPannamanManager

exciting changes coming to The Health Lottery in the next few months! To make things simpler for you and your staff, we will be changing the age restriction on sales and prizes from 16+ to 18+ from 1st September 2022 in retail stores. This will ensure that we are aligned with our online platform, where players already have to be 18+ to take part in our range of games.

ThereRetaileraresome

From 1st June 2022, we will begin distributing new player facing POS items that will show the 18+ logo. These items will either be provided via a store visit from our Brand Ambassadors or by post. We request that you replace any items that you have showing 16+, with the new 18+ items as soon as you get them. Please also ensure that, where appropriate, staff are trained on the age change and that your till system is updated if you have an age verification process.

Many thanks

Dear

Finally, thanks for continuing to support us and the and the 3,300 projects and charities that have already received funding through The Health Lottery, helping people in local communities live better and healthier lives.

56 Grape

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9

Friday IT and Customer Services Opening

Retailer transforms vacant site in Swindon into a vibrant community hub. A perfect fit

78

Mark Oldfield talks wine. Save money and time

Contents

For

15

Email: For customer londis.claims@bookerretail.co.ukservices: or enquiries@londis.co.uk

5274

GroceryAid News

Retailer’s support for shoppers hailed.

8am–5:30pm Monday

Helpdesk: 0800 298 0758

New app makes ordering easier than ever. ACS

Industry News

61 Medication

Saffron Business Solutions can help you cut cost and save time.

4’‘Fresh New freshpromotionJack’sdrivesgrowth

Londis News team: Email: londisnews@londis.co.uk

89

Chaxhill retailers reinvigorate lifeline store with a major refit and extension. expectations

New deal delivers market-leading commission for Londis retailers.

82 Londis Scanning App

products

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Cash in on the frozen trend

Charity services more in demand than ever.

SGF threatens DRS legal challenge.

In this issue...

Londis Ystradgynlais PO & Stores has been uniquely tailored to meet local needs. Local flavour

For

notsmarter,Workingharder in-store.onretailerDagenhamfocusesefficiency Get Touchin Booker Retail Partners Tel: 0870 050 0158 Opening

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Some of the latest products to hit the shelves. hours: to hours (Monday to Friday): customer services: 6am–9pm IT: 7am–9pm

Follow the latest trends to maximise wine sales and profits. time

70 Meet The Buyer

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Exclusive Just Eat deal

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Stewart Fenn Sales Director, Booker Retail Partners fresh opportunities!

In addition, I hope you enjoy our usual mix of news, advice and support and I wish you all fantastic trading over the next couple of months.

A very warm welcome to the latest issue of Londis News as we look forward to the fresh opportunities that the autumn months will bring.

retailers leave no stone unturned when it comes to cutting costs and saving money, which is why you’ll find a feature in this issue on Saffron Business Solutions who have worked with Booker customers over the last decade or so and have saved them thousands of pounds per store on their electricity, gas and water bills. Why not get in touch to see if they can save you some money?

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WELCOME7

As part of another fantastic deal, Booker has agreed exclusive terms with Barclaycard offering Londis retailers enhanced deals on credit and debit card rates as well as terminal rental. The agreement means retailers pay just 0.29% per transaction on debit card payments.

As we enter the autumn and winter months, there’s plenty to be excited about for Londis retailers.

Speaking of fresh opportunities, we are delighted to share some more information on our latest Jack’s ‘Fresh 4’ rolling promotional programme. We are all very well aware of the increasingly important role of the fresh category in independent retailing and the ‘Fresh 4’ programme is a great example of how Londis has responded to feedback from retailers who were keen to grow their fresh fruit and vegetable sales and drive more footfall and profits.

Welcome to our September issue of Londis News!

to seeing you in-store!

New season,Lookforward

We are also delighted to reveal in this issue a new exclusive commission deal that Booker has secured with Just Eat, the UK’s largest delivery platform. With home delivery being adopted by so many Londis retailers, this new marketleading deal offers retailers a fantastic 24% commission

deal leaves retailers to focus on growing their sales and profits without the hassle of the complex element of a home delivery service.

In the current challenging economic climate, it’s vital that

©2022 Monster Energy Company. All rights Reserved. MONSTER ENERGY® ® MONSTER ENERGY ULTRA ® are all registered trademarks of Monster Energy Company. NPD is a key driver of category growth. 61% of this growth is driven by Monster. Source: Nielsen Value Sales: Total Coverage, MAT to 01.01.22 STOCK UP NOW.NPDISAKEY DRIVER OF CATEGORY GROWTH. 61% OF THIS GROWTH IS DRIVEN BY MONSTER. MONSTERNEWFROM M274896 M276163M276164M278488

After that, it’s simply a case of agreeing a start date and launching your new delivery service for your shoppers and your community.

LONDISYOUR

Booker commissionexclusivesecuresJustEatdeal

To take advantage of the deal, all that Londis retailers have to do is complete a registration form, then review and sign the contract that Just Eat will provide within two weeks. Just Eat will then set up your account, upload your pre-prepared Booker-specific line listing and send the devices you need to manage your orders and picking.

Booker has secured a group exclusive 24% commission deal with Just Eat which will allow Londis retailers to grow their businesses and profits with home delivery.

Family...thearoundfromStoriesLondis Find us @myLondis@myLondison@myLondis@LondisRetail

Join Just Eat today and we’ll deliver groceries to your customers Convenience stores are one of the fastest growing markets for home delivery. Reach thousands more customers in your area with the UK’s largest delivery platform. Four simple steps to grow your business Any questions? Call us on 02045 257 497 or email us groceryonboarding@justeattakeaway.com Own 1-3 stores? Complete this registration form for eachstoreindividual We’ll set up your account, upload your menu and send your devices Agree a start date and you’re good to go No feessign-uporcosts 1a 1b 1,000s of customersnewyourarea 19 million customersUK We’ll get your details and issue a contract to review and sign24 3 Own stores or more? Send your name, store name & postcode to groceryonboarding@justeattakeaway.com to get started 24%ratecommission forexclusivelyBooker

For further information, call 02045 257 497 or groceryonboarding@justeattakeaway.comemail

With home delivery one of the most attractive growth opportunities available for Londis retailers and with independent retail among the fastest growing sectors for home delivery, Booker has announced a fantastic new group exclusive deal with Just Eat to help Londis retailers capitalise on this outstanding opportunity.

The new deal delivers a market-leading commission rate of 24% for Londis retailers, helping them reach thousands of new shoppers in their area and gaining access to a network of more than 19 million shoppers who already use Just Eat, the UK’s largest delivery platform.

Minimum contract period is one year with a one month notice period and no termination fees for correctly processed cancellations.

The deal means that retailers can focus on growing their sales and profits without the hassle of managing the complex element of a home delivery service.

Additionally, terminal rental is available to Londis retailers from just £10 a month.

The Welsh Government has published a draft Bill which aims to ban or restrict the sale of single-use plastics in Wales, including a ban on plastic bags which are currently subject to a 5p charge.

supply or offer to supply (including for free) a shopper in Wales with single-use plastic products including cups, cutlery, drink stirrers, lids for cups or takeaway food containers, straws, plates, balloon sticks, carrier bags and cotton buds.

“Thetimes.store was originally established by my father 35 years ago and while it has changed a great deal physically in that time, our strong and positive relationships with local shoppers has held fast,” VJ told Londis News.

Wales was the first UK nation to introduce a single use plastic bag charge at 5p per bag.

The new Environmental Protection Bill would prohibit the sale of these products and make it an offence for a person to

Independent retailer Vrajesh Patel of Londis VJ Enterprise in Dagenham is gearing up to celebrate 35 years of successful trading by hosting a community fun day for local shoppers. The day gave Vrajesh, who is known as VJ to his shoppers, the chance to thank the local community for its support over the years and though the recent challenging pandemic

Stewart Fenn, Sales Director – Retail, commented: “We are always working to find new ways to help Londis retailers reduce their costs and increase their profits. This latest group exclusive agreement with Barclaycard is another important step in that direction and offers Londis retailers enhanced deals on card payments and helps them cut their costs every day.”

To find out just how much you could save, call 0800 151 0122 and quote ‘Booker symbol’.

“It will be a joy to celebrate with them and thank them for their continued loyalty and

Thesupport.”store offered shoppers “goody bags” containing free Jack’s products for them to sample and shoppers were treated to an array of entertainment including bouncy castles and entertainers.

Booker has announced that it has secured a fantastic new group exclusive deal with Barclaycard that offers Londis retailers deals on both credit and debit card rates as well as terminal rental. The agreement means retailers pay just 0.29% per transaction on debit card payments and just 0.699% per transaction on credit card payments. An authorisation fee of 0.005p is also payable for taking each card payment.

Booker Exclusive card deal secured with Barclaycard

Wales to bin single-use bags Subject to subscription criteria. For all of our charges and full terms and conditions please click here or call 0800 151 0122. Other exception charges and authorisation fees may apply. All prices exclude VAT. Call charges info Barclaycard is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC and Barclaycard International Payments Limited. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number: 122702). Registered in England No. 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. Barclaycard International Payments Limited, trading as Barclaycard, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered Number: 316541. Registered Office: One Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 RF29. Directors: Paul Adams (British), Steven Lappin (British), James Kelly, Mary Lambkin Coyle, Peter Morris and David Rowe. Powering change through payments Check out what Barclaycard Business could do for you. Or find out just how much you could save by calling 0800 151 0122 – and quoting ‘Booker symbol’. See how much your business could save with Barclaycard Debit card rates per0.290%transaction* + authorisation0.005p fee Credit card rates per0.699%transaction* + authorisation0.005p fee rentalTerminal per£from10month New exclusive agreement offers Londis retailers enhanced deals on credit and debit card rates as well as terminal rental. cheergearsDagenhamLondisupto35years

Polling from an ACS’s Survey in May found that one in four retailers have increased healthy product sales and stocked more healthy products in their stores over the past three years. Any store that accepts Mastercard payments is eligible to take part in the Healthy Start scheme.

l Price: The key sales opportunities each week.

l Service & newPromotionalOperations:changes,servicesandsupport

New Weekly Bulletin keeps retailers ahead of the game

Key issues of interest to you

Londis’ new Weekly E-Bulletin keeps retailers up to date on all key issues and opportunities as well as providing time-saving ordering features.

Healthy Start is a government scheme for those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant, parents, carers and young children in low-income families, to help them buy healthy food and milk and get free Healthy Start vitamins. It is a digital scheme that offers a prepaid card to those applying for Healthy Start instead of paper vouchers.

Londis has launched a new Weekly Retailer Bulletin which is emailed to all retailers every Thursday and keeps them fully up to speed and ahead of the game on all important issues and opportunities.

l Choice: More focus on new products.

A tapping finger icon within the Bulletin means that retailers can simply tap or click to order the featured products online, or find out more information.

The content of the Bulletin has been fully refreshed and includes important information on:

from Booker and important industry Contentupdates.includes news, new product information, key dates for the diary, seasonal guidance and updates on everything from promotions, central billing and legislation to availability and Jack’s own brand Additionally,developments.addedfunctionality

RETAILER BULLETIN Wednesday 24thThisAugustWeek’s Updates C ck to go to the re evant page

The new mobile-friendly format means you can quickly and easily catch up on the latest developments whether you are on the shopfloor, on the go, in branch or wherever you happen to be.

allows retailers to order stock directly through the Bulletin.

The bulletin can be accessed at Booker.co.uk or via email and WhatsApp.

MPs have been briefed on the vital role that local independent stores play in ensuring that their communities have access to healthy foods ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on the Healthy Start Scheme. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) highlighted how important retailers are to the success of the scheme and urged more retailers to engage with it.

NEWSINDUSTRY

Retailers driving Healthy Start Scheme

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The Prime Minister also announced two reviews, one focusing on energy regulations to fix ‘underlying problems’ and a second review to ensure net zero is delivered by 2050 in a way that is ‘pro-business and pro-growth’.

Association of Convenience Stores

New Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced the much-anticipated support plan to help businesses and consumers cope with spiralling energy Speakingcosts.tothe

The Association of Convenience Stores has urged the Welsh Government to ensure that new restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products are in-line with those being introduced in England, to ensure consistency and reduce the burden on retail Respondingbusinesses. to the Welsh Government’s consultation, the ACS has highlighted a number of key differences that currently exist between its proposals and the regulations set to be introduced in England.

play an essential role in both the economy and to our communities and it is vital that this is considered when reviewing the support that is being offered.”

13

NEWSINDUSTRY

The Prime Minister announced an Energy Price Guarantee which sees a £2,500 annual price cap for two years from start of 1st October for consumers and a new six-month scheme for businesses which will provide equivalent support to that being offered to consumers.

ACS calls onconsistencyforHFSS

This support scheme for businesses’ will be reviewed in three months’ time to see if the help should be more targeted towards certain industries. In addition to the cap, a new Energy Supply Taskforce has been created to negotiate long-term energy contracts with domestic and

international suppliers of energy.

Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the announcement for the support for businesses which is much-needed and long-awaited. We have been calling for a price cap for local shops in line with what we already see in the domestic market. While we are pleased that the Government has taken action to support businesses with their spiralling energy costs, we are clear that help may be needed for local shops beyond the current 6 month

The Welsh Government is proposing to restrict ‘temporary price reductions’ of HFSS products and meal deals including HFSS products and the siting of HFSS products on free standing display units in addition to at store entrances, at the tills, and at the end of aisles The Welsh Government is seeking views on how to define HFSS products, via differing nutrient profiling models.Thereare currently no set timescales for the introduction of the proposals after the consultation period, but Wales’ overall health strategy states that ‘by 2030’ measures will be in place.

House of Commons, she said: “I recognise that people are struggling with their energy bills and that is why I have brought forward this debate as soon as possible to give people reassurance before this winter that energy bills will be affordable.”

PM announces energy support package for businesses

With a phased rebranding in 2022 and new flavour launches, now is the right time to become a f’real retailer. What’s more, we typically operate on a one week install from approval, so you could be blending up a storm in time for summer! visting www.frealdrinks.co.uk/retail

or find us on social media @frealuk Automatic blending in under 60 Interactivesecondstouchscreen panel with simple instructions Easy clean with internal self-sanitising High margin products Long shelf life & minimal waste Full POS breakdownIndustry-leadingsupportservice levels

We make luxurious milkshakes, smoothies and frappés that consumers love! Our revolutionary blend-in-cup technology provides you with a quick, easy and affordable solution to deliver delicious frozen drinks with no fuss, no mess and no waste.

Interested? Find out more by

Celebrate summer with new f’real flavours launching in August!

DRS countdown begins as SGF threatens legal action

15

Retailers opting for manual handling of returns will receive 2.69p per container.

NEWSINDUSTRY

Consumers choosing staycations over foreign holidays and shoppers managing their budgets more tightly have resulted in record cash withdrawals in July.

SGF has issued a pre-action letter to Circularity Scotland on behalf of the independent retailing sector in Scotland, the largest group of Return Point Operators in the country. SGF believes the proposed retailer handling fee levels will not cover the costs borne by retailers and will significantly impact on their businesses.

The scheme includes soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and covers PET plastic bottles, metal cans and glass bottles ranging from 50ml to three

Inlitres.return,

retailers will receive 3.55p per container for the first 8,000 containers returned each week using a reverse vending machine and 1.35p for each additional container.

SGF CEO Dr Pete Cheema OBE said: ‘’We remain fully committed to working

There is now less than a year left for Londis retailers in Scotland to get ready for the implementation of the new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) which is set to go live next year.

Shoppers return to cash as withdrawals soar

Personal cash withdrawals were up almost 8% month-onmonth and up over 20% year-on-year in July.

Martin Kearsley, Banking Director at Post Office, said: “Our latest figures clearly show that Britain is anything but a cashless society. We’re seeing more and more people increasingly reliant on cash.”

with a range of stakeholders to ensure that Scotland has a world-leading scheme. It is essential however that DRS remains cost neutral to Return Point Operators and does not leave them with an additional cost burden.”

The Scottish Government announced that Scotland’s DRS will go live on 16 August

the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) has threatened legal action against Circularity Scotland, the body appointed by the Scottish Government in 2021 to administer Scotland’s DRS.

Londis retailers will play a key role in the scheme by collecting empty bottles and cans from shoppers ready for recycling. The scheme will add a refundable deposit of 20p to single use drinks containers to encourage recycling and reduce litter.

Post Office has attributed the record amount for personal cash withdrawals to more consumers choosing to have staycations in the UK as well as people increasingly turning to cash to manage their budget on a week-by-week basis

and often on a day-to-day basis.

Meanwhile,2023.

New figures have revealed Post Offices handled a record £801m in personal cash withdrawals in July with over £3.3bn in cash deposited and withdrawn over Post Office counters, the first time figures have crossed the £3.3bn threshold in Post Office’s 360-year history.

Carriedcities.

As the UK Government continues to pursue its ‘Levelling Up’ policy, a new survey conducted on behalf of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has found that the vast majority of shoppers would prefer to see public investment going into local communities rather than just towns and

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Our polling clearly shows that people want safe local neighbourhoods with vibrant established businesses and innovative new services. The services in our communities, including local shops, need more support and incentives to invest.”

Responding to a consultation, NFRN leaders in the province said MUP would create a “level playing field” and allay fears of cross-border trading.

out as part of ACS’s 2022 Community Barometer report, the survey found that 70% of consumers would prefer to see investment in their local neighbourhood, compared to just 30% who would prefer investment in their nearest town or city centre.

The move follows the recent publication of a paper by the Department of Finance tax strategy group on tax excise, which suggested the introduction of MUP in the Republic of Ireland earlier this year could lead to less tax being paid due to people shopping across the border.

Independent retailers in Northern Ireland have reiterated their support for the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol.

The polling also revealed that support for existing local businesses would be the top investment priority for consumers, followed by better community policing, and support for new businesses locally.

17

Government policy around levelling up has long been focused on high streets and town and city centres.

New consumer polling from the ACS has found that 70% of shoppers would prefer to see investment in their local communities rather than in just town and city centres.

MUP draws nearer in NI

Levelling Up investment should ‘prioritise local’

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FIND OUT WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT Ireland’s sixth biggest impulse soft drink in total market* The UK’s no.1 Vitamin drink in impulse total market** | No more than 35 calories Natural fruit flavours and colours | 100% RDA of 8 essential vitamins BRP CODEPRODUCT DESCRIPTIONPACK SIZE M219498VIT HIT LEAN & GREEN12 x 500ml M219499VIT HIT IMMUNITEA 12 x 500ml *Collated ROI EPOS Data – YTD to wk 26 2022 v YA | **Nielsen Total Market 52wk 26th June 22 Sell at £1.49 in 46%NP6,POR

Booker has provided enough food to provide 12,500 meals for those in need after working with the Phoenix Resource Centre charity to collect and distribute over five tonnes of surplus supplier food from Booker’s two recent trade shows at Doncaster and Sandown.

More than five tonnes of surplus supplier food was collected from Booker’s two trade shows earlier this year and redistributed to provide 12,500 meals for the hungry.

up to 2,000 meals a day through our partners including Shine in Northampton. They are supporting a very diverse community with a high number of ethnic minorities in the area, a high level of homelessness and disengaged youth. The donated food from the trade shows has a massive positive impact on all of those in need in the area.”

Booker Trade Shows deliver 12,500 meals for the hungry

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The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has been urged

19INDUSTRYNEWS

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The food would otherwise have gone to waste but was instead used by the charity to help so many people that are struggling to have even the basics following a few hard years for many communities and

difference. A huge thanks has to go to the Booker team and to all of the suppliers for donating the surplus

“These donations have enabled us to help thousands of people and lets us give to the most impoverished of our society. It makes such a huge

Richardson, Trustee and Founder of Phoenix Resource Centre, told Londis News: “Wow, what an amazing couple of shows we had this year with Booker. From both combined we collected 5.25 tonnes of food, equating to a 12,500 meals.

18+, UK&I only. 00:01 01.06.22 to 23:59 31.07.22. Scan QR code on promotional Lucozade Sport point of sale. Prize: one (1) of one hundred (100) football training kits. No purchase necessary for Northern Ireland. Proof of purchase necessary. Maximum one entry per person per day. For full T&Cs visit: https://lucoza.de/wetw LUCOZADE, LUCOZADE SPORT and the Arc Device are registered trade marks of Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd. © Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd. All rights reserved. ORANGE - M320841 RASPBERRY - M075243

PayPoint has joined forces with Citizens Advice to support its current campaign encouraging prepay energy customers to make sure their details are up to date with their supplier in time for the launch of the Energy Bills Support Scheme in October.

Retailers ‘pivotal’ in energy bill support Consumerscheme spending ‘continues to grow’

The new hubs will be in Brechin in Angus, Forres in Moray, Carluke in Lanarkshire, Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, Axminster in Barton-upon-HumberDevon, in Lincolnshire, Lutterworth in Leicestershire, Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, Cheadle in Staffordshire, Belper in Derbyshire, Maryport in Cumbria, Hornsea in Yorkshire, and in Kilkeel, County Down.

Qualifying shoppers will receive vouchers for £400 over a six month period and they will be able to redeem them at all stores with a PayPoint terminal. The payments are designed to ensure households receive financial support throughout the winter

New consumer polling from the ACS has found that 70% of shoppers would prefer to see investment in their local communities rather than in just town and city centres.

and where to direct shoppers for more

Steveinformation.O’Neill,

NEWSINDUSTRY

residentslifelineprovidehubsbankingSharedtocashfor

Consumer card spending continued to grow in August, up 4.7% year-on-year, although this is the smallest uplift since March 2021. Data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, reveals that spending on essential items grew 7.2% year-on-year, its highest growth since December 2021.

Another 13 locations have been chosen for shared banking hubs to ensure services are available in areas where the last bank branch has closed, reports Thesuggest.hubs, run by the Post Office, enable customers of any bank to access their accounts, deposit cash and cheques, and withdraw money at any time. Trickier enquiries are dealt with by representatives from each of the major banks who each visit once a week.

Grocery shopping saw its largest year-on-year uplift (4%) since February 2021, partly due to rising inflation while spending on fuel rose 23.9 per cent, its lowest growth in 12 months owing to a slight decline in petrol and diesel prices and drivers opting to reduce vehicle use to save money.

Themonths.campaign will be promoted in all PayPoint locations via receipt advertising and social media channels. Information will also be sent directly to PayPoint’s retailer partners advising of the campaign

21

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Director, PayPoint said: “Our retailer partners continue to play a pivotal role in delivering vital community services across the UK. The upcoming Energy Bills Support Scheme will be another important service for the millions of consumers who use PayPoint regularly to top up and we’re delighted to be working with Citizens Advice to raise awareness of the scheme to ensure that funds reach the members of our communities that need it most.”

#LetsTalkGroceryAidOurservicescoverarangeofself-helporreferralled support and advice. CHECK SELF-CAREMANAGEMENTIN Access self-help guides across a broad range of topics to support mental health and wellbeing Download resources and access advice and extra support on a range of issues for managers Visit the Financial Wellbeing Hub to use helpful planning tools for spending, saving and borrowing For those who need a more in-depth approach to mental wellbeing, counselling services are available Download the Woebot App to access ‘in the moment’ emotional support available for Iphone or Android FINANCIALTALKPLANNINGTOUS 08088 021 122

Industry charity GroceryAid experienced a 61% increase in instances of welfare support for industry colleagues last year, according to its latest annual Impact Report.

2023 open

financial support than ever before in its 165-year history. 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. This year’s Impact Report outlines how we are using the generous donations of our supporters to improve the lives of our colleagues across the Mandiindustry.”Leonard,

Allan Leighton, GroceryAid President, said “In the past year, GroceryAid has provided more emotional, practical and

More than 200 businesses are expected to be in attendance and Londis retailers can reward their team for their hard work with a Barcode 2023 ticket.

Tickets cost £350 and include food and drink all day, as well as performances from some of the world’s best-known Visitartists.www.barcodefestival.co.uk to find out more or to book tickets.

Barcode for bookings

GROCERYAID

GroceryAid Welfare Director, added: ‘‘We will continue to be here for everyone who needs us in the grocery and independent retailing industry.”

The full Impact Report is available to read on the GroceryAid website: www.groceryaid.org.uk

GroceryAid services more in demand than ever

The increase in demand for GroceryAid’s services highlights the vital role played by the charity and reflects growing awareness among industry colleagues of the support that GroceryAid can offer in times of need.

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.

23

Industry charity GroceryAid’s annual Impact Report reveals the highest-ever demand for its support services for industry colleagues.

Following the huge success of GroceryAid’s flagship event, Barcode Festival 2022, the charity has announced that tickets are already on sale for the 2023 running of the musical Thisextravaganza.year’sfestival raised an incredible and record-breaking £900,000 for the charity and GroceryAid is looking to build on that success with an even “bigger and better” event in 2023.

CUSTOMERPROFILE

Challenge accepted

and from the moment I set eyes on the empty unit in Lydiard Fields business park I couldn’t wait to take it on. Despite its dormant state, I could see the huge opportunity. I wanted to pack it with innovations and focus on impulse and ‘to go’ products to attract mission-driven Theshoppers.”purpose-built

Londis retailer Sugesh Jegasothy is a man who “loves a challenge” and he certainly set himself one with his newest retail acquisition. Purchased in early March this year, the 1,500sq ft unit was nothing but an “empty shell” when Sugesh got the keys – having laid vacant for three years

However,prior.

thanks to its prime location amid a busy business park on the edge of Swindon, just off the M4 motorway, Sugesh was certain that with the right range, ethos and support, he could transform the old unit from dull to Sugeshdazzling.explains:

Sugesh Jegasothy has transformed a vacant retail unit on the edge of Swindon into a vibrant hub for local workers and busy commuters.

