It’s Grill Time for the BBQ opportunity. Scoot delivers for Londis stores. Booker Networks.
Vol 38 Issue 4 July/August 2025
in 12x330ml & 4x568ml packs
M249725 - Heineken Original (12x)330ml M302214 - Heineken Original (4x)568ml PMP £7.99
GroceryAid
Callum Beattie confirmed among the headline acts at this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival.
Get your grill on Summer BBQ season is here and hotter than ever. 23 34 62 45
Thinking big Londis Gainsborough Avenue is a big store with a big heart.
9 LONDIS NEWS
Londis Solo Convenience wins key industry award.
13 COMMUNITY NEWS
The latest round up of community news from Londis stores.
23 GROCERYAID UPDATE
The countdown to Checkout Scotland is on.
26 RE-WRITING THE RULES
HSRL has re-written its rulebook, with its most innovative development to date.
34 PLAN OF ATTACK!
When opportunity struck, first time retailer Kanapathypillai Raveendran pounced!
45 SUMMER SIZZLERS
Make the most of the summer 2025 BBQ opportunity.
51 CHILLY CHAMPIONS
Networking
Find out more about Booker’s budding Race & Ethnicity Colleague Network.
Booker Retail Partners
Tel: 0870 050 0158
Booker’s new Fresh and Frozen brochure can help you grow footfall, sales and profits.
57 NEW PRODUCT ROUNDUP
Our pick of some of the hottest new products to hit the shelves.
62 BOOKER NETWORKS
Shining the spotlight on Booker’s Race&Ethnicity Colleague Network.
69 SCOOTIFUL SALES
Booker’s new low-cost Scoot rapid delivery app is already driving increased sales and profits for Londis retailers.
75 ACS VIEWPOINT
James Lowman digests the early impact of the disposable vape ban and the opportunities and challenges to come
Opening hours: 8am–5:30pm Monday to Friday
IT and Customer Services
Opening hours: For customer services: 6am–9pm (Monday to Friday)
For IT: 7am–9pm (Monday to Friday)
Email: For customer services: londis.claims@bookerretail.co.uk or enquiries@londis.co.uk
Helpdesk: 0800 298 0758
Londis News team: Email: londisnews@ londis.co.uk
Welcome to our July-August issue of Londis News!
The heat
is on!
Summer’s here and Londis has a sizzling support package to help you cook up hot and tasty sales.
A warm and sunny welcome to our latest issue of Londis News as we navigate the key summer trading period and the sea of sizzling opportunities to grow footfall, sales and profits.
From garden get-togethers to impromptu BBQs, sporting events and park picnics, the summer season serves up a generous helping of occasions to cater for, and inside you’ll find a fantastic feature to help you do just that.
There’s also a ‘teaser’ feature for Booker’s soon-to-be released Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure.
Available to retailers from mid-August, the brochure will provide even more insight and advice to help you make the very most of these key categories – this summer and beyond.
Don’t miss our update on Scoot either. Booker’s new lowcost rapid delivery app is already driving increased sales and profits for Londis retailers.
There’s also a deep-dive into Booker’s flourishing Race & Ethnicity Colleague Network. Created in September 2023, Race & Ethnicity@Booker provides a safe space to celebrate diversity, spark meaningful conversations, support colleagues from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and help shape an inclusive future at Booker.
I would also urge you to read the two terrific customer profiles in this issue. There is so much to learn from fellow Londis retailers, and you might pick up an idea or two that might work in your store.
And, as always, you’ll find the usual mix of news, views, NPD, and insight that makes Londis News a must-read for Londis retailers.
We truly believe that we have put together a superb support package for Londis retailers this summer that’s sure to help you make it the hottest yet. I wish you all fantastic trading!
Look forward to seeing you in-store!
Stewart Fenn Sales Director, Booker Retail Partners
Londis Solo Convenience Store receives coveted community accolade
Londis retailers Natalie and Martin Lightfoot were awarded the coveted Community Retailer of the Year prize at the SLR Awards 2025, held in Glasgow in June.
Natalie and Martin Lightfoot’s Londis Solo Convenience store in Baillieston was crowned Community Retailer of the Year at the SLR Awards 2025.
Held at the Radisson blu hotel in Glasgow on 4 June, the event celebrates Scottish retailing at its best.
The store wowed judges with its heartfelt community support, from helping those in need, to organising fun days and fundraising events, and engaging in countless local initiatives.
In the past year alone, the store has worked closely with local schools on a project to repurpose crisp packets into blankets for the homeless, collected toiletries for those in need,
and raised money for charity with a Halloween Walk – among many other things.
The SLR Awards Judges said: “This was a tough category, but when you spend time with Natalie and Martin you realise that they put their heart and soul into the Baillieston community. Passionate and driven, they have made their small Londis store into a genuine heart of the community.”
Commenting on their win, Natalie said: “To say we were shocked is an understatement! We are unbelievably proud and humbled. Finalists amongst some of Scotland’s greats and this little ol’ store in Baillieston ended up winning; just shows you what hard work and dedication can get you. Size definitely does not dictate the size of your community spirit or your heart.”
Trio of triumphs for Londis Gerrards Cross
The family owned Londis store claimed three high profile accolades at The Fed Awards 2025
Londis retailer Dilmeet Singh enjoyed a spectacular hat-trick of wins at The Fed Awards 2025.
Held at The Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 18 June, the event celebrates Fed members who “live and breathe business excellence, making their communities and the industry better.”
Dilmeet, of Londis Gerrards Cross in London, claimed a trio of high-profile accolades, including the coveted ‘Best Use Of Technology prize, sponsored by Shopt.
He also excelled in the Smokeless Alternatives category - where his high standards in this important sector also saw him pip two other finalists to the post and claim the title of Smokeless Alternatives Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Velo.
Dilmeet was also awarded the Tobacco Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by JTI.
Run by Dilmeet and his father, the family-run store impressed with its use of technology and management of vape and other smokeless products, including its approach to preparing for the ban on disposable vapes.
The Fed Awards 2025 took place after The Fed’s Annual Conference. The two-day event included panel sessions and insights with a variety of retail industry leaders and experts including Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention.
The ice cream of ice creams.
Key
issues of interest to you
Londis store invests in key security makeover
Londis retailers Natalie and Martin Lightfoot are using their winnings from Allwyn’s 2024 Local Retail Champions awards to step up security at their Solo Convenience store in Baillieston.