Acting on impulse

retail unit has plenty of parking and sits in the heart of the Lydiard Fields business park – home to a number of large offices, warehouses, a conference centre and an array of hotels, including a Premier Inn and DoubleTree by Hilton. “Due to its location, I was really confident that an impulse-focused convenience store would prove really popular with

“I love a challenge

local workers and visitors alike – as well as commuters travelling past on the M4 who might pull over here rather than at a busy service station. While there are a few other standalone food-to-go outlets, including a Costa Coffee and a Subway on the park, there are no other convenience stores, so I knew I had a chance to create something

Withunique.”the help of the team at Londis, including his RDM Rachel Drake, Sugesh set out to do just that, and on 29 March 2022, the new store opened its doors. One of the first thing shoppers see upon entering is the store’s light and airy feel, thanks to its high ceilings, large front windows and clever merchandising. “There is a wonderful sense of space and light in this store, which shoppers always comment on,” says Sugesh. “Our shoppers are busy people. They are on a mission, so they don’t have time to hunt around for what they want. The offer has to be clean and clear at all times to help them find and grab what they want

“Energy drinks are the biggest-selling category within that, followed by American soft drinks, which give us a great USP,” says Sugesh. “No other outlet on the park sells American soft drinks so they are a real footfall-driver. The range includes brands such as Calypso, which we get through Londis, and we also stock American Fanta which drives a lot of excitement too. All soft drinks sold, even two-litre bottles, are chilled.

PROFILECUSTOMER

Asquickly.”aresult,

has become a real store hero,” Sugesh adds. “It’s totally unique on the park and we sell well over 100 cups a day – rising to 150-plus on hot days. Our vape range is also acting as a similar draw. We have a large display of vape products

Helping to refresh Sugesh’s drinks-to-go offer is a profit-boosting Tango Ice Blast Machine, Fwip Ice Cream offer and a Costa “TangoExpress.IceBlast

impulse items and ‘to go’ products, including a strong chilled offer of Londis-supplied sandwiches and snack items are sited at the store’s front, lefthand side. This range is bolstered by four metres of chilled soft drinks, now the store’s best-selling category, selling over £500 worth a day.

Also proving popular is the store’s range of chilled meal solutions and fresh fruit and vegetables. “We dedicate two metres of chiller space to fresh fruit and vegetables, which serve as the perfect accompaniment to our range of chilled ready meals and meal solutions,” Sugesh adds. “We are selling increasing amounts of ready meals, as shoppers opt to pop here at the end of the working day for convenient, quality evening meal solutions.

With a further four metres of chiller space dedicated to alcohol, shoppers are also topping up their baskets with Sugesh’s great-value range of chilled beers, wines and ciders. “Shoppers might be on a mission, but price is still key and we do run all the Londis promotions plus a number of additional ones to keep our BWS offer competitive,” he “Thesays.

Shara are both real sticklers for detail and presentation so the store is always immaculately faced up,” he says. “Presentation matters, it really Clearly,does!”shoppers

that is sales assistant Myuran and Sugesh’s wife Shara, who also helps in the “Myuranbusiness.and

fixture needs to look picture-perfect and easy to navigate at all times to meet the needs of our missionfocused shoppers,” Sugesh adds. Helping him to do just

and we major on disposable products with sales growing week-on-week. Again, there is no other outlet on the park that sales vape so it’s a big draw. Elf Bar is our best seller.”

27CUSTOMERPROFILE

are appreciative of the store’s efforts, with footfall and sales having grown steadily since opening. “The store is doing really well and trading ahead of my expectations, which is fantastic,” Sugesh says. “Much of it is commuter trade, meaning that many of the faces we see every day are new. However, with each month that goes by, we are seeing more and more regular faces. Lots of our shoppers work in the park’s offices, warehouses and hotels and while there is no residential housing on the park itself, there is housing nearby; for a growing number of those residents we have become a convenient place to pop in before or after work.that

B st your sales th Viennoiserie www.delifrance.com/uk PackagingNew M213226 All Butter Croissant - 4 Pack Our delicious viennoiserie are now packed in CARDBOARD TRAYS M213227 All Butter Pain au Chocolat - 4 Pack

Top tips!

But it’s seeing how pleased shoppers are with the store and the service that makes Sugash happiest: “I’m truly thrilled with what we’ve achieved here. It’s been a huge team effort!”

STORE INFO Store name: Londis Lydiard Fields, Swindon Retailer: Sugesh Jegasothy Size: 1,500sq ft Openinghours: 6.30am-8pm Services: Free cash machine, parcel collection, National Lottery Staff: 2 29CUSTOMERPROFILELydiardelds

If space allows, chilling soft drinks, including larger formats, can help you make more of the ‘drink now’ up products correctly, with brand names at the front and no barcodes in sight where possible.

Parcel collection and drop-off services can help you post higher footfall.

“We open at 6.30am to catch the morning rush – our biggest sales period – and then we have another peak at lunchtime. Evenings are becoming increasingly busy too. We also offer parcel drop-off and collection services via Evri and Collect Plus. These are great footfall drivers in the evenings.”

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Add some extra fizz to your soft drinks range with American lines from Londis including brands such as Calypso.

matters!Presentationopportunity.Face

PERFECT STORENORDICSPIRIT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NICOTINE POUCH CATEGORY NOW &Distributionavailability PILLAR1 Keep in stock at least 3 cans of each priority Nordic Spirit SKU

The five pillars to drive Nordic Spirit sales and maximise your profits Speak to your JTI representative and use your Perfect Store Booklet to find out more Your Perfect Store Booklet will be available through your JTI representative *Recommended retail price. You are, of course, at all times free to sell JTI’s products at whatever price you choose. Visibilty Presence engagementRetailer On-shelfpricing PILLAR2 PILLAR3 PILLAR4 £FORPILLAR520POUCHES6.50RRPComplete the quarterly Nordic Spirit training quiz on JTI Advance Locate your Nordic Spirit Merchandising Unit in a prominent position on your counter top Make sure all your Nordic Spirit POSM is on display in the key locations Price Nordic Spirit competitively to give your customers the best value *FRONT PURCHASEPOINTSTOREOFOFBACKWALL

Nestled among the gently rolling hills on the cusp of the Brecon Beacons National Park is Londis Ystradgynlais – a store so perfectly attuned to the needs of its local environment and shoppers, that you’d be forgiven for thinking it had always been there. But you’d be wrong.

While the brimming baskets and smiling faces of happy local shoppers certainly create an impression of longevity – an impression further enhanced by the striking Victorian stone façade that crests its smart Londis fascia – the store is in fact a very new kid on the block.

Londis Ystradgynlais PO & Stores has been uniquely tailored to meet local needs.

very discount-focused and featured lots of non-food categories. There was just 3.75 metres of chilled and nothing really in the way of food- or drinks-to-go. There was only really only significant footfall driver – its Post Office – but that was something we were determined to change!”

CUSTOMERPROFILE

Change, they most certainly did. The first move was to bring the store into the Londis family. “Jaswinder already had one other Londis store in Reading that was trading very successfully, and we knew the brand’s offer would be a perfect fit for the village of Ystradgynlais,” Rajan says.

Owned by Londis retailer Jaswinder Brar and managed by his trusted employee Rajan Singh (pictured), the store that you see today was born in January 2022 after a game-changing internal refit. “When we first took on this store, it was quite cluttered, a bit run down and lacking a proper convenience offer, which is what local shoppers were so desperate for,” Rajan explains. “It was also

With the store safely in the Londis fold, Jaswinder, Rajan and the Londis team then worked together to plan a new store perfectly tailored to local needs. The store was closed in early January 2022 for that to plan to be executed before re-opening a couple of weeks later – much to the delight of local shoppers and the many tourists who pass through the village enroute to the National Park.

A approachlocal A perfect fit

employee Rajan Singh (pictured), the

Fresh bread, cakes and biscuits are merchandised opposite the new chilled food offer. The range also includes a number of locally sourced products, including fresh cakes, which shine even brighter thanks to Londis’ attractive and eye-catching ‘Local’ POS.

Inside these smart energy-efficient chillers, shoppers can now find a wide array of chilled products from sandwiches and snacks to fresh meats, fruit, vegetables, ready meals and of course dairy products. “The Jack’s-branded chilled products are doing particularly well, especially the ready meals,” says Rajan. “The Jack’s Beef Lasagne is a big seller and we sell a large amount as part of the ‘2 for £6’ deal.”

STORE INFO Store name: Londis Ystradgynlais PO & Stores Storemanager: Rajan Singh Store type: Village Size: 1,200sq ft Services: Post Office, National Lottery OpeningHours: 8am-9pm Staff: 4 Ys adgynlais

foods including Londis’ popular frozen Meal

“AlcoholDeal.is

In addition to a full internal refit, including new flooring, ceiling panels and lighting, plus fixtures and fittings, the store was also re-launched with a totally new focus on fresh and chilled produce. Answering shoppers’ call for a far more comprehensive offer, the store’s chilled range has quadrupled in size, with four double-door chillers now dedicated to fresh produce alone.

The store’s offer is further enhanced with a second bank of four two-door chillers dedicated to chilled beer, cider, wine and RTDs, while at the rear of the store a further bank of new freezers offers

one of our strongest categories,” says Rajan. “Shoppers are very value-driven so the Londis special offers are always very popular. We do all the core range promotions and try to do as many other optional ones as we can, and we always use the Londis POS. The bright yellow shelf edge labels really catch shoppers’ attention, especially when it’s a round pound offer like £5.”

33CUSTOMERPROFILE

Introducing chilled products can help to drive footfall and spend.

Londis Ystradgynlais PO & Stores

Shoppers have been so supportive of everything we’ve done, they are so happy and grateful to now have a store like this on their doorstep.

FacingRajan.

Top tips!

the Post Office counter and gracing the store’s bright and airy entrance zone is also a small drinksto-go offer merchandised under The Good Taste

A small but quality-focused drinksto-go offer can provide a welcome

The store’s chilled alcohol offer is complemented by two bays dedicated to multi-pack lagers and ciders on the shop floor. “Multi-packs are currently in growth and sales are always boosted by special offers,” says

AlwaysUSP.

The smart new low-level counter, which features two till points, also boasts a backlit display that houses spirits and vape products – another totally new category for the store. “Vape sales have been growing steadily since we re-opened,with disposable products leading the charge,” Rajan adds. “Again, value appears to be a big driver of sales and we support the range with lots of special offers such as ‘Any 2 for £10’ across a number of the disposable lines.”

Aneeds.small USP.

35CUSTOMERPROFILE

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Rajan Singh

Use your local knowledge to tailor your range and perfectly meet local

Food Company branding. The zone includes hot drinks from a new Costa Express machine and icecold slushies thanks to Snow Shock slush – the latter proving very popular with younger shoppers.

support promotions with the relevant POS.

Article Description Londis OCB Papers & Tips Pkt 92100503 OCB Premium Slim Papers & Tips Pkt92146949

Allmoney.”inall,

37

that sales of other categories, such as chocolate singles for example, have gone up since we re-opened. We haven’t increased the size of this range, it’s just much better merchandised. Crisps is another category doing well, especially the Jack’s crisps such as the Cheesy Puffs and Bacon Rashers. Like the rest of the Jack’s range, they are clearly price-marked and at 65p for a 70g bag they offer great value for

Given the store’s rural location and distance from large towns and cities, the new offer also includes a large range of homewares plus some children’s toys and party items including candles, paper plates, balloons and gift bags. “Londis Ystradgynlais is after all, a community shop and locals do like to shop locally where they can,” explains Rajan. “They want to be able to turn to their local store for a wider range of everyday items to save them from having to get in the car and drive for miles.”

Rajan says that store turnover has seen double digit growth since it re-opened. He concludes: “The new store has delivered a totally new and very welcome convenience retail experience for local shoppers and visitors to this area. None of it would have been possible without the support of Londis and, of course, our fantastic staff who deliver such great service and standards too. It really is the perfect fit.”

We get lots of commentingshoppers on how much bigger the store feels now – we haven’t added any space, it’s just very good planning merchandising.and

Rajan Singh Londis Ystradgynlais PO & Stores

And it’s not just the new range they are raving about. “Shoppers also love the look and feel of the store,” he says. “Everything is new and looks so smart and clean. The Londis planners and merchandisers helped

create a wonderful light and airy feel. We get lots of comments on how much bigger the store feels now. We haven’t added any space, it’s just good planning and

“We’vemerchandising.alsonoticed

So how have shoppers responded to their new store? The cheerful chatter between staff and shoppers says it all really. “They love it!” says Rajan. “Shoppers have been so supportive. They are so happy and grateful to now have a store like this on their doorstep. It’s made such a difference to them being able to just pop here for their daily convenience needs and for added extras such as the drinks-to-go.”

Having studied Business Information Technology at university, Vrajesh, who is known as VJ to his shoppers, has always had a keen interest in IT – a fact which has proved exceedingly beneficial to the family

VJ explains: “We’ve been with Londis since day one and the business has seen so much change over these last 35 years but none more so than recently. These days, you just can’t afford to sit still, shopper trends change like lightning, there’s always something new and exciting around the corner and you have to keep your finger on the pulse.”

hardernotsmarter,Working

business since he joined its ranks in 2009. Originally established by VJ’s father 35 years ago, the store has changed beyond recognition in recent years with two major redevelopments in the last six years alone.

reaping his which Smooth operator

In a bid to do just that, 2015 saw VJ

Efficiency: In today’s fast-paced world of convenience retailing, the need for store owners to work smarter, not harder has never been so important. One retailer who is not only aware of this but doing his upmost to drive efficiencies across his business is Vrajesh Patel of Londis VJ Enterprise in Dagenham, and he is certainly reaping the rewards of doing

Londis retailer VJ Patel is always on the lookout for innovative new ways to streamline processes and improve the shopper experience.

PROFILERETAILER

Top tips!

service

Freeingeffioperationalhugeciencies.upstaff time

“We decided to dedicate the front right-hand side of the store to food and drinks-to-go and created a ‘Snack Shack’ zone,” VJ says. “It really stands out and creates a great sense of theatre when shoppers first Baskingenter.”

in the glow of its neon lights is a footfalldriving offer including F’real, Snow Shock, Tango some of your processes can drive allows them to focus on other key areas of the business, such as customer and

frozensomeJack’sof-livingduegrowingexperiencingfoodsInvestimpact.godedicatedCreatingpresentation.storeafood-to-zonecreatesrealinfrozenthataredemandtothecost-crisis.Therangeincludesfantasticproducts.4321

efficiencies. “The initial food-to-go offer was wellreceived but it was sited throughout the store, rather than being focused in one area,” he explains. “With the latest refit, I wanted to make the whole offer more impactful and efficient by grouping it all together in one place.” And so, the ‘Snack Shack’ was born.

39RETAILERPROFILEAutomating

oversee a major project that included extending the shop floor from 1,100sq ft to just under 1,250 sq ft plus a total internal overhaul with new floors, ceilings, fixtures and fittings. In line with shopper trends, a new food and drinks-to-go offer, featuring Rollover Hotdogs and F’real milkshakes, was also added to the mix – much to the delight of local shoppers. “The new-look store and food to go offer was an instant hit and we knew that we had an opportunity to make even more of it,” he explains.

The opportunity to do just that came in April 2021 when VJ oversaw a second major development project that would maximise the store’s food-to-go potential and drive an array of crucial operational

READY TO EAT CHICKEN ON A STICK Stick it toYour hunger 8 x 5 0g pe r cas e HEALTHYSNACK SNACK

Ice Blast, Reece’s and Hershey’s Freeze. Rollover hot dogs are also now available as are a new Costa Express Machine and Fwip gelato offer.

Food and drinks-to-go aren’t the only things bringing shoppers in. Since increasing the store’s range of fresh and chilled produce, a growing number of shoppers are also turning to it for meal solutions. The new Jack’s brand is further helping to accelerate this trend, as VJ explains: “I think the fact that Jack’s packaging emphasises that it’s part of the Tesco family really boosts shopper confidence. We’re certainly selling more fresh and chilled now that they have the Jack’s branding. We’re currently at 80% of the range

so I can’t wait for the final few lines to come in.”

The store currently offers 6.25m of produce within its smart energy-efficient chillers, which also feature seven shelves, rather than the standard six, to pack even more produce in. The 2021 makeover also saw VJ’s tobacco range relocated from a back-wall gantry into drawers, freeing up space for a back-lit spirits and vape

STORE INFO Store name: Londis VJ Enterprise, Dagenham Retailer: Vrajesh Patel Size: 1,200 sq ft Storetype: Neighbourhood Openinghours: 7am-7pm Mon to Sat 8am-1pm Sun Staff: seven Best performing categories: Food-to-go, frozen, confectionery Dagenham

Making the store operate efficientlymoremeans that staff time can be far better spent on areas where it really makes a difference. The store is becoming increasingly busy and staff are needed elsewhere to help deliver the best possible experience for our shoppers.

But it’s some of the less flashy investments that VJ made as part of the 2021 refit he’s most proud of. Among these is a £35,000 investment in new electronic shelf-edge labelling, which VJ says has helped to revolutionise efficiency.

VJ Patel Londis VJ DagengamEnterprise

has allowed us to expand our range of gins and flavoured vodkas which continues to drive sales, especially in the summer months,” he adds.

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“Thedisplay.display

“The new Snack Shack Zone has been a phenomenal success,” he says. “Fwip is doing particularly well, we sell 22 cups a day on average, plus a further 20 cups of F’real,” he says. “We’re the only store for miles around that does it, so it’s a real footfall driver, I’ve had shoppers coming here from 10 miles away by car. Tango Ice Blast is also incredible. We sell at least 15 cups a day and I made my money back in just 11 weeks.”

“With the help of Londis and ITS we’ve introduced electronic shelf edge labelling,” VJ explains. “It was a large outlay but it’s already making such a huge difference creating huge efficiency benefits. They slash the amount of time staff spend on price checks and promotional changeovers. A promotional changeover would take two members of staff around eight hours a month. Now, it’s half an hour.

43

“The labels come in three sizes to suit a wide range of products and displays and staff can touch a discreet button underneath which gives them useful info on stock figures and future delivery dates. My team now have far more time to spend on serving shoppers and making the store always look its best. “We also added electronic temperature sensors on all chillers, another huge time-saver, and we’ve added ‘Pay Pods’ at the two till Fittedpoints.”under the counter and facing shoppers, the pods allow shoppers pay for their goods in cash without having to give the cash to the sales assistants.

VJ explains: “Shoppers who wish to pay in cash just input their coins or notes into the pods and the machine automatically returns their change. It removes staff from the cash handling process which has efficiency and cleanliness benefits, as well as security benefits as the pods can’t be opened by the staff.”

Automation is a big focus for VJ, as he says: “I’m always looking for new solutions where efficiency is concerned. I love finding ways to simplify processes and giving my team back more time to spend on areas that really make a difference.”

back to shoppers will also be a keen focus of the store’s 35-year anniversary celebrations in September, as VJ highlights: “We will be holding a big community party to thank shoppers for all their support. There will be loads of fun things to do such as a bouncy castle, face painting and balloon artists and we’ll also showcase the fantastic Jack’s range with tastings and giveaways. It looks set to be a great day!”

Sales at the store are now hitting £30,000 a week on average, up from £20,000 prior to the pandemic. The success is reflected in the number of staff VJ now employs, up from three to seven.

VJ is also launching a home delivery offer via the Kwik-e shopper app, which will be

“With frozen foods increasingly popular I’m planning to double the size of our frozen food offer this autumn,” he adds. News and magazines will be condensed down to a 1m split bay and greeting cards will be cut to 1m too while stationery will be delisted. “The extra space will allow us to grow our frozen range by 50%,” he says. “We will dedicate a whole frozen bay to Jack’s products and another whole bay to Londis’ Frozen Meal Deals, which already do really well.”

Givinglabels.

linked to the store’s electronic shelf edge

Jey and Gaya went on to grow the

PROFILERETAILER factortheAdding‘WOW’

much in the way of competition.”

Jey, who took on the site’s lease back in 2008, explains how: “Back then it was a run-down site but I knew it had potential. It was on the busy A48, one of the main roads into and out of Gloucester and very close to the tourist hotspot of the Forest of Dean. There was also a lot of residential housing around but not much in the way of competition.”

The store benefits from lots of passing trade but also caters to the snacking and food-to-go needs of staff at the Seven and Wye Smokery, located just opposite, as well as the neighbouring retirement home. With two large campsites less than a mile away, the store is also a magnet for happy campers. However, its most important role is serving the many local residents.

had potential. It was on the busy A48, one of the main roads into and

“The business was doing well but we knew it could offer much more and we had plenty of space to expand its footprint,” Jey says. So in late 2021 they embarked on an ambitious plan to do just that.

Jey and Gaya Navaratnam have re-launched their “lifeline” convenience store with a bigger and better range and “wow factor” fixtures in answer to local needs.

to the tourist hotspot of the Forest

Pinpointing the very distinct needs of the store’s unique shopper demographic was central to this process. “This is a unique site that caters to a range of different shoppers with different needs,” Gaya says.

Local flavour

Chaxhill Service Station business over the years before buying the freehold in 2017.

When husband and wife duo Jey and Gaya Navaratnam made the bold decision earlier this year to double the size of their small forecourt store in Chaxhill, Gloucestershire, they expected sales to double. What they didn’t expect was the sheer strength of local support for the project. As for sales, they haven’t doubled. They’ve more than trebled.

STORE INFO Store name: Londis Chaxhill Service Station, Westbury-on-Severn Retailer: Jeyathasan and Gaya Navaratnam Size: 1,800sq ft Store type: Forecourt Openinghours: Mon-Sun 6am-10pm Staff: 7 Services: Fuel, post box, lottery, bill payments and e-top up 45RETAILERPROFILEChaxhill You can never spend too much time talking to local maintainexcitementprogressplansdevelopmentaboutinformedshoppersKeepsellingvaluablecanLocalshoppers.generationscangoandOn-trendaboutshopperstheirneeds.fooddrink-to-solutionspullinnewofproductshelptocreateuniquepoints.localstoreandtobuildandloyalty.4321

“Many of our shoppers are elderly and rely on us for daily essentials,” Gaya explains. “Shoppers were so appreciative and excited about the work we were doing. We always knew the community valued us, but this experience really made us appreciate just how important we were to local shoppers.”

So the store closed in April this year for a massive extension that would double the size of the shop floor to just over 1,800sq ft and a top-to-bottom refit. It took a month to complete and during that time Jey and Gaya continued to supply essential items such as milk, bread, eggs and newspapers to those who needed them, offering a free delivery service.

Top tips!

As the only store for miles, Chaxhill is a lifeline for local shoppers, many of whom are elderly. “Prior to the re-build, local shoppers were constantly asking us for new products we would have loved to bring in but couldn’t. There was huge demand for more fresh and chilled and food and drinks-to-go. We just needed more space!”

PERONIGLUTENAZZURRONASTROFREE 6 X 4PK X M278852330ML PERONIAZZURRONASTRO 6 X 4PK X M278717330ML PERONIAZZURRONASTRO0.0% 6 X 4PK X M276878330ML

47RETAILERPROFILE

The week that we opened, parents were bringing their whole families in for tours, like they were visiting an exhibition! It was so wonderful to see just how much our local shoppers appreciated what we had done and what they now had. It made us very proud indeed.

The store reopened on 11 May, bigger, better and packed to the rafters with eye-catching features including a backlit spirits display, uplifting ‘blue sky effect’ light panels and a host of new on-trend products and services. “Local shoppers were blown away,” says Gaya. “The week we opened, parents were bringing their whole families in for tours! It was Thewonderful.”newstore now features 20 metres of energy-

Gaya Navaratnam Londis Chaxhill Service Station

efficient refrigeration. “We have significantly expanded our fresh and chilled range, which is what local shoppers were crying out for,” says Gaya. “We now have two 3.75-metre chillers for chilled drinks plus two 2.5-metre chillers for chilled snacks and sandwiches, and more than seven metres of chilled alcohol. Shoppers are thrilled with the new range. It’s made such a difference to them, not having to drive for 15 minutes to the nearest supermarket for a quick lunch or dinner solution.”

Source: Nielsen, I&S Stores, 52 Weeks, 06.11.2021. Retailers are free to set their own prices.

49

The new chilled range is also proving popular with shoppers from the two nearby campsites. “Most campers don’t have refrigeration and need to shop daily,” adds Gaya. “So we are seeing far more basket shoppers, with baskets of £50 and £60 common.”

So impressed are local shoppers that, much to Gaya and Jey’s amusement, they have affectionately dubbed Londis Chaxhill: “the posh petrol station.” However, in their opinion it’s no more than their loyal shoppers deserve.

The additional space has also allowed Gaya and Jey to offer a wider range of non-food items such as household products, BBQ essentials, toiletries and medicines. Just over three months on from opening, turnover has more than trebled, with sales continuing to grow week-on-week. “The result is so much better than we ever expected,” smiles Gaya. “Seeing how happy we’ve made our local shoppers is the best bit about the whole thing though.”

The store features an extended frozen range including products from the high-end Gourmade ready meal brand, thanks to Londis Central Billing. “We’ve been able to increase the amount of local products including flowers, cakes, eggs and ciders,” says Gaya. “The local flowers are very popular and we take orders for special bouquets. They can be ordered one day and delivered the next for shoppers to collect.”