The pair won £20,000 for a Social Value store makeover at the National Lottery operator’s new awards last year.
The couple have invested part of the cash in six headsets to help improve staff communication and keep each other safe.
The next stage of the store makeover will see the installation of new CCTV equipment,
replacing the current 15-year-old system.
As well as protecting the store, the CCTV will help to keep the community safer, with modern new cameras located outside the store.
The final stage of the makeover will include installation of retail AI technology.
Natalie said: “The headsets have been a godsend. The store has thick walls, making it difficult to hear each other in different areas of the shop, so the headsets allow us all to communicate and respond to things quickly as a team.”
Petal to the metal
Londis Baldwins Lane in Hall Green, is putting on a display worthy of Chelsea Flower Show with its vibrant array of local plants for sale outside the store.
The huge range includes plants, bushes, vegetables and even trees!
A new range of stunning willow hanging baskets, preplanted troughs and vintage-style metal pots are also available.
Local shoppers are delighted with the blooming display, with the store’s social media pages awash with positive comments and orders.
Great catch
Londis Broken Spur Service Station in Godalming has taken on sponsorship of the local Chiddingfold Cricket Club.
Londis Broken Spur’s branding will be displayed pitch-side on smart banners.
The store, which recently reopened as a Londis following a development, offers a wide range of products and services, including food to go, and has just fitted InPost lockers.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Key issues of interest to you Spending Review: Long overdue funding for tobacco enforcement announced
Government to dish out an additional £80m per year in tobacco cessation programmes and enforcement.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the 2025 Spending Review to MPs in the UK Parliament, including additional cash to fund tobacco enforcement.
Reeves announced an additional £80m per year, for the next five years, for smoking cessation and enforcement, linked to the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) welcomed the “long overdue” funding boost.
Research conducted for ACS last year showed that Trading Standards teams would need at least £140m over the next five years to deal with illicit vapes alone, with £30m required this year.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The investment in enforcement of the tobacco and vapes market is long overdue and will be welcomed by all responsible retailers who are sick of seeing rogue operators trading with impunity in their communities. This must change, and if the
£80m announced for smoking cessation and enforcement is properly allocated to the front line, it could make a real difference.
“We must prioritise resources to shore up the most basic principles of the rule of law, to support those who follow it and intervene against those who don’t.”
However, ACS believes that the Spending Review fell short on police funding.
The Chancellor also revealed that policing budgets would rise by 2.3% per year above inflation over the next five years – in line with the baseline for other departments.
“When coupled with concerns across the country that local council budgets are stretched to breaking point, both the police and local enforcement officers are facing real resourcing challenges to deal with the tide of theft, abuse, violence and rogue trading blighting the communities where local shops trade,” ACS said.
Retailers accuse UK Gov of breaking promises
More than four in five retailers (82%) believe the UK Government has broken its promises to support small businesses, a JTI survey has revealed.
Rising business rates, an increase in National Insurance contributions, the proposed generational smoking ban and minimum wage increases have left 70% of retailers feeling “disillusioned” by the actions of the Labour Government towards small businesses since
they came into power in July 2024.
In fact, 85% of retailers think it will be harder for their business to succeed in 2025 as a result of the new laws and policies proposed.
When it comes to the proposed generational smoking ban, 58% of retailers believe it would have a negative impact on their store, with 87% saying it could lead to more illicit tobacco activity in their local area.
Postgraduate funding available for c-store workers
Students can apply to receive a bursary of up to £5,000 for the 2025/26 period via the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.
Convenience store workers and their families have until 1 September 2025 to get their applications in for a postgraduate bursary from the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust (LTCT).
The charity’s bursary scheme is open to students on postgraduate courses, whose parent, carer, or spouse is employed in convenience retail.
The opportunity is also open to anyone already working in convenience who wants to fund their own study.
The bursary can be put towards tuition fees, or other expenses such as course materials, equipment or travel costs. Applications are open until 1 September
and students can apply to receive up to £5,000.
As the cost of attending university mounts year on year, the bursary has been designed to help families who may be concerned about supporting a child, partner or even themselves through further higher education. With the charity’s core belief that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their academic potential, LTCT hopes that it will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on students and their parents.
In 2025, the total number of bursaries awarded since the scheme launched is expected to exceed 5,000, totalling £28m worth of financial aid.
Snappy Shopper has announced a trial partnership with Purpl to deliver an exclusive grocery discount for disabled households across the UK.
Eligible Purpl members will receive a 25% discount on their first online grocery order via Snappy Shopper, available through the app and website. The offer includes same-day delivery or click and collect at selected local retailers. Additionally, all Purpl users will benefit from three months of free delivery during the trial.
This initiative supports the 16.1 million people in the UK – 24% of the population – living with disabilities, offering tangible savings on everyday essentials.
To access the discount, customers can register with Purpl and upload proof of disability.
Verifications are completed within seconds, after which a unique discount code becomes active for use on Snappy Shopper.
Minister responds positively to call for rates reform
The Government is to publish an update on its plans for business rates reform in the coming months.
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed Government confirmation that proposals for business rates reform will be brought forward within months.
The Retail Jobs Alliance, a coalition of major retailers and Usdaw, is calling on the Government to remove shops from the scope of the proposed higher business rates multiplier to protect jobs, safeguard investment and support local communities.
Responding to a question from a Conservative shadow spokesperson in the House of Commons, Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said: “We have said that we will introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out our initial thoughts on that in the Budget in October, and we will publish an update on where we are on that issue in the coming months.”
Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis said: “The current business rates system is not fit for purpose, as it places in-store retailers at a significant disadvantage to online retail. In effect, this amounts to nothing more than an unfair tax on shops. We need action to help save our shops and retail jobs, and we welcome the Chancellor committing to transforming business rates at the last Budget, after a number of missed opportunities by the previous Government.”
Allwyn UK launches Participant Protection Conference
National Lottery operator Allwyn UK is to hold a new participant protection conference, as it seeks to set a new global industry standard.
Set to take place in London on 23 September, the conference will feature sessions covering a range of topics – including AI, lived experience, a masterclass on measuring responsible play, and digital ID and youth protection. It will be an inviteonly event for academics, practitioners, and lottery stakeholders.
The conference is a continuation of Allwyn’s ongoing work in participant protection since becoming operator of The National Lottery last year.
Allwyn’s Director of Strategy, Transformation and Participant Protection, Richard Dawkins, said: “We have always put protecting players at the heart of what we do and we’re continuing to invest significantly in this area as we transform The National Lottery.
“Not only do we want people to enjoy playing The National Lottery, and to do so in a responsible way, we want to empower the rest of the lottery sector in their responsibilities to players.”
HFSS regs to be laid in Scottish parliament in Autumn
The Scottish Government says that incoming regulations on products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) will align with those already in place and scheduled in England.
The Scottish Government has announced plans to bring forward regulations restricting the promotion of food and drink High in Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) this Autumn – in-line with the rest of the UK.
The regulations will come into force 12 months after they are laid in the Scottish Parliament, although the exact date on which this takes place is yet to be determined. It is expected that the rules will come into force in Autumn 2026.
Under the regulations, retailers with 50 or more employees (symbol groups counted as an entire business not as an individual store) and floor space of more 2,000 sq ft will have to comply with restrictions on HFSS products at the end of aisles, at store entrances and within 2m of checkouts and queueing areas.
The proposed rules will also mean that regardless of store size, retailers with
50 or more employees will have to stop multibuy and volume promotions for HFSS products.
Examples of volume promotions and multibuys are promotions like ‘50% extra free, ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘three for £10’.
However, meal deals and temporary price reductions (eg 20% off for a defined length of time) are excluded from the proposals.
In England, HFSS regulations on location restrictions have been in place since October 2022, with volume promotion restrictions being introduced in October 2025.
The Welsh Government has signified its intent to introduce comparable HFSS restrictions in Spring 2026, although the implementation date has not yet been confirmed.
Crime and Policing Bill Amendment
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, tabled by Anneliese Midgley MP (Labour, Knowsley), which would extend the offence of assaulting a retail worker to home delivery drivers.
New Clause 48 could be considered during the remaining House of Commons stages of the Bill.
Usdaw recently surveyed over 300 retail home delivery drivers working mainly in the grocery sector. The results show that in the last twelve months:
l 77% had been a victim of abuse.
l 13% were assaulted.
l 26% had refused a delivery due to fear for their own personal safety.
Retail home delivery drivers are required to obtain proof of age for a number of products which are subject to age-related sales legislation. If they fail to obtain it, they may be liable for prosecution – resulting in a heavy fine and/or disciplinary action from the employer.
The Crime and Policing Bill introduces a new legal requirement on drivers to verify a customer’s age when delivering knives ordered online.
Callum Beattie confirmed for Checkout 2025
The Scottish Committee of convenience and grocery industry charity GroceryAid has announced that Scottish chart-topping singer-songwriter Callum Beattie is to perform at this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival in Glasgow on 28 August.
Beattie will be playing at Checkout a matter of weeks before performing at the 12,000 capacity OVO Hydro.
Beattie has gone from selling just 30 tickets in small grassroots venues to selling out the iconic OVO Hydro in the space of four years, a remarkable rise. His first two albums both reached number one on the Scottish album charts and with his third album on the horizon, Callum is set to reach global audiences.
In addition to his stellar music career, Callum and his manager have raised over £750,000 for various charities over the past four years, using their platform to make a meaningful difference to communities across the country.
With already half of the tickets to this year’s Checkout Scotland already sold, if you want to be there to see Callum Beattie, while also helping raise much-needed funds for GroceryAid, then don’t delay, book today.
Chart-topping music star Callum Beattie has been confirmed among the headline acts at this year’s Checkout Scotland music festival in support of GroceryAid.
To book, go to www.groceryaid.org.uk/events/checkoutscotland.
GroceryAid Scotland Chairman Matthew Howie commented: “To secure a homegrown top-notch talent like Callum Beattie for Checkout Scotland is a massive coup, particularly as he will be playing to a packed Hydro just weeks later.
“We’re expecting tickets to sell out fast so I would urge everyone who wants to be there and help us raise awareness of GroceryAid to get in touch now to make sure they will be at one of the highlights of the UK independent retailing calendar.”
School Essentials Grant to top £1m
GroceryAid’s School Essentials Grant is providing £1m of support for convenience and grocery colleagues’ schoolaged children this year, after securing funding from The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.
The fund provides a £150 non-repayable grant for every child of school age, up to a maximum of three children per eligible household, up to the fund total. This year, more than 6,660 children will benefit from the fund, an 11% increase from last year.
Applications for the grant were open for only three days before the £1m allocation was fully subscribed. If you applied and received a confirmation email with a reference number, you will find out by email if your application was successful no later than Friday 11 July 2025.
WIIINGS
WITH THE TASTE OF GRAPEFRUIT & BLOSSOM.
NEW
VITALIZES BODY AND MIND®.
THE NO.1 FOR YOUR TURNOVER.
Re-writing the rules!
HSRL has re-written its rulebook with its latest and most innovative site and store development to date.
With an ever-growing portfolio of more than 16 sites, including several award winners, Highway Stops Retail Limited (HSRL) is a well-known and successful force in UK forecourt convenience retailing – with a reliable rulebook for store developments that’s been proven effective time and again.
However, when it came to HSRL’s most recent development of its site in Lye, near Stourbridge, operations director Sellarajah Gunalan (Guna) decided to totally re-write the rules.
Costing in the region of £2.5m, the development was far more revolution than renovation – as Guna explains.
“We’ve owned this site for seven years and always knew that one day it would present a ripe opportunity for future development,” he says.
The shop floor was more than doubled in size from 800sq ft to 2,000sq ft.
“The old forecourt store was only 800sq ft in size with just a modest convenience range and no hot
food to go at all.
“It’s a neighbourhood site, surrounded by residential houses, but it’s also on the main road to Stourbridge and Birmingham beyond – so it benefits from a good volume of passing trade too.
“We knew there was a sizeable opportunity to make far more of the passing trade and local shopping opportunity by introducing a quality food- and drinks-to-go offer, more fresh and chilled choice, and convenient new services – so that’s exactly what we set out to do!”
July 2024 saw the team break ground on a mammoth store development project which would see the shop floor more than double in size to 2,000sq ft – paving the way for the introduction of a vast new range that would meet multiple missions.
After a brief closure in November 2024, while the new store extension was knitted to the old, brand-new Londis Lye reopened with a supersized shop floor and offer in December 2024.
Londis Lye has an array of innovative new food-to-go concepts, including BP’s modular Wild Bean Café Micro Market offer –and a Fireaway Pizza counter.