The new-look store also features a profit-driving food and drinks-to-go offer including Costa Express, Tango Ice Blast and Rollover Hot Dogs. “When the store reopened featuring the new Tango Ice Blast machine, we suddenly started seeing lots of new, younger shoppers coming in,” says Jey. Those younger shoppers also buy into other new ranges including a large American confectionery offer, which Jey says has taken off: “We used to place one American confectionery order every two weeks. Now we are ordering every week.”

MOREMORECHOICES.REDBULLSEESALESFLY.COCONUT 250ml SUGARFREE 250ml ZERO 250ml ENERGY 250ml

CHOICES.SALES.250mlRANGE.STOCKUPTODAY. SUMMER 250ml RED 250ml TROPICAL 250ml GREEN 250ml

Best-selling frozen ready meals include

MINIMISEDSHELFLONGLIFEFOODWASTEGREATVALUEATTRACTYOUNGERSHOPPERS

doesIcely it

Sub-zero sales

has grown by some £2.4bn since 2005 with some categories such as ice cream having more than doubled in value according to the British Frozen Food Federation’s (BFFF) 2022 Frozen Food

The popularity of the frozen fixture in Londis stores has grown and grown in recent times with household penetration and sales both

roast beef dinners to crispy pizzas and family favourite fish fingers Londis retailers have access to a raft of topquality frozen meal solutions to offer their shoppers quick, convenient, cost-effective and tasty lunch and dinner solutions.

Shoppers are rekindling their relationships with the freezer and providing Londis retailers with cool opportunities to drive sales and profits.

CATEGORYUPDATE

As we head into the autumn months with cooler days and nights ahead, retailers agree that now is a good time to review frozen food ranges and amend accordingly, by cutting back on impulse ice creams and focusing more on frozen solutions for feeding the family and big night in

Fromoccasions.warming

Londis retailers have access to a raft of hearty ready meal options from big name brands including Birds Eye, Bisto and Goodfellas, plus of course a wide array of Jack’s branded Frozen products.

With many shoppers feeling the squeeze at the moment, the frozen category’s value for money credentials are also helping to boost sales, with Londis retailers across the county reporting growing sales of frozen ready meals and meal components such as

Thesoaring.market

frozen vegetables and sides.

TheReport.BFFF

Report also reveals that the frozen category has emerged from the recent challenges “in better shape than ambient and chilled food” with the overall value of the market up by a huge 13.2% on pre-pandemic levels.

“Ice cream has been flying from the freezers for the past two years, as out-of-home occasions have shifted inside the home and more shoppers have sought to treat themselves,” the report says.

its Frozen Food Report 2022, this sterling sales performance has been driven by frozen pizza and poultry, as-well as a “boom in sales of plant-based products” which have also achieved 16.8% growth since 2019.

Bisto Roast Beef Dinner 400g which has an RSP of £2.79 and offers a POR of 26.6% and Goodfellas Thin Pepperoni 332g which has an RSP of £3.85 and a mighty POR of 31.4%.

foods are becoming increasingly popular with shoppers buying into the category more and more to help them manage their budgets,” he says.

Categoryreport.

The Jack’s brand also offers bags of great value and quality frozen vegetable and side options to help shoppers whip up tasty, convenient and affordable meals, most of which also offer Londis retailers PORs of more than 35%.

Ice cream is the largest single category in frozen, worth £1.3bn to retailers and accounting for 18.6% of their overall frozen food sales according to The British Frozen Food Federation’s Frozen Food 2022

Cornetto Go 110ml meanwhile, offers a POR of 32.4%.

sales and is planning a “significant” expansion of his store’s frozen food range this autumn, to make more of the “Frozentrend.

CREAM OF THE CROP

The fast-selling Walls Feast brand for example has an RSP of £1.25 and a POR of 38.1% while Cadbury Dairy Milk Swirl Ice Cream Sticks 100ml have an RSP of £1.89 and a POR of Best-selling31.1%.

Accordingsays.to

Meat-free sausages and burgers that have been formulated to mimic the taste and mouthfeel of real meat – are particularly significant for the frozen plant-based sector, accounting for 82% of sales.

HOTFREEZERSPOTS

sales have “boomed” of late and are currently up 22.7% since 2019, equivalent to £248m.

53CATEGORYUPDATE:FROZEN

The remaining 18% of frozen plant-based sales is made up of conventional “veg forward” products, the BFFF says.

VJ Patel of VJ Enterprise in Dagenham is just one of the many retailers reporting growing frozen food

“Theautumn.”extra space will allow us to grow our frozen range by 50%. We will

Londis retailers have access to a raft of top-selling ice cream products from big name brands with many offering hot PORs of above 30%.

The top-selling Jack’s Chunky Vegetable Medley 500g, for example are available in PMPs of £1 and offer a POR of 35.1% while Jack’s Crinkle Chips come in PMPs of £1.75 with a POR of 35.3%.

“Londis’ Frozen Meal Deals in particular are very popular and we are also seeing more shoppers buy meat-free frozen products which was a trend that accelerated during the pandemic and has continued to pick up pace. The success of frozen means that I’m actually planning to double the size of our frozen food offer this

Savoury frozen foods have witnessed a very hot sales rise of 19.8% equivalent to £237.4m, since 2019 the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

NEW Offer subject to availability. 95kcalper pot Only £1.50 in NP7 921479034x100g

With many UK shoppers keeping an eagle-eye on spending, Londis retailers are also reporting strong take-up for the group’s Frozen Meal Deals.

category’s kudos

MEALMIGHTYDEALS

in flexible working is also behind the current rise in sales, with time-pressed home-workers increasingly opting for the freezer and boosting the lunchtime occasion in particular, according to the BFFF.

Londis retailer VJ Patel says: “Londis’ Frozen Meal Deals in particular are very popular and we always ensure that we support them with the relevant POS to really drive the message home.”

“Shopping habits changed during the pandemic and shoppers are still buying more frozen foods than they were.

It’s not just frozen’s low-cost credentials that are driving its growing popularity. The longer shelf life and ability for shoppers to use just what they need also lend frozen foods some serious brownie points when it comes to reducing household food waste – another key concern for today’s Bolsteringshoppers.the

Jim Dixon Londis Yealmpton, Devon. called cost of living

“Frozen foods also deliver numerous value for money benefits too which is becoming increasingly important to shoppers given the so called cost of crisis.living

Londis retailers currently have access to a range of Frozen Meal Deals which offer them two main meals and a desert option for just £5.

In fact, the market for savoury frozen (as defined by Birds Eye) is currently 11% bigger than it was in 2019, with £400m of additional Retail Sales Value generated and the average household spending £25 more a year on the category.

We recently fitted new larger freezers to reflect the continued swing towards frozen.

Ice is also a vital category all year round and particularly as we head towards the all-important festive season.

Shoppers after a more premium ice option can also purchase Premium Ice Cubes in 1kg bags with an RSP of £1.25 that offer a POR of 41.4%.

Signposting the category with the relevant POS, including chiller vinyls is also key, with full POS kits available through your RDM.

dedicate a whole frozen bay to Jack’s products and another whole bay to Londis’ Frozen Meal Deals,” he says.

WIN-WIN

Thefamilies.rise

Iced delight

55

Londis retailers have access to a range of ice cubes from Party Ice Cubes which come in a 2.27kg bag for £1.69 and offer a stonking POR of 43.3%.

With cost and price under the spotlight, pricemarked packs (PMPs) are also playing an increasingly important role at helping to generate key sales and profits.

yet further has also been a flood of innovation – especially within ice cream and other on-trend categories such as meat-free and smoothie mixers. Feedback from Londis retailers suggests these types of innovations are also helping to attract new younger shoppers into the category, which historically has tended to attract a higher proportion of elderly shoppers and young

All Meal Deals also offer retailers a POR of 20%.

CATEGORYUPDATE salesbetterBottle

Taking a fresh look at your wine range could help drive new footfall, sales and profits in a hugely important category. Londis News is here to help.

Like many products in independent retailing, wine is a constantly evolving category with clear, discernible trends. By following these

Uncork new sales with wine

Headed up by Category Lead Mark Oldfield, the team lives and breathes wine and is perfectly placed to offer Londis retailers simple, effective advice to making sure that the range on their shelves is meeting the demands of today’s shoppers.

Wine is an important category in Londis stores but it can also be a complex category to manage with so many products available and so many types of wine on the market. That’s why it can be helpful to draw on the experience of experts in the wine trade, people like Booker’s wine-buying team who have between them more than 60 years of experience.

It’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all approach, as Mark explains: “We tailor the range and the offering to specifically meet the needs of Londis retailers and their shoppers.”

£6 is typically where Londis retailers will see most of the promotions – and those promotions are clearly very effective. But what retailers might want to note is that it’s at the £6 to £8 price point where the majority of sales happen.”

are very clear trends in wine that change and grow over time,” says Mark. “And it’s our job to make sure that Booker retailers have exactly the right range available to them so that they can offer shoppers precisely they are looking for.”

57CATEGORYUPDATE:WINE

While the Londis wine promotions are clearly extremely powerful in growing sales, the biggest volumes are actually driven at slightly higher price points. Mark comments: “The entry level price bracket of around £5 or

“Thereprofits.

BIG PICTURE

trends, retailers have the best possible chance of maximising footfall, sales and

In other words, a great place to start when analysing your current wine range is at this £6 to £8 level. “It’s so important for retailers to have the right offering of key brands in and around this price bracket,” says Mark. “The promotional lines will sell well, we know that, but to a certain extent they take care of themselves. Retailers will continue to see strong ‘2 for £10 and ‘2 for £12’ promotions on key brands throughout the year which really do help to drive footfall and profits.

Another important message from Mark and his team is that less can often be more. Decluttering the range and making it easier for shoppers to make a choice can have a huge impact on sales. “Having too many single facings can be a real problem,” he says. “To shoppers, a display with too many single facings just looks like a wall of bottles.”

LESS IS MORE

Premium wines will be particularly important as Christmas approaches and shoppers look to trade up to something a little more special to celebrate the festive season.

They also tend to be more robust in terms of price and availability, which is Australiankey.

However,brackets.says

to offer that sweeter taste profile which a growing number of shoppers are looking for these days.

“But it’s at the next level up that retailers can really make a difference to their wine sales by stocking the right brands and the right products. Brands like Jam Shed and 19 Crimes have experienced phenomenal growth and they’re massively on-trend at the moment.”

Make more of winesAustralian

how price is obviously front of mind for shoppers at the moment so it’s more important than ever before for retailers to have a good offer across each of the key price

wines

PREMIUM MATTERS

WINEUPDATE:CATEGORY

don’t really struggle with some of supply challenges that other countries such as France and New Zealand can, which helps to keep prices low and availability high.

Mark, it’s critical that Londis retailers don’t lose sight of the huge opportunity that still exists in premium wines. He says: “Despite the pressures shoppers are facing, premium-priced products remain key. We think that premium wines will continue to motor over the coming months. That’s why we have also been very working really hard to introduce more premium-priced products to close that important £8 to £10 gap.”

Australia is the biggest country in terms of sales volume so it’s really important that Londis retailers have a good core Australian offering across each of the price Australianbrackets.wines tend

When it comes to the importance of meeting all key price points to meet different shoppers needs, Mark highlights

59

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l Focus on the brands that sell.

l Sweeter wines are on trend, so try to reflect this in your range. Australian wines are a great option.

In terms of flavour trends, Mark says there is one trend that’s more noticeable than all the rest: a move towards wines with sweeter taste profiles. “That’s another reason why the Jam Shed brand is turning the dial at the moment,” he says.

l Have at least two or three facings of your best-selling wines.

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

RANGE

“Australian wines tend to offer that sweeter taste profile which a growing number of shoppers are looking for these days. They also tend to be more robust in terms of price and availability, which is key.”

you are looking to add a low or no alcohol wine to your range, Mark suggests that McGuigan Zero is a safe bet. He explains: “McGuigan Zero is one of the better-flavoured no alcohol wines. It really stands up well. There’s also a really good no alcohol sparkling wine available from Booker too called Nozeco which is a great option as an alcohol-free alternative to Prosecco.”

Mark. “They’re growing at around 900% year on Andyear!”if

There’s no doubt Exclusive products are a hit across many categories in Londis stores and that also applies in wine. Mark comments: “We will be securing even more premium, mid-level and entry-level price point wines and we are sourcing much more from across the Group to help us do just that. We’ve already seen some fantastic Tesco brands start to come into Booker recently, including an Italian Pinot Grigio and Italian Rosé under the Caparelli brand, which is now a Booker Exclusive.”

l Run the Londis promotions and support them with displays in prominent sites in your store like gondola ends.

Wine: top tips

l Chill all white and rosé wines, where possible.

l Delist lines that aren’t working to make space for big sellers.

l You could try creating a dedicated promotional bay where you site all your promotional wines together.