As intended, food to go is the jewel in Londis Lye’s glittering new crown thanks to an array of truly innovative new concepts, including BP’s modular Wild Bean Café Micro Market offer.
The smart wood-effect modular unit offers shoppers a choice of delicious hot drinks, such as Wild Bean Café coffee, teas and hot chocolate – plus blended ice drinks, including smoothies and milkshakes.
The attractive self-serve unit also displays a wide range of freshly baked hot pastries and baguettes – all of which are cooked off in the store’s state-ofthe-art new kitchen throughout the day.
Shoppers can take their pick from a range of breakfast, lunch and evening options – along with timed deals, such as a £5 Breakfast Meal Deal, including a breakfast bap and any drink for £5.
There’s also a Sweet Treat Deal which includes a pastry and any drink for £4 available all day.
Services: Parcel Collection, National Lottery, home delivery, ATM, Jetwash
Top tips!
We’ve incorporated a small four-seater bar for shoppers to enjoy their food-to-go products at. It takes up minimal space and shoppers appreciate being able to sit down.
Allowing shoppers to pay for their foodto-go purchases at the fixture reduces pressure on the main tills.
A new range of locally made halal sandwiches is proving popular with local shoppers.
The smart new unit even features easy-to-use touch screens for shoppers to order and pay for their purchases – helping to reduce queues at the store’s main tills.
Further self-service choice is also offered by a fresh orange juice machine and a Rollover Hotdogs unit.
And then there’s the in-store Fireaway Pizza!
Primely located at the front of the store and next to the tills, the open-plan pizza counter scores a 10 out of 10 for ‘wow factor’ – offering shoppers a wide range of fired-to-order pizzas, including classics, such as Margarita, to more innovative options like Asian Fusion.
Shoppers can enjoy their freshly-made pizzas at the store’s four-seater poseur bar which overlooks the forecourt or take them away to feast on at their leisure.
The store has also just recently launched third-party home delivery via Deliveroo and Just Eat.
Brand-new Londis Lye also features a comprehensive convenience range, including 7.5 metres of chilled –including a dedicated chiller for food to go, which stars not only Londis-sourced sandwiches – but also new locally-made halal sandwiches and cobs from Strelley Cobs.
There’s also a further 3.75 metres for soft drinks –and just over four metres for chilled wine, beers, ciders and RTDs.
And the innovation doesn’t stop with the store.
Outside, the forecourt itself was also re-concreted and a smart new Valet Type-2 Electra Jet jetwash was installed.
The £2.5m development also included a number of upgrades in investments to make the site more sustainable, including new EV charging bays.
HSRL also invested in fitting solar panels across the new store’s large flat roof and upgraded the canopy to include new more energy efficient LED lighting.
As expected, food to go is proving to be a key driver of footfall and sales, already accounting for 18% of total store sales.
week – with a significant jump expected
“We’ve only been open a matter of months but already footfall and sales have seen a pleasing jump – with store sales now up to more than £15,000 a week and growing week on week – with a significant jump expected over the summer months,” Guna says.
The quality Jet Wash solution is also proving exceptionally popular and generating more than £2,300 a week already.
“We’re also incredibly proud of our in-store team who have adapted so well to all the changes and taken our shoppers on the journey with them,” says Guna.
“Many members of our team have worked in the store since we took it over seven years ago, with some having been there even longer – a fact which means they know many of our regular shoppers very well and have an unrivalled understanding of the local market and needs.
“We really are delighted with the end result. This development incorporated a lot of new concepts for us, and we’ll certainly be applying some of the learnings and ideas to future developments”
Exciting times ‘lye’ ahead!
RETAILER PROFILE
Opportunity strikes
Plan of attack!
Developing a 3,000sq ft unit was not part of first-time store owner Kanapathypillai Raveendran’s plan – but when opportunity struck, he pounced!
Being a successful retailer requires the ability to think fast, move faster and strike when opportunity rears its head.
And those qualities are exactly why Kanapathypillai Raveendran – known as Ravi – is shaping up to be a very successful retailer indeed.
his very first store – a small Londis in the market town of Royal Wootton Bassett – when all of a sudden, a much larger 3,000sq ft retail unit just a few doors down suddenly became available.
Back in November 2024, Ravi was in the process of planning the development of
“We had already started making plans for the smaller store, but this was an opportunity we couldn’t miss,” Ravi explains.
The Cooler is huge, in fact, it’s not far off the size of the small store I was originally planning to buy!
Kanapathypillai Raveendran
“At 3,000sq ft, the new store was more than three times bigger than the one I was planning to open, but I knew that if I could make it work, I had a real chance to create an incredible new store, full of exciting footfall drivers that local shoppers wouldn’t be able to resist,” he adds.
“Taking on the larger site myself would also protect me from any future potential competition.”
So, with his Londis RDM Rachel Drake in total agreement, Ravi shelved plans to develop the smaller unit and moved on to the considerably greater task of putting shelves into the vast new one.
“The store is not on a main road, so we knew we weren’t really going to attract passing trade. As a result, the plan was to fill new Londis Gainsborough Avenue with as many footfall drivers as we could, plus an exceptional range of choice, to give local people as many reasons as we could to choose us.”
After taking on the lease in March 2025, Ravi invested just shy of £160,000 on the development, including new ceilings, fixtures, fittings and a whole lot of refrigeration.
With 3,000sq ft to play with, Ravi and the Londis team were determined to offer local shoppers a basket-building range of chilled choice, including 5.5 metres dedicated purely to chilled foods, including ready meals and fresh meats, plus a further 2.5 metres of dairy.
Food to go and soft drinks, meanwhile, have been allocated a stunning stretch of 7.5 metres stretching right along the store’s left wall.
STORE INFO
Store name: Londis
Gainsborough Avenue
Location: Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
Retailer: Kanapathypillai Raveendran
Size: 3,000sq ft
Key categories: Grocery, fresh, chilled, BWS
Services: Post Office Drop and Collect, Evri, Payzone, PayPoint, National Lottery, Too Good To Go
Wootton Bassett’s shoppers have also been granted a comprehensive six-metre frozen food offer, which is complemented by three Cook freezers.
“There’s not that many Londis retailers who offer Cook products, and I have to thank my RDM Rachel for helping us to secure it.
“The premium ready meal brand is such a strong footfall driver – lots of shoppers will travel specifically to buy a Cook meal solution. In fact, one of my new shoppers told me that she previously used to drive 20 minutes to the not so nearby town of Marlborough just to buy them – so she’s delighted!”
Other footfall drivers include store-baked goods from Country Choice and Rollover Hotdogs along with slush, Think Fresh Shakes and Costa Coffee – all of which are handily housed in a smart Treat Stop
Top tips!
Signing up to Too Good To Go has been a great way of reducing our food waste and supporting lower income shoppers.
2
We’ve invested in local newspaper advertising and leaflet drops to spread the word about our brand-new store.
3
Footfall drivers such as Cook frozen meals bring shoppers in and prompt additional associated purchases.
branded food-to-go zone immediately by the entrance.
And then there’s The Cooler.
Visible to shoppers from outside the store thanks to the large street-facing windows which make up its outer wall, The Cooler accommodates 18 bays for beers, ciders, wines, RTDs and low alcohol products.
“The Cooler is huge,” Ravi laughs. “In fact, it’s not far off the size of the small store I was originally planning to buy!
“Having such a large space has allowed us to chill down the vast majority of our BWS offer – even multi-packs and large cases.
“There’s an Aldi half a mile away, but it doesn’t sell chilled multi-packs so that’s a huge point of difference for us and another big footfall driver,” he explains.
“The street-facing wall is our wine wall – and we face it up carefully, so that all the bottles at the back, which face out towards the street, have their labels visible. This means that shoppers can clearly see the amazing range that we have on offer inside,” he says.
“We’re also doing every Londis promotion that we can, which is another significant footfall driver in the current climate.”
Determined to earn a reputation as a true one-stop shop, Londis Gainsborough Avenue even offers a toy zone and a large range of homewares.
To the delight of local shoppers, the store has also been invested with an array of convenient new services, including Post Office Drop and Collect, Collect+ and Evri parcel services.
“Shoppers are really, really happy,” Ravi says. “We opened on 12 April so it’s still very early days, but sales have been growing week on week, and we are seeing more and more new faces every day as word spreads.
“Everyone tells me how impressed they are with how the store looks and the range and the quality that we offer. We really have given them a whole new world of choice and a
Everyone tells me how impressed they are with how the store looks and the range and the quality that we offer. We really have given them a whole new world of choice and a fantastic environment in which to shop.
Kanapathypillai Raveendran
fantastic environment in which to shop.
“Groceries, fresh, and chilled are among the biggest sales drivers so far but BWS and Cook are doing very well also. As word spreads, we are getting more and more shoppers coming in for Cook meal solutions, a bottle of wine and other accompaniments such as breads and salads.
“I never planned for my first store to be this big and I certainly borrowed a lot more than I was originally intending to, but I have every confidence that it will be more than worth it!”
M296890
SEASONAL UPDATE
Flame game
Strike up sales this summer
Londis is here to help you light a fire under the summer BBQ opportunity.
While the Aussies might be renowned for their ‘snag’ sizzling skills, today’s Brits are certainly giving them a run for their money, especially at this time of year with ‘BBQ season’ well and truly open and the battle for grilling glory on.
And they’ve certainly been getting in their practice. Despite its soggy start, last summer saw a 32% leap in burger sales over July and August, compared with the same period a year before, as Britons fired up their barbies.
Chilled prepared salad sales also rose by 22% over the same period, Kantar data shows.
Other processed beef products, including beef grills, beef sausages and sliced cooked meats also experienced improved year-on-year volume performance over the summer of 2024, data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) shows.
Added-value products, including pre-
marinated packaged meats, were a hit too, as shoppers stocked up on flavour-packed products that offered additional ease and convenience.
And the signs for 2025’s summer and BBQ season look equally, if not more promising.
BBQ season 2025 got off to a banger thanks to the hottest-ever start to May – a fact which prompted chilled burger sales to rise by 27% on the same period last year, according to Kantar data.
And shoppers didn’t forget the all-important sides, with sales of potato salad rocketing by 32% and coleslaw and prepared salads by 19% each too.
Londis shoppers are certainly well placed to make the most out of this summer’s BBQ season with a vast array of products sure to help shoppers achieve flame fame.
NATURE MAKES US
Water is the fastest growing category in soft drinks*
In Impulse, Highland Spring is growing 5x faster than the category**
CREAM OF THE CROP
No summer BBQ occasion would be complete without an iced delight or two to round off proceedings and Londis retailers can offer their shoppers a real scoop with NP5 Mega Deals on key Ben and Jerry’s 465ml tubs including Choc Fudge Brownie, Cookie Dough, Phish Food, Strawberry Cheesecake and Karamel Sutra – all of which have an RSP of £6.55 and are available on a BOGOF deal!
The Meat Market range alone offers a marvellous mix of products to pick from – most of which are also available as part of multi-buy deals.
In addition to juicy Meat Market Beef Burgers, Londis retailers can also offer their shoppers Meat Market Steak Pieces, Salt and Chilli Steaks and Lamb Steaks with Rosemary and Garlic all for an RSP of just £5.99 or as part of an ‘Any 2 for £10’ deal.
A wide range of pork and chicken products are also available.
BUTCHERS SPECIALS
The NP6 period will also see Butchers Specials on 500g packs of Jack’s Chicken Breast Fillets which will feature a promotional RSP of £5.49.
The perfect addition to any BBQ, especially when glazed with marinade or sandwiched within a buttery brioche bun, these crowd-pleasing poultry protagonists also offer retailers tasty PORs of 23.5%.
And that’s far from all. Jack’s sausages will also be on promotion for just £2.99 per 400g pack in NP6. Available in Premium Pork, Cumberland and Lincolnshire, the own-brand bangers will offer retailers a meaty POR of 30%.
Butchers Specials will also apply to 430g packs of Jack’s Chicken Drumsticks – ideal for using in snacky summer lunches and packing into picnics. With a promotional RSP of just £1.99 they will also drum up PORs of 24.1% for retailers.
And of course it’s not all about the mains. Sides also play a seminal role in the summer BBQ opportunity and Londis retailers have a cracking array to choose from, including Jack’s Deli Style Coleslaw and its hero Potato Salad, which recently underwent a recipe refresh ahead of the key summer period.
Perfect for topping burgers and stuffing into wraps, flatbreads and pittas, cheese products also offer grate prospects.