61

l Offer a solid range across the key price points.

This trend lends itself to Australian wines and Mark encourages retailers to make more of Australian wines in their stores. “Australia is the biggest country in terms of sales volume so it’s really important that Londis retailers also have a good core Australian offering across each of the price brackets,” he advises.

l Follow the RSPs.

MERCHANDISING

If you would like to refresh your wine range to make sure that your offer is in line with the latest shopper trends, Mark and his team offer the following advice:

l Why not create dedicated seasonal displays for major promotional periods like Christmas if you have the space?

Another key trend to keep an eye on is the continued growth of the low and no alcohol wine category. “Low to no alcohol products are flying and wine is certainly no exception,” says

WINEUPDATE:CATEGORY

TREND WATCH

l Having the right range will drive more sales than simply having a big range.

Help is at hand

is standing many Londis retailers in good stead, including Londis retailer VJ Patel, from Dagenham, who is reporting strong sales in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A well-managed range of OTC medicines can be a great source of footfall, sales and profits – as well as helping to build even better loyalty and trust between retailers and local Withshoppers.shoppers

MEDICINESOTC

OTC medicines typically offer very strong PORs, often in excess of 50%, so it makes sense to take a fresh look at your range to make sure you have all the important bases

Shelf help

Soothe and revitalise your sales and profits by focusing on OTC medicines.

MEDICATION TIME

arguably more health, and wellness-conscious than ever, ensuring that you stock a strong range of the best-selling Over the Counter (OTC) medicines is critical in maximising footfall, sales and profits not just in winter time but all year round.

Doingcovered.so

l The three reactive categories which will deliver 69% of that growth are: seasonal medicines, gastrointestinal medicines and pain relief medicines.

l

l 80% of the population will try OTC medicines first before seeking professional help.

l Reactive shoppers will treat symptoms when they suffer or when they know they are likely to suffer.

63OTCMEDICINES

l The reactive category is three times larger than the proactive category with a 77% market share.

“The role of medicines in convenience stores grew during the lockdown months, when for many shoppers we became the primary port of call for essential supplies of things like paracetamol and other pain and fever relieving Althoughdrugs.saleshave fallen since the lockdown months they do remain up on pre-pandemic levels as shoppers who might previously have purchased exclusively from high street chemists, now come to us for their medicines along with other items. The fact that we trade for longer hours than many chemists also serves us well. I’ve lost count of the number of grateful parents who rush in for emergency bottles of Calpol at 7pm or on a Sunday morning!”

l Shoppers tend to be either proactive or reactive when it comes to looking after their self care needs.

VJ Patel, Londis VJ Enterprise Dagenham

Leading OTC medicines company Reckitt offers the following market information and advice to help Londis retailers ensure they are offering the right range to meet the needs of the majority of shoppers:

l Proactive shoppers will look after their own health to minimise the risk of becoming unwell.

l Reactive shoppers have 93% penetration, an annual visit frequency of 17.3, spend £3.67 per trip and £1.69bn a year in total.

The OTC market

l Reactive will be the main contributor to category growth in the next three years, delivering an additional £420m of spend between 2022 and 2024.

Rennie Peppermint

Nurofen Express Liquid Caps

Panadol Extra Advance Tablet

Case size: 6x12 WSP: £26.55 RSP: £3.49 POR: 23.90%

Londis recommends the following range as ideal to meet the majority of shopper requirements:

Lemsip Cold/Flu Caps Max Strength

l Encourage your team to highlight the fixture to shoppers who may be looking for medicines behind the till.

To get maximum value from the category however, it’s vital to list the bestselling lines and deliver both quality and value for shoppers. Booker has recently refreshed its range of OTC medicines to ensure that Londis retailers have access to precisely the right range to meet the needs of the vast majority of shopper requirements, whether that’s hayfever or allergies, summer colds, sore throats or child-specific remedies like

Anadin Extra

Strepsils Honey & Lemon

Panadol Advance Tabs

Galpharm Ibuprofen Capsules

Calpol Infant 2+ Months Bottle

l Keep the fixture well stocked and check it regularly.

Case size: 12x14pk WSP: £20.19 RSP: £2.89 POR: 30.10%

Case size: 6x80ml WSP: £15.09 RSP: £4.75 POR: 36.46%

Rennie Spearmint

Case size: 6x12pk WSP: £15.49 RSP: £4.25 POR: 27.11%

Case size: 12x16s WSP: £4.62 RSP: £0.99 POR: 53.33%

Galpharm Paracetamol Caplets

REFRESHED RANGE

By siting medicines on open display on the shop floor, Londis retailers can give shoppers the time and space they need to make informed purchasing decisions, often leading to bigger basket spends. Here are some top tips on moving your medicines from behind the counter onto the shop floor:

Galpharm Ibuprofen Caplets

Nurofen Tablets

Imodium Capsules

l Be sure to list premium products to drive bigger sales and bigger cash profits.

TheCalpol.refreshed

Case size: 12x12pk WSP: £17.94 RSP: £2.69 POR: 33.31%

Case size: 8x16pk WSP: £4.49 RSP: £0.99 POR: 31.97%

Case size: 12x16s WSP: £4.62 RSP: £0.99 POR: 53.33%

Piriteze Allergy Tablets

range includes popular key brands such as Nurofen, Piriteze, Strepsils and Panadol, all delivering premium products at great value prices. Critically, the range also delivers fantastic PORs for Nurofenretailers.

Galpharm Paracetamol 500mg

l Merchandise the range in logical groupings: allergies, sore throats, pain relief, children’s medicines and so on, to make it easy for your shoppers to find what they need.

l Offer a good mix of premium and value products to cater for every budget.

Case size: 12x16 tabs WSP: £19.68 RSP: £2.60 POR: 24.31%

65OTCMEDICINES

Case size: 6x10pk WSP: £12.69 RSP: £3.39 POR: 25.13%

Case size: 10x16s WSP: £4.49 RSP: £1.19 POR: 54.72%

Case size: 6x6s WSP: £15.29 RSP: £4.15 POR: 26.31%

l Sit the medicines fixture near the tillpoint to allow your team to keep a close eye on it.

By stocking a strong range of medicines, Londis retailers can give their shoppers the confidence they need to visit your store in times of minor distress, safe in the knowledge that they will find a product to help alleviate their ailments and help them get on with their lives. And who knows, they might also pick up another product or two while they are there.

Nuromol Tabs Ibuprofen/Paracetamol

tablets, for example, deliver PORs in excess of 34%, as do Panadol Advance

Case size: 8x24pk WSP: £12.03 RSP: £2.39 POR: 24.50%

Case size: 6x7pk WSP: £17.89 RSP: £5.75 POR: 37.80%

Case size: 12x16pk WSP: £14.15 RSP: £2.15 POR: 34.20%

Recommended Range

Galpharm Paracetamol Caps

Case size: 6x100ml WSP: £15.09 RSP: £4.75 POR: 36.46%

Case size: 12x16s WSP: £4.99 RSP: £0.99 POR: 49.60%

Shop floor stars

l Stock the bestselling, most popular products as prominently as possible – ideally at eye level.

Case size: 8x24s WSP: £12.03 RSP: £2.39 POR: 24.50%

“Sales remain up on pre-pandemic levels as shoppers who might previously have purchased exclusively from high street chemists now come to us for their medicines along with other items,” he says.

looking to minimise their spend, Londis also offers a range of outstanding value products from Galpharm which offer retailers PORs of up to 59.7%, while allowing shoppers to pick up a 16pack of ibuprofen, for instance, for just 99p.

ForTablets.shoppers

Calpol Six Plus Bottle

FOOTFALL FAVOURITES

Case size: 6x16s WSP: £16.85 RSP: £4.55 POR: 25.90%

MORE60%THANANNUALINCREMENTALROSÉGROWTH AVERAGE SPEND 60% MORE DARK FRUIT THAN FLAVOUREDMAINSTREAMCATEGORY MORE DOUBLETHAN ORIGINAL THE AVERAGE SPEND PER BUYER VS TOP COMPETITOR ON THE NATION’S FAVOURITE ENJOY STRONGBOW RESPONSIBLY favourite cider brand SOURCE: BBPA DATA UP TO THE END OF AUGUST 2021 & AGENCY DATA TO 11th september 2021 ROSE and Original SOURCE: KANTAR WORLDPANEL, 52 W.E. 11TH JULY 2021 dark fruit SOURCE: KANTAR WORLDPANEL, TOTAL GB OFF-TRADE, 52 W.E. 11TH JULY 2021 CIDER BRAND

67 Every issue we bring you the latest product launches from your favourite suppliers Top JACKnewproducts ’S SQUASHORANGEPM169 Case size: 8 x 1.5ltr WSP: £7.85 RSP: £1.69 POR: 30.3% JACK’S APPLE SQUASHBLACKCURRANT&PM169 Case size: 8 x 1.5ltr WSP: £7.85 RSP: £1.69 POR: 30.3% JACK’S SQUASHLEMONPM169 Case size: 8 x 1.5ltr WSP: £7.85 RSP: £1.69 POR: 30.3% KATE MOSS & DIET COKE 12PACK Case size: 2 x 12 x 330ml WSP: £6.65 RSP: £4.99 POR: 20.0%IT’SWHENGONE,IT’SGONE CONCENTRATECONCENTRATEDOUBLEDOUBLECONCENTRATEDOUBLE EXCLUSIVEGROUPTESCOPACKDESIGN

Time to STOCK UP NOW * 1Nielsen – Total Coverage – Cola – Value & volume Sales – MAT – 21.05.22 NO.1 SOFT DRINKS BRAND SOLD IN 1/2WORTHRETAIL,OVERBILLION£s.*

Case

ULTRAMONSTERBLACK

size: 12 x 500ml WSP: £10.25 RSP: £1.65 POR: 37.9%

ULTRAMONSTERROSA

Case

size: 12 x 500ml WSP: £10.25 RSP: £1.65 POR: 37.9% PINOTITALIANFREIXENETGRIGIO Case size: 6 x 75cl WSP: £40.79 RSP: £10.99 POR: 25.8% ROSEITALIANFREIXENET Case size: 6 x 75cl WSP: £39.99 RSP: £10.99 POR: 27.2% DROSECALVETCAP ’AGDE Case size: 6 x 75cl WSP: £34.69 RSP: £8.99 POR: 22.8% WAIRAU BLANCSAUVIGNONCOVE Case size: 6 x 75cl WSP: £31.59 RSP: £7.99 POR: 20.9%

69

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF YOUR ROLE. There are four category managers in our fantastic team, of which I am the lead. We split responsibilities across the major suppliers and that covers product listings, range, promotions, pricing and availability, so we have quite a broad remit!

DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER JOURNEY UP UNTIL NOW?

WHAT’S THE BEST BIT ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I took up the post of Category Lead for Wine and RTDs a year ago, but I’ve been at Booker for 16 years and have worked across grocery, catering and now wine and RTDs so I have a good understanding of the business. Ten years prior to that I started my career at an independent cash and carry in The Midlands. I progressed

Name: WineCategory:WineCategoryTitle:OldfieldMarkLead&RTDs&RTDs

from the ground up, from checkouts to supervisor, then duty manager before moving into the buying team. My early years have proved invaluable as they have meant that I’ve seen almost every facet of the business.

The second thing is the retailers themselves. They really keep you on your toes! Getting to spend time with retailers in their stores is something I love and fortunately, since lockdown restrictions have eased, I’ve been able to get back to doing that a lot this year.

BUYERTHEMEET to...‘hello’Say

There are three key things, the first one being that every day is different. There’s no set timetable, it varies throughout the day, week and year. Sometimes the role is office-based, sometimes I’m out in the field visiting retailers and sometimes I’m visiting suppliers and getting insights and information from them, so it’s really broad.

We also have to tailor the range and the offering to suit the different retail facias. Londis retailers for example have quite different requirements from those of other fascia retailers, so a lot of work also goes into that.

Price is currently front-of-mind for shoppers, meaning that it’s more important than ever before for retailers to have a good offer across each of the key price brackets.

Australia is the biggest country in terms of sales volume so it’s really important that Londis retailers also have a good core Australian offering across each of the price brackets.

We recommend at least two or three facings of your bestselling SKUs.

Make sure you have a good solid offering across the key price points and follow the SupportRSPs.

71BUYERTHEMEET

87654321

Australian wines tend to offer that sweeter taste profile which a growing number of shoppers are looking for these days. They also tend to be more robust in terms of price and availability, which is key.

promotions with gondola-end displays.

Try to keep most, if not all of your white wine and rosé chilled to make the most of the ‘drink now’ market.

If you have got additional space where you can create an exciting display for one of the big promotions, such as Christmas 9 and 10 for example, then do so!

When it comes to wine, having the right range with more facings is key.

A nice off-shelf display of all the deals together will help to drive sales and profits.