Londis retailers can tempt their shoppers to build bigger baskets with products including Jack’s Mild and Mature
SUMMER BBQ FUELS
FUEL EXPRESS INSTANT DISPOSABLE BBQ
Case size: 12xsingle
WSP: £35.99
RSP: £5.99
POR: 39.9%
FUEL EXPRESS BARBECUE BRIQUETTES
Case size: 1x5kg
WSP: £6.65
RSP: £9.99
POR: 20.1%
FUEL EXPRESS INSTANT LIGHTING CHARCOAL
Case size: 1x2kg
WSP: £5.09
RSP: £7.99
POR: 23.6%
JACK’S 15 FIRELIGHTERS WITH HOTSPOTS
Case size: 24x15pack
WSP: £16.99
RSP: £1.69
POR: 49.7%
FUEL EXPRESS LIGHTING FLUID
Case size: 12X1ltr
WSP: £43.99
RSP: £4.99
POR: 11.8%
Cheddar Slices and grated products such as Jack’s Grated Mozzarella and Grated Mild and Mature cheddar – all of which feature £2.49 PMPs or can be bought as part of an ‘Any 2 for £4’ deal.
As ever, the 2025 Summer BBQ season will also be supported by a mighty mix of Mega Deals.
The NP5 period includes Mega Deals on key crisp and snack brands, ideal for shoppers to munch on while the sausages sizzle.
Look out for Mega Deals on Wotsits Giants Cheese and Wotsits Giants Flamin’ Hot, both of which are on special offer to shoppers for just £1.65. Doritos Hot or Not Chilli Heatwave and Max Hot or Not Sticky BBQ also feature a promotional RSP of just £1.65, while Cheezit Double Cheese and Chilli Cheese are both available as part of a BOGOF deal.
From vibrant vegetables to marvellous meats, the summer BBQ occasion also opens the door to creating inspiring displays and in-store theatre.
Londis can help here too – thanks to its bold and bright summer creatives that are sure to help you drum up even more delicious displays.
The suite of summer POS includes eye-catching ‘BBQ Season’ and ‘Great Summer Value’ header boards, barkers, shelf strips and pennants featuring ice creams, sunglasses and fresh fruits.
Sticking with the fruity theme, retailers will also be able to offer their shoppers beautiful ‘Blackcurrant Smoothie’ inspired bouquets from Olive and Acacia over the NP6 promotional period.
With an RSP of just £6.50 and including an extra 20% free, the berry-coloured blooms are sure to score with shoppers over the summer season. And with a POR of 30.8%, they’re bound to be a hit with retailers too.
So what are you waiting for? Londis has supplied the matches and it’s time for you to strike.
NP5 BEER AND CIDER MEGA DEALS!
The NP5 promotional period serves up a host of Mega Deals on key Beer and Cider brands perfect for toasting summer BBQ occasions.
Retailers will also be able to offer shoppers a crisp serving of new wine products to accompany their summer gatherings and BBQs –including new Red, Rosé and Pinot Grigio from the Not Guilty brand. Available now and throughout the NP5 period, each 75cl bottle will feature a promotional RSP of just £4.99, offering a POR of 20%.
£70.7M Sales
CATEGORY UPDATE
Chill out!
Coming soon, Booker’s new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure is packed with layers of cool counsel – guaranteed to help you become a true chilled champion and freezer pleaser.
Convenience stores have always played an important role within their local communities – and since the pandemic their place in local hearts, minds and shopping habits has moved to centre stage.
One of the many positive upshots of this continuing shift is the growing demand for fresh and frozen products – as local shoppers increasingly look to their local stores to provide them with quality, convenient and affordable
meal solutions right on their doorsteps.
As almost every single profile in Londis News quite clearly shows, Londis retailers are investing in both categories like never before, expanding and reconfiguring their stores to make way for new and improved ranges, purchasing new equipment and display solutions, as well as investing in staff training to make the absolute most of both opportunities.
“We know that fresh and frozen products are essential for today’s shopper –whether that’s great quality produce for tonight’s dinner or frozen essentials for the week ahead.”
Colm Johnson Booker’s Retail Managing Director
And now, Booker is helping them to maximise the prize even further with a comprehensive new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure.
Set to land from 11 August, this ultimate guide has been designed to help retailers create truly irresistible fresh and frozen offers that can’t fail to drive footfall, sales and profits to new heights.
Split into key sections, including Fresh Fruit, Deli, Cooked Meats, Juices and Smoothies, Frozen Vegetables, Frozen Bread and many more, the brochure will provide a deep dive into the vast range
of fresh and frozen choice available to them.
It will also shine a spotlight on lesserexplored categories, such as Fruit and Nuts, Fish, Fresh Herbs and Salads –helping retailers to add even more colour and interest to their offers.
Must stock hero lines, including topselling Jack’s-branded goods, such as Jack’s Garlic Flatbread, British Cooked Ham, Grated Mature Cheddar, Garden Peas, and Royal Gala Apples, will also be showcased.
Fresh and chilled products are a topselling category in our store, especially the Jack’s-branded ready meals such as pastas and pizzas. Quick, tasty and filling foods, such as Jack’s fresh Tortellini, offer shoppers an ultra-convenient meal solution at a great-value price, especially when they buy it as part of the multi-buy deal. We’re also seeing pleasing sales of deli meats, especially chicken products that can be eaten hot or cold.
Kumar Dhanabal Londis Opal Court
New Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure
Coming soon, the new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure will help retailers to make the very most of the growing fresh and frozen categories. Boost your footfall and basket spend with key info on:
l New products
l Range insights
l Category advice
l Merchandising masterclass
l New and emerging shopper trends
Iced delights
With its cost, convenience and sustainability credentials, it’s little wonder that the frozen food market has experienced such a resurgence in recent times.
Frozen vegetables, potato, bread and chicken products, plus ready meals, such as pizzas, have all been key drivers of volume and value growth.
In fact, if you remove ice cream (which suffered at the hands of 2024’s wash-out summer) from the equation – the frozen category achieved a value growth of 1.6%, with unit sales up 0.4% in the year to 29 December 2024, according to Kantar data.
Frozen poultry, savoury baked goods, desserts, ready meals and potato products all showed significant value and unit growth, with poultry volumes up 6.5%, savoury bakery up 2.9%, potatoes up 2.2% and ready meals up 1.3%.
With costs set to continue biting, frozen foods could well be set for an even more successful year – presenting retailers with a sparkling opportunity to boost footfall, sales and profits.
Cool runnings
Convenience stores invested more than £1bn in their businesses over the last year, with refrigeration ringing in as the largest area of investment according to the ACS Local Shop Report 2024.
Well over half (56%) of convenience retailers invested in refrigeration in a bid to make more of the growing fresh and chilled opportunity.
Frozen is a growing category but when I first bought this store it didn’t even sell pizzas or potato waffles! I’ve since invested in a new six door frozen offer which includes five doors of UK frozen fare and one door of international frozen products. Shoppers are responding so positively to the change. They love the variety that we offer and that includes all the Jack’s-branded frozen products, which offer them great quality at an affordable price.
Purvang Patel Londis, The Village
Retailers will also be treated to an appetising array of category insights, market analysis, and advice on the new and emerging shopper trends to get on board with and set their tills ringing.
They can also harness top tips for merchandising and creating delicious displays that look good enough to eat.
Commenting on the new Fresh and Frozen Food Brochure, Booker’s Retail Managing Director Colm Johnson said:
“We know that fresh and frozen products are essential for today’s shopper –whether that’s great quality produce for tonight’s dinner or frozen essentials for the week ahead.
“This brochure is designed to help our retail partners unlock that potential with confidence, using fantastic products, strong value and clear guidance. It’s about helping retailers make the most of what the market is telling us customers want more of.”
new products
SNACKSTERS DELI TUNA MELT
SNACKSTERS WRAPS CHICKEN FAJITA, CHICKEN CAESAR
KOPPARBERG SUMMER PUNCH
LA P'TITE PIERRE RED, WHITE, ROSÉ
DINER AIR FRYER MEALS SALT AND PEPPER CHICKEN WITH CHIPS
BOOKER NETWORS Come Together
toOpenall
Shining the spotlight on Booker’s thriving Race & Ethnicity@Booker Colleague Network.
Last issue we introduced you to Booker’s four flourishing Colleague Networks – the on-song quartet which strives to advocate, applaud and aid Booker colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Comprising Race & Ethnicity@Booker, Women@Booker, LGBTQ+@Booker and Disability@Booker – the fab four share three key objectives: Amplify, Celebrate and Consult – with each working to spark important conversations and foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding across the business.
We’ll be exploring each of the four networks in detail over the coming months and we’re kicking off this issue by shining the spotlight on the Race & Ethnicity@Booker Colleague Network.
Race & Ethnicity@Booker
Network key aims:
l Celebrate diversity
l Ensure equity and inclusion for all
l Educate and raise cultural awareness
l Help shape an inclusive future at Booker
Created in September 2023, Race & Ethnicity@Booker provides a safe space to celebrate diversity, spark meaningful conversations, support colleagues from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and help shape an inclusive future at
CRAFT BEER BRAND* UK’S
Booker.
The network makes that happen with the help of four key pillars:
l Engagement – proactively consulting colleagues via listening sessions and focus groups.
l Education – actively celebrating and educating on colleagues’ cultures, personalities and preferences.
l Community – supporting charitable events and organisations in the communities that Booker serves.
l Growth – encouraging all colleagues to understand others and embrace the opportunities and challenges of change.
Teamwork is the key to the network’s success. With the help and support of passionate Chairs, pioneering Executive Sponsors and progressive Allies, the network’s harmony of voices help drive meaningful change.
Its ambitions are also supported by three dedicated committees.
A Colleague Feedback & Insight Committee organises listening sessions which seek to identify new trends and any additional needs, along with common barriers.
Facilitating these sessions ensures that members feel heard and understand exactly how their feedback is being used.
A separate Talent & Development Committee helps to promote internal and external opportunities for diverse talent and to celebrate success stories.
Being part of the network provides a great opportunity to come together to talk on an informal level about diversity, equity and inclusion. Raymond
The Talent and Development Committee also works with other teams to facilitate mentoring programs.
Thirdly, a dedicated Events and Comms Committee plans, coordinates and promotes numerous events throughout the year – as well as providing updates to the wider network.
The network provides trust and security to share experiences and to speak up. Alpha
Recent initiatives have included a virtual event in celebration of Ramadan where Dr. Baiq from the University of Exeter talked network members through ‘ Understanding Ramadan’.
Eid was also celebrated at Booker Manchester, while Black History Month was marked at Booker’s Hatfield Distribution Centre.
Diwali, meanwhile, was celebrated in Leicester and Vaisakhi at the Gurdwara in Bedford.
A number of Listening Sessions, both Virtual and In-person were also held across the country to proactively engage colleagues, with more to follow in the coming months.
And, as with all four of Booker’s Colleague Networks, Race & Ethnicity@ Booker is open to all.
We get to learn so much about different cultures, personalities and preferences at various religious events. Penny
STOCK THE UK’S NO.1 CHILLED COFFEE*
STARBUCKS RTD IS 58% OF RTD COFFEE SALES IN IMPULSE**
Shoppers love a Ready to Drink coffee in convenience, and the top 6 must stock SKU’s based on rate of sale are*: THE RTD COFFEE CATEGORY IS WORTH £71.9M IN IMPULSE**
TOP 6 STARBUCKS MUST STOCK SKU’s
Generate over £130k sales a year*
*based on weekly Scoot sales of £2,500
Londis retailers deliver profits with Scoot app
Booker’s new low-cost Scoot rapid delivery app is already driving increased sales and profits for Londis retailers.
Designed by retailers for retailers, it’s little surprise that Booker’s new low-cost Scoot rapid delivery solution is already proving massively popular with Londis retailers across the country.
Scoot promises to help you make more and save more – an estimated £34,000 more profit each year to be precise, based on weekly sales of just £2,500 at 26% gross margin.
With only 1% commission charged up to £4,999 of weekly in-app sales – and zero commission once you hit £5,000 a week – Scoot delivers an outstanding low-cost app that facilitates home deliveries to shoppers in as little as 30 minutes.
There are also no shopper charges –giving you the flexibility to offer the service for free, should you wish – or set your own delivery, service or minimum order fees. The app connects shoppers
WHY SCOOT?
l Fully flexible model
directly with participating stores, enabling them to order from a range of products, curated by you, the retailer.