Mark’s

The third thing is my team. They are an incredible bunch of truly dedicated people who between them have more than 60 years of wine-buying experience, so they certainly know their stuff!

Don’t be afraid of chopping out lines that aren’t working to make space for more facings of your top-sellers.

Australian wines don’t really struggle with some of supply challenges that other countries such as France and New Zealand can, which helps to keep prices low and availability high.

The entry-level £5 to £6 price-bracket is where you tend to get most of the promotions, but £6 to £8 is where most of your volume sits, so it’s really important for retailers to have the right offering of key brands here.

MAKE MORE AUSTRALIANOFWINES

Top tips!

WHAT KEY TRENDS ARE DRIVING WINE SALES AT THE MOMENT?

Jam Shed and 19 Crimes for example, are two brands which have experienced phenomenal growth and really driven the numbers this year. However, it’s important to note that despite the cost-of living crisis, premium-priced products remain key. That’s why we have also been very working really hard to introduce more premium-priced products to close that important £8 to £10 gap.

WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF ACTIVITY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE MOMENT?

We’ve already seen some fantastic Tesco brands start to come into Booker and BRP recently, including an Italian Pinot Grigio and Italian Rosé under the Caparelli brand, which is now a Booker Exclusive.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RETAILERS FACE WITH WINE?

Retailers will also continue to see strong ‘2 for £10 and ‘2 for £12’ promotions on key brands throughout the year, which really do help to drive footfall and

HOW IS THE LOW TO NO WINE CATEGORY PERFORMING?

Helpingthis.

Taste-wise, shoppers have also started to move towards sweeter profiles – another reason why the Jam Shed brand is turning the dial at the moment.

WHAT ELSE CAN LONDIS RETAILERS LOOK FORWARD TO ON WINE?

Londis retailers to develop their premium ranges will also be another big focus. Despite the cost-of-living crisis, wine is still a category that shoppers like to treat themselves with. We think that premium wines will still continue to motor over the coming months, as shoppers swap meals out for indulgent nights in with a premium bottle of wine. As a result, for Londis retailers we will be focusing hard on strengthening that key £8 to £10 price-bracket.

The other exciting thing to note is that in addition to all the great work we are doing on premium, we will also be securing even more entry-level price points and we are sourcing much more from across the group to help us do just that.

The total low to no alcohol category is flying and wine is certainly no exception, growing at 900% year on year. For a retailer looking to enter the low to no wine category for the first time I would suggest keeping it small and simple to start with. Go for something like a McGuigan Zero, which is one of the better-flavoured no alcohol wines. Low to no alcohol wines haven’t historically had the greatest taste but the market has made some major improvements recently and some of these new products such as McGuigan Zero really stand up. For a no alcohol sparkling I’d also suggest stocking Nozeco.

73

wines also making a comeback we will also be increasing our range on Jam Shed and 19 Crimes. Argentinian Malbec is still a really on-trend growth area too, so we’ll also be doing more work with brands such as Trivento.

Seasonal events are really important in the wine category. We are currently working on the Christmas opportunity, which is obviously a key one. Everyone wants to treat themselves at Christmas, so there is a huge opportunity for retailers to upsell more premium products. Sparkling products and red wines in particular will offer fantastic opportunities for retailers to grow sales and profits this Christmas.

Another key priority is maximising availability and mitigating cost price increases from the supply base and we’re working really hard with our suppliers to do

Withprofits.sweeter

Having too many single facings can be a real problem. To shoppers, a display with too many single facings just looks like a wall of bottles, which can be really confusing.

TALK TO US ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY SEASONAL EVENTS?

The fresh fruit and veg category is now of fundamental importance to Londis retailers and is a category that has been in steady growth in independent retailing for many years. Having a strong range of greatquality, outstanding-value fresh products is now a must for stores looking to maximise footfall, sales and profits.

4’

With fruit and veg a vitally important category for Londis retailers, a new regular Jack’s promotion is set to ensure retailers have a market-leading fresh offer to drive footfall and sales.

To help drive Fruit & Veg sales, we will be supporting with up-weighted deals each period.

‘Fresh to unlock fresh growth

Fresh DEAL MIDASCODEPRODUCT PACK WSPSTD PROMWSP STDRSP CONSUMERDEALPORRETAIL BARCODE NEIGBOURHOOD LARGE LARGESCOTLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD SMALL SMALLSCOTLAND FORECOURT UNLICENSED FORECOURT LICENSED FORECOURT SCOTLAND 1 M273026 Jacks Closed Cup Mushrooms 8x250g£6.32 £5.68 £0.99 ONLY 89p 20.2% 1111 2 M273014Jacks Red Onions 8x3pk£7.92 £5.68 £1.29 20.2% 1111 3 M275004Jacks Baby Potatoes8x750g£7.12 £5.68 £0.99 20.2% 11 1 1 M274664Jacks Garlic 12x3pk£8.88 £8.52 £0.99 20.2% 1111 Included in your kit promotionthis 250g 89p £1.29 ONLY 89p 99p ONLY 89p 99p ONLY 89p 99p ONLY Offer ends 30/10/2022 Fresh ShelfPosterBarker 89p89p89p99p 89p99p This promotion we will be allocating the below: 111325 Londis Fresh4 NP08 Trading Pack Ad.indd 1 02/09/2022 14:05 M274664 maximise footfall, sales Social (AllContentMediaPlatforms)

OWNBRAND

Freshen up

A strong, well-presented fresh fruit and vegetable range can help unlock big basket spends as shoppers on a ‘meal for tonight’ mission can find everything they need for that night’s dinner, all in one place. Whether it’s spaghetti bolognese, chicken curry or any number of other popular dishes, shoppers need to be confident that they can find the onions, tomatoes, garlic and more that they need to save them having to visit two or three stores or visit a supermarket which may be many miles away.

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Pack size: 1 x 1kg Promo Price: £0.52 RSP: £0.99 Shopper Deal: Only 65p POR:

Jack’s20%Savoy

Pack size: 1 x 4pk Promo Price: £0.79 RSP: £1.19 Shopper Deal: Only 99p

Fresh Period4:7

POR: 20%

In Promotional Period 6, for example, the Jack’s Fresh 4 offered shoppers outstanding deals such as £1.99 for Jack’s red and green grapes, a saving of 60p on the RSP, and just 99p for Jack’s washed white potatoes, a saving of 30p on the RSP of £1.29.

While these deals help deliver marketleading value for shoppers, they also delivered strong PORs of up to 25.25% for

For shoppers, the promotion is equally attractive, offering Jack’s lemons 4-packs for just £1.09 and a 1kg bag of Jack’s cooking onions for just 65p. These represent savings of up to 30p on the RSP.

Jack’s Red Apples

Jack’s Cooking Onions

Pack size: 1 x Single Promo Price: £0.68 RSP: £1.19 Shopper Deal: Only 85p POR: 20%

The Fresh 4 promotion was created specifically in response to feedback from Londis retailers. With a brilliant fresh offer now critical in independent retailing, Londis retailers made it clear that they needed a powerful way to grow their fruit and veg sales – and Londis has listened and responded.

The Fresh 4 promotion delivers top-selling fresh seasonal products at fantastic value pricing for shoppers. In Period 7, for example, which runs from 31 August until 4 Oct, the following Fresh 4 deals are available:

POR:

Period 7 Fresh 4 promotion, which runs from 31 August until 4 Oct, offers exceptional deals on best-selling seasonal fruit and vegetable products like cooking onions, red apples and lemons, all delivering a POR of 20% for retailers.

Jack’s ‘Fresh 4’ is an innovative new regular promotion that will offer Londis shoppers market-leading, attentiongrabbing deals on four top-selling seasonal fruit and vegetable products every promotional period.

Cabbage

Pack size: 1 x 4s Promo Price: £0.87 RSP: £1.49 Shopper Deal: Only £1.09

A full set of bespoke POS will be provided in your Period 7 packs to support the Fresh 4 promotions, including eyecatching and sales-driving shelf barkers and SELs.

GET FRESH

75OWNBRAND

Jack’s20%Lemons

The extensive range of Jack’s fresh fruit and vegetables that launched earlier this year has gone a long way to making that easier than ever for Londis retailers. A new rolling promotional programme, however, is set to help retailers take their fresh offer to an entirely new level.

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Jas Singh of Londis Stourbridge Road, Dudley told Londis News: “The Jack’s brand is selling very strongly indeed. Shoppers are becoming increasingly costconscious, so products, such as the ready meals, which are on offer at just 2 for £6 hold a great appeal but the quality is what counts the most. I constantly receive positive feedback about the taste and flavour of the ready meals and also the fruit

The Fresh 4 promotion will feature in all upcoming promotional periods with the products featured evolving seasonally.

QUALITY COUNTS

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Whileshoppers.the

POS packs will help make the Fresh 4 promotion unmissable in-store, Londis will also create professionally designed, ready-made social media posts which Londis retailers can easily use to highlight Fresh 4 to their shoppers online and on social media.

With shopper deals as outstanding as those featured in the Fresh 4 promotions, it’s a great opportunity for retailers use these free digital materials to drive footfall to their stores. And once your shoppers arrive to take advantage of the Fresh 4 deals, there’s an outstanding opportunity to drive big basket spends and also increase visit frequency.

For every Fresh 4 promotion, Londis retailers will receive a bespoke POS pack which features eye-catching materials including posters, shelf barkers and shelfedge labels. This high quality POS features the critical ‘Part of the Tesco family’ message, which retailer feedback has made abundantly clear is highly valued by

Offering attentiongrabbing deals to bring shoppers to your door is, however, only part of the story. Driving initial trial of the Jack’s range in general and the Fresh 4 products in particular is obviously key – but to generate those all-important repeat purchases, it’s quality and value that matters most.

ROLLING PROGRAMME

Thankfully, it has become clear that the quality of the Jack’s range is unquestionable. Feedback from both sides of the counter has made it obvious that the new, fast-expanding range of Jack’s lines is landing extremely well – and it’s the quality and freshness that seems to be impressing retailers and shoppers most.

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The pair recently completed an ambitious store development programme in a bid to offer their shoppers a wider range of fresh and chilled goods.

“We now have two 3.75 metre chillers for chilled foods, including key items from the Jack’s range such as the ready meals, chilled meats and fruit and vegetables,”

“The fact that shoppers can now buy a wide range of fresh, chilled and frozen products from us, instead of having to make a long drive to the supermarket, is a huge benefit to them and we’ve been getting excellent feedback about the quality of the Jack’s

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“Thebrand.packaging is also really eye-catching, especially when supported with all the Jack’s branding in the chillers and on the

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and vegetables, particularly the potatoes! The fact that the brand also makes it clear that it is ‘part of the Tesco family’ is another bonus, it seems to give shoppers even more confidence in the quality of the

Jay and Gaya Navaratnam, of Londis Chaxhill Service Station in Westbury on Severn, are also singing the praises of the new Jack’s range.

BRANDOWN

Londis Yealmpton

new larger fresh, chilled and frozen range and the Jack’s brand, we are now seeing far more basket shoppers, with baskets costing more than £50 and £60 becoming very common,” she adds.

With the energy supply market in a state of flux the likes of which most retailers have probably never experienced before, it will be clear to all Londis retailers that securing the best possible deals on electricity, gas and water is more mission critical than it has ever

penny that a retailer can save in cost is a penny that drops straight to the bottom line, which is why it could make sense to get in touch with Saffron Business Solutions.

Saffron Director David Hawarth says: “We have been working with Booker customers since 2011 and in that time we’ve helped thousands of them save many thousands of pounds on contracts that are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Possiblybeen.the

major challenge for retailers is simply understanding the market in the first place, with so much change happening at once. Trying to find and secure the best deal can be a daunting task. This is why it is so important to work with an expert in the field, an expert that has worked with thousands of Booker customers in the last decade and more on securing

Everyway.

COSTSENERGY

realThe deal

Saving money on energy and water bills has never been more critical for Londis retailers which is so many of them have turned to Saffron Business Solutions for expert, experienced support.

Save money, save time, add value

contracts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds – and saving Londis retailers many thousands of pounds along the

OfferSolutionsBusinessSaffron l Free advice on current supply. l No obligation price comparison against your current supply. l Single point of contact for all your requirements. l Saffron handles all supplier switches with no disruption to your business. l Lifetime support whether you sign with Saffron or elsewhere. How does it work? 1.You provide some basic information from a 2.Saffronbill. provides a solution tailored to your specific business. 3. You decide and then receive lifetime support.

l Saffron helps with every aspect of your supply from initial pricing through to support.

The new ‘Energy Buying Club’ will enable Saffron Business Solutions to negotiate on your behalf and give you a fantastic opportunity to secure better terms for your energy bills.

Telephone and Broadband

l Using your details, Saffron asks its trusted service partner to get in touch to discuss your requirements before providing a quote to consider.