GET ON BOARD
It’s easy to see, then, why so many Londis retailers have decided to use Scoot – and it’s the perfect low-cost route in accessing a fast-growing opportunity. In 2019, just
ZERO commission once you reach £5k a week
l Make an estimated £34,000 additional profit per year (based on weekly app sales of £2,500 at 26% gross margin)
l ZERO commission once you reach £5,000 of weekly sales on the app
l ZERO consumer charges giving you the ability to offer the service for free
l 0.7% average card transaction fee
l Save up to £16,000 per year with Scoot vs other rapid delivery platforms based on weekly sales of £4,999
l Want to get to the next band of Spend and Save? – Scoot can help you
l Dedicated onboarding and set up support, including PoS package
Done Right.
12% of convenience stores offered home delivery, according to the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS) Local Shop Report – but by last year and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, that figure had soared to 47%.
Convenience stores’ use of social media, the key medium for promoting home delivery services, has similarly surged over the same period.
In 2019, only 39% of convenience stores had a Facebook page, while just 11% were on Instagram. But by 2024, those figures had climbed to 74% and 43% respectively – with 15% on TikTok too –the ACS Local Shop Report 2024 shows.
Today, rapid response home delivery services are widely regarded as a ‘must’ by successful convenience store owners – helping them to reach new customers and ignite sales and profits.
BASKET BOOM
One of the key attractions of home delivery is basket spend. Did you know, for instance, that the average delivered basket transaction is £27? That’s around three times more than in-store!
Scoot is a secure platform that also facilitates the ordering, payment, and picking processes, so all you need to do is organise the delivery. Retailers who sign up receive support from a dedicated Business Development Manager (BDM) and their existing RDM, who together will assist with onboarding, including product file set up, training and live support.
Your dedicated BDM and RDM will also help you to develop a plan to grow sales to £5,000 – eliminating commission entirely – and increasing your profitability.
Retailers also receive an exceptional launch support package worth over £2,800 – including point of sale, digital assets and thermal delivery bags.
All of this is backed by heavyweight marketing support, including targeted social media adverts, and a contribution towards a full promotional wrap for your delivery vehicles.
Colm Johnson, Managing Director for Booker Retail, said: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help our customers grow their business, so we are incredibly proud to announce the launch of Scoot, to support them in doing just that.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our retailers to increase their basket spend and store sales, and connect with new and existing shoppers in their local communities.
“The feedback from our pilot test has been really positive and we look forward to welcoming more retailers to the platform over the next few months.”
Did you know?
l Average delivered basket transaction is £271 (3x more than in store)
l One in three shoppers are interested in using Rapid Grocery Delivery1
l Key times for your shoppers to order are:
l Dinner
l Lunch and Evening snack
l Treats1
l The market is set to grow to £2.6bn by 2029 from £2bn1
l 34% of convenience stores offer a local delivery service2
l 80% of orders are delivered within a one-mile radius
l The busiest days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday1
l The top three categories are:
l Treats and snacks – including crisps, chocolate & sweets (68%)
l Cold drinks -including soft and alcoholic (62%)
l General food - top up shop (48%)1
Sources: 1TWS; 2ACS
To help retailers even further, Scoot has also partnered with the Eskuta brand.
Retailers can receive a Scootbranded SX-250 Series 4 eBike for easy weekly payments from only £30 a week.
The cost includes damage and theft insurance, an eBike tracker, servicing at your store, and a helmet.
To find out more, visit eskuta. com/scoot or call 02476 350 150.
SCOOT FAQs
What costs are involved for retailers who are interested in introducing Scoot to their store?
Retailers interested in introducing Scoot to their store will incur a one-time setup fee of only £395.
There is a 1% service charge on in-app sales up to £5,000 per week, however this is removed once a retailer consistently achieves over £5,000 in weekly in-app sales, over a four-week period.
A card processing fee of approximately 0.7% will apply to all transactions.
Next day settlement of all consumer transactions occurs, with the exception of the weekend and bank holidays. This means the money goes straight into the retailer’s account as opposed to being held for up to a week versus other platforms.
What is the set-up process like for retailers introducing Scoot to their store?
The setup process for retailers introducing Scoot to their store is designed to be seamless and nonintrusive, allowing them to continue trading as usual throughout the onboarding process.
Once confirmed, retailers should go live on the platform within two weeks of the merchant ID being completed.
What launch support can retailers expect?
Key support and equipment include:
l a hand-held terminal to facilitate easy order processing;
l thermal bags to maintain food temperature during delivery;
l a contribution towards vehicle wraps to help promote the service;
l digital marketing support with geo-targeted social media campaigns to reach the right audience;
l in-store radio advertising;
l full Point of Sale suite to promote Scoot in-store;
l the Scoot team will ensure that the retailer’s range is uploaded to the platform and the platform is correctly set up in advance of launch;
l market-leading and App Exclusive promotions.
Disposable demands
Digesting the disposable vape ban
The ban on disposable vapes has now been in force for around a month, with retailers switching out their remaining product lines for compliant devices and moving disposable stock away from the shop floor.
For many, this has been an ongoing process over the last few months that has been a pretty straightforward transition for both colleagues and customers. In many cases there aren’t instantly recognisable differences between the packaging for the old disposable products and the new rechargeable ones, so just switching customers across to the ‘new version’ has been the preferred route for lots of retailers.
The intention of the regulations is to stem the tide of disposable vape products being discarded in huge numbers on our streets. Rechargeable and refillable vapes are intended to be used several times, so people should in theory keep hold of them longer. And as they’re more obviously electrical products, the idea is that they’ll be more likely to be recycled when people have finished with them rather than being thrown away.
The danger of course, is that if customers aren’t really paying attention to whether they’re rechargeable or not and their previous behaviour was to throw the vape away, it’s very unlikely that they’ll change course without intervention or education.
One month after the ban on disposable vapes came into force, James Lowman considers the challenges and opportunities that still lie ahead for retailers.
The other reason why people may be inclined to throw away the new devices they purchase is the availability of refills. The regulations state that refills for the products sold have to be available on the market, but don’t have to be available in the same shop that the device itself is sold in.
There are clearly benefits to being able to offer pods or refills to shoppers to secure that repeat business and loyalty, but for some it will create an unintentional barrier for customers.
Retailers have done a lot of great work in recent months since the introduction of requirements to provide vape recycling bins in store came into force and communicate those facilities to customers, so in this next phase of the vaping category our sector is set up well to drive recycling rates and do our part to reduce litter and the waste of important components like the lithium batteries that devices include.
It remains to be seen whether the Government will see this intervention as a success, but to give it the best chance they, and we, should do our best to communicate to customers that any vape, old or new, should be recycled and never thrown away or discarded.