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Londis retailer, who has been a customer of Saffron Business Solutions since February 2019, said: “I have used Saffron Business Solutions to source a new energy contract and broadband supply. I have found the process very straightforward and the options on offer were competitive. Using Saffron Business Solutions has saved me a lot of time and hassle as they put everything in place to move to the new suppliers. I would use Saffron Business Solutions again in the future.”

Saffron Business Solutions has been working with Booker customers for over 16 years.

To find out more or to register your interest, simple email info@sb-solutions.co.uk

l The switching is managed by Saffron’s partner, but Saffron will ensure any queries are dealt with quickly and correctly.

Energy

Water

l Working closely with a trusted service partner, Saffron will pass on your details to obtain a quote for you to consider.

Merchant Terminals

Solutions Provided

81COSTSENERGY

l Saffron’s partner has a support desk of its own and can speak directly to its service partner on any issues or queries that may arise.

Energy Buying Club

l Saffron will help with the switching process and support, should you have any queries.

Saffron Business Solutions has helped thousands of Booker customers on contracts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds since 2011. Saffron’s service model continues to save money, save time, and add value to all new and existing Londis

are tailored to the specific needs of the individual business from the first introduction all the way throughout the lifetime of the relationship.

“Many of our Londis retailers have been working with us for years and years and that’s because we have consistently delivered unbeatable prices and unbeatable service. In fact, our annual retention rate is over 84%, which is unheard of in the energy brokering market. The average retention rate is around 40%. The reason why so many Londis retailers come to us and use us time and again for renewals is because we offer them a great

Buying as a group, rather than individual businesses, means we can potentially leverage improved terms for our customers.

l Offering market prices and expert knowledge on switching and renewing your business gas and electricity supply.

l With the help of a selected panel of providers, Saffron reviews your water supply and provides quotes suited to your business needs.

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l Saffron will correspond with your current and future supplier in the matter of release and registration of your meter. They have access to the national database, which ensures your switch of supplier is successful, and will resolve any objections to the switch.

l Throughout the duration of your supply contract, they will support with the amendment of any supply or account details regarding site, billing, payment, metering, or any other matters relating to the site’s supply or account.

Another factor that sets Saffron apart from the competition is the way the business finds new clients, as Hawarth explains: “Very unusually in this industry, we do not have an outbound call desk and we have never cold called a retailer. Every new client we get comes through as a referral, either from another satisfied retailer or from Booker themselves. That speaks volumes about the service we provide and we are firm believers in the mantra that retailers want to talk to people they can trust.”

the agreed offer. These can be signed via e-mail, post or electronically.

So what does all of this look like in practice? Saffron specialises in four distinct areas where it can bring its expertise and experience to bear in securing the best possible deals for Londis retailers:

l Present prices to you with likefor-like comparisons against your current supplier or offers received elsewhere with no obligation to proceed.

To find out how Saffron Business Solutions could help save you money and time, contact them now by phone, email or via the Saffron website. 03448 222

This does not change at any point during your contract, so you know precisely what you will be paying.

l Water

Saffron is proud and open about the fact that it does not have preferred or favoured suppliers in any of the markets in which it operates. “We have no formal allegiance with any electricity, gas or water supplier,” comments Hawarth. “Once we have understood the specific needs of the retailer, we will reach out to the entire market to find the best deal. And once we have found the best deals, we present them to the retailer and it’s entirely the retailer’s decision which option he or she wants to go for. We apply absolutely no

l Merchant Terminals

l Saffron operates a formal complaints procedure as part of the Energy Ombudsman.

“Essentially, we wrap our arms around our customers and support them from start to finish,” concludes Hawarth. “We pride ourselves on offering a complete ‘cradle to grave’ solution from the first contact through the entire lifetime of our relationship. We treat our money as if it was yours – and thousands of happy Booker customers can testify to that.”

l Telephone and Broadband

l Saffron will provide you with contract documents and all other relevant documents on

T:

Price

Saffronpressure.”receives

l Saffron gathers information on your existing supply to present to suppliers, including half-hourly data squares and any non-half-hourly meter information.

l They will also assist with any queries or issues raised, whether contracting through Saffron or not, helping to push suppliers to resolution.

l Saffron will analyse your first invoice to ensure all is as expected, and every three months thereafter.

Analysis

When retailers approach Saffron to ask them to find them the best deals available, the process involves four distinct steps: analysis, pricing, switching and support.

l Continue to review the market and update their ‘best’ quotes up until the point where your decision is being made.

Once potential new clients get in touch, Saffron adopts a completely transparent and open approach. Hawarth comments: “Retailers don’t need to be told that, in terms of energy supply, we are in unprecedented times. The market has never been in as much flux as it is today. That’s why retailers need someone they can rely on and someone who will be open, honest and transparent and who will seek out only those deals that are in the very best interests of the individual business that we are talking to.”

l Saffron will obtain prices tailored to your business needs from their range of selected suppliers.

Support

Saffron model

l Energy (electricity and gas)

l As your renewal window approaches, Saffron we will be in touch up to six months before your contract expires.

l Full analysis of your existing supply contract is carried out to pinpoint any anomalies or areas of concern.

l A Notice of Termination is provided for your existing contract to ensure freedom of choice.

l As standard Saffron provides Fully Fixed and Inclusive contracts.

Switching

83ENERGYCOSTS

l Ensure that you are presented with the right contract with the right supplier and at the right price.

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its fee direct from the supplier or service provider that you choose, which means that retailers will never receive a bill from Saffron.

l They will ensure your preferred payment terms are implemented with your supplier, including help in getting any VAT reduction that may be due.

l They will be in touch on the day your contract goes live to remind you to take a meter read. This will avoid any excess charges. This will be logged with your old and new supplier.

Londis has added new mobile scanning functionality allowing retailers to scan and order single products or cases direct from the shopfloor, the stock room or from anywhere at all!

APPSCANNINGLONDIS solutionsTech

orderingInstant with new scannermobile FreeforallLondisretailers!

APPSCANNINGLONDIS

Even if you have a handheld terminal available, it’s not always as convenient as it might be if you can’t find it right this very second or if someone else in your team is using it. So what could be more convenient than a mobile phone or tablet-based solution instead?

85

The new scanner icon appears next to the search bar on your phone or tablet when you’re using the Booker app or website and lets you quickly scan a barcode there and then.

If you’ve ever found yourself wandering around the shopfloor or the stockroom with a broken biro and a torn notepad in hand putting your next Booker top-up order or shopping list together, you’ve no doubt wondered if there isn’t an easier way to order small amounts of stock.

It’s an offence to sell tobacco to any person under 18 years of age. For tobacco trade use only. Not to be left within sight of consumers. HITSTOCKREFRESHUPNOW YOUR NEW FAVOURITESYOUR NEW FAVOURITES PALL MALL Shift Green ROTHMANS Green Superkings NEW SKU DESCRIPTION SIZE CODE PallMallShiftGreen RothmansGreen 20's 20's M278892 M278893

AppScanningLondis

l

To help retailers overcome that frustration and to help them simplify and streamline their ordering processes, Booker has introduced a new mobile scanner that is available free of charge to all Londis

Theretailers.scanner

Using the new app couldn’t be easier: Open the Booker website or app on your mobile phone or tablet Scan the barcode on the side of the case or the product itself Choose how many cases or products you would like to order All products will be added to your order, ready to be included the next time you submit your order

The scanning app is a such a simple concept but like many simple concepts, it just works. It makes building orders much quicker and easier for me and my team and it means we don’t have to rely on handheld terminals or pieces of paper when we’re getting ready to prepare our next order. We can just walk around the shop and the store room and add products that are running low and they appear on the order, ready for us to include when it’s submitted.

For more information, speak to your RDM.

87LONDISSCANNINGAPP

l

l

is available on all mobile devices and allows retailers to quickly and easily scan single products or cases on their device and have the products added to their next order.

The new scanner icon appears next to the search bar on your phone or tablet when you’re using the Booker app or website and lets you quickly scan a barcode there and then. It couldn’t be simpler to use and it will help retailers efficiently order products that are running low on shelf or in the stock room with a very minimum of fuss.

Nakendram Theepan Londis Mid-Glamorgan, Aberdare

No more lost paper shopping lists, illegible writing or inaccurate Midas codes – and no more searching the Booker website for products on your shopping list. Simply scan the products you need and they’ll be sitting there waiting for you the next time you are ready to submit an order.

l

Byhouseholds.theirvery

Just before the start of the summer holidays, the Government launched a new campaign aimed at showcasing some of the great work that retailers are doing to support consumers during the cost of living crisis. The campaign, called Help for Households, focuses on four key periods of time in the remainder of 2022, namely the summer holidays, return to school, the energy price cap rise in October, and Christmas, where it is likely that consumers will be feeling the squeeze on their incomes and living standards.

Retailers’ support of shoppers hailed

ACS is pleased to support the campaign, and attended the launch at 10 Downing St with the Prime Minister in one of his final engagements before passing the baton on. Some of the UK’s biggest retailers are committing to new deals and offers to support customers over the next few months, but the campaign isn’t just about new deals, it’s about highlighting the existing and ongoing support that businesses provide to

basis. We’re also one of the last places where people can get access to cash, in addition to a wide range of other services, and we know that during difficult financial times, some people use cash instead of cards to manage their spending more effectively.

nature, convenience stores are really well placed to support local people looking to save and manage their money. Typically people walk to their local shop, saving money on the cost of fuel to get to a bigger store (whilst also helping the environment). While during the pandemic there were many customers getting a full weekly shop from their local convenience store, most will be shopping little and often – this is a useful way of managing food waste and keeping track of finances on a day to day

If you’ve got a great initiative or campaign that you’re launching locally to help with the cost of living crisis, we want to hear from you. Send us a message on social media and tell us all about it – our handle is @ACS_localshops.

During this time, it’s important to remember that we have a responsibility to support not just our customers, but our colleagues as well. We’ve heard some great examples of how retailers are providing direct support through bonuses, staff discounts and other benefits, but there’s also an opportunity to highlight resources that give colleagues the best information about how to manage their finances effectively and responsibly.

A new Government campaign is showcasing the great work that retailers are doing to support shoppers during the cost of living crisis.

Convenience stores are also important local ways for people to take advantage of Government support schemes like Healthy Start. The new Healthy Start pre-paid cards mean that there are no vouchers to deal with and no process to worry about, as eligible customers can just use the card like they would a normal Mastercard to purchase milk, formula, and fruit and veg. Healthy Start is a great scheme that is still hugely underutilised and underpromoted, so we hope that it will be amplified as part of the Help for Households campaign.

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ACSVIEWPOINT: heardyourMakevoice

STOCK UP NOW FROM EXPERTSORIGINALTHEGINGERWWW.OLDJAMAICAGINGERBEER.COM @OLDJAMAICAUK *IRI MARKETPLACE: VOLUME AND VALUE SALES - MAT TO 23/1/22 SKU - M964643 OF GINGEROF GINGER THE OG Sthe og STHE UK’S NO.1 GINGERBRANDBEER*

Email: tcaton.londis@gmail.com

Email: stmichaelsservicesltd@gmail.com

Email: perryroger9@aol.com

Tel: 01598 753326

Londis, Lechlade, Gloucestershire

Mobile: 07710 567008

Londis, Lanarkshire, Glasgow

ROGER PERRY

SARAH COPE

Tel: 01367 252202

NATALIE LIGHTFOOT

ALPESH PATEL

Mobile: 07875 286657

Mobile: 07808 831379

Londis, Lynton, Devon

Tel: 020 8340 1919 Mobile: 07939 944557

Email: alpeshspatel@hotmail.com

St. Michael’s

Services, Dumfries

ARJAN MEHR

Tel: 01344 425565

Mobile: 07759 260621

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Tel: 01387 254304

JAMIE WOOD

Londis, East Riding, Yorkshire

STEVE BASSETT

Email: scope71@hotmail.co.uk

ASHTON GARDNER 857797

the RetailLondisForum Working together...Supporting the Londis retail family! We are always happy to hear from you, so please give us a call or send us a message on our contact details above… Forum

Londis, London N4

Londis, Bracknell, Berkshire

TERRY CATON

Email: steedthrust@googlemail.com

Email: ashton@gardnergarages.co.uk

Londis, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

BEN SIMONS

Londis, Weymouth, Dorset

Email: arjanmehr@aol.com

Tel: 01246 208565

Tel: 0141 7710490

Mobile: 07915 059101

FORUMRETAILLONDIS

Tel: 01964 544200

Gardner Garages, Cheltenham, Mobile:Gloucestershire 07826

Mobile: 07786 330164

Mobile: 07769 644853

Email: londis.solo@hotmail.com

BOOST YOUR SALES WITH LIPTON, BRAND IN THE UK * Ready to drink tea is the fastest growing soft drinks category* Lipton is driving this with 41% growth** *Nielsen scantrack data to WE 23rd April 2022 **Nielsen Scantrack, Total Coverage, Value % Change, MAT 23.04.22 Time to